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Responsive Design: What All Email Marketers Should Know

Beefree team
Beefree team
Nov 13, 2015
Responsive Design: What All Email Marketers Should Know
Responsive Design: What All Email Marketers Should Know

As an email designer or email marketer always on the lookout for the biggest win for your email campaigns, you might often wonder: What's the most important thing to do? In a world where mobile opens now account for up to 70% of all email opens, the answer to that question is easy.Making sure your emails are readable on a mobile device is THE most important thing you can do to make your email campaigns as effective as possible.Knowing that mobile optimization is essential is the easy part. But actually implementing mobile emails can be more challenging, especially if you don't know the basics of mobile email design.Though responsive design was technically invented in 2010, and mobile-optimization techniques were in use long before that, we know there are many designers who still struggle with exactly what it means, and which type of optimization to choose. If you're in that boat, read on.We'lltake a look at different approaches to mobile email design and dig deeper into responsive design, probably the most well-known (if not most-used) mobile design systems. What exactly is responsive design, and why is this the preferred mobile design method for so many email designers? Let’s demystify exactly what responsive design is and also clarify what some of the mobilebuzzwords that you hear so often really mean.Here’s what you need to know about responsive email design.

Responsive email design is a set of design and coding techniques that are used to optimize viewing experience on different sized devices.

In other words, a responsive email is one that totally adapts to the screen size of a tablet or smartphone—layout, font size, images, and padding can all change—so that the message is easy to read and looks great.Litmus does a nicejob of showing all the ways in which a responsive email can change between screens in this graphic:

Litmus graphic mobile responsive

The position and size of everything from navigation to images to fonts can change from device to device when an email is created with responsive design.Here’s a real-life example of a responsive email from Refinery29, viewed on desktop...

refinery29-browser

...and on mobile:

IMG_1938
IMG_1939

As you can see, in the mobile version, the email changes significantly:

  • The layout goes from two columns to one
  • The header design is simplified: the navigation menu is hidden
  • The images are sized differently: the Maybelline ad, for instance, is compressed vertically so it takes up less space in mobile
  • Some content is hidden: The intro text under “The Worst Skin Mistakes You’re Making” header is gone, as is the green “Skin Sins” tag on the header image, as well as the social sharing buttons

Most of these changes serve to simplify the design so it renders elegantly and cleanly on a smaller screen. Without these responsive changes, the aboveemail—and countless others like it—would be unreadable, or extremely difficult to read. The body text would be too small, multiple columns would look squeezed together, and the complex layout would not render properly.These are just some of the pain points email designers have when designing for mobile screens that responsive design aims to resolve. The top challenges for emails rendering properly on mobile devices include:-Images: Text-based images or images with text overlays on top of backgrounds can be impossible to read on mobile devices if they're not resized properly through responsive design.-Typography: Some fonts won't work on mobile—they can be too hard to read on a small device, or the device won't recognize them ordisplay them properly. That's why the BEE editor uses only email-friendly fonts that we know will render well on both desktop and mobile.-Columns: Many traditional emails are multiple-columns (usually two, but sometimes three). Without responsive design, a two-column email won't work on mobile: the content in each individual column will be shrunken and impossible to read.Do you struggle with any of these when designing emails for mobile? Read on to find outhow responsive design can help.

How responsive email design works

Responsive design is coded using CSS3 (or cascading style sheets). In the CSS for a responsive email or website, there are conditional statements known as media queries that detect the exact screen size of a device. The CSS calls for adjustments to the email design based on the results of those queries. So, the media query could detect if the screen size is only 400px, for example, and then activate the CSS that determines the style of the email design for that size screen (increase font sizes to 20px, add 10px of padding, hide content, etc.).In short, with responsive email design, CSS media queries can totally alter the design of the email for easy viewing on mobile devices. Your readers will have the optimal user experience on all devices, no matter where they are reading your email. And you'll get the benefit of them being able to interact with your email properly, and transact as you want them to.Of course, responsive design isn't perfect. Unless you use an email editor that automatically converts your email to responsive, responsive design means extra time and a learning curve for whoever codes your email templates. Additionally, not every email client can handle media queries, but most,including iPhones and most Androids, do. Campaign Monitor has a useful list of compatibility across clients.The pros of responsive email design definitely outweigh these cons, but we know that designing a responsive email isn't easy, and you may not have access to developers who can walk you through the nitty gritty of CSS. That’s why we made sure all emails designed in our free BEE editor are 100% responsive (you don’t need to worry about a single line of code).

Responsive email design is different from other mobile design approaches.

Responsive design gets talked about a lot because it’s the most robust approach to mobile-optimizing an email. However, depending on factors like audience and resources, other design tactics might be used. Before you make a decision about whether to go responsive, it's important to understand the other mobile design approaches, what they offer as compared to responsive, and the pros and cons of each approach.

Skinny design

Emails with a “skinny” design are built for the narrower width of mobile devices (typically around 500px). So even if viewed on a wide window of a desktop, the width of the email will remain skinny.What happens on mobile: It looks the same as the desktop version. The desktop version looks skinnier than typical desktop emails.The main benefit of skinny design is it's easy, and you only need to design for one single device/look. However, there are some drawbacks to skinny design. There's noguarantee it will look good on allscreen sizes, there are limited design options, little text fluidity, and you can't make table or image width adjustments.Buzzfeed uses skinny design for their array of email products. Take a look at this example from Buzzfeed Parents. This screenshot was taken on a desktop view, but you can see that the width of the email is the same as it would be on a mobile device.

Skinny design email example

Scalable design

Scalable emails—sometimes called “mobile friendly” emails—have been designed specifically with mobile in mind. Large fonts and images that are easily viewed on small devices are used so the email looks okay on both desktop and mobile devices.What happens on mobile: An email scales down (from, say, 600px for desktop to 400px for mobile) but is otherwise the same.The benefits of scalable design are that you can create a simple, single design, and your emails are easy to code. However, like skinny design, emails are not guaranteed to look good on various screen sizes.Scalability not supported by some Android email apps, and there are limited design options.

Fluid design

Fluid emails are similar to scalable ones, but tables and images within the email resize based on percentage-based sizing.What happens on mobile: All text reflows to always take up 100% width of the window, and table and image widths shrink to fit the width of the window. The general layout, hierarchy, and design elements remain the same.Fluid design is a simple design approach that does requiresome basic coding (not as complex as responsive). However with fluid design, you have limited design options since it's a less versatile approach, and you might be able to buildas creative or flexible emails as you'd like to.Mailchimp offers a nice look at how a sample email resizes with fluid design here.

Adaptive design

Adaptive design is similar to responsive design, but instead of the email design changing based on the exact pixel width of the screen, the code includes breakpoints that determine which static layout is viewed. So, you might design three versions of your email: one to be viewed at 500px for a mobile device, one at 800px for a tablet, and one for 960px for a desktop browser.What happens on mobile: The width of the screen determines which version of the email appears; in theory, readers see an email that’s well-designed to fit the screen.Adaptive is a similarly robust option to responsive design, and requires some one who knows how to code it. As with responsive design, not all email clients can handle media queries, but most can.

How about “mobile-optimized” emails?

Mobile-optimized emails are emails that are designed specifically to look great on mobile through various techniques; there is no standard set of specifications. Design elements of a mobile-optimized email can include a combination of approaches, many of which are best practices for your mobile email design:- Single column layout- Concise, large-sized, easy-to-read content- Minimalistic design (no complex headers, no clutter)- Tap-friendly navigation and bulletproof buttons (with appropriate padding)- Smaller image file sizes (allowing for quicker load times)- High-contrast design for mobile screens set to low brightness- Not solely comprised of images (and all images used have great ALT text)- No need to typeWhen deciding your approach, make sure you know your audience and test how your email looks across devices and email clients.Responsive email design is a powerful technique, which is exactly why we made sure all emails created in BEE are responsive, optimizing how your message looks for your subscribers. Give BEE a try today and let us know what you think!

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How To Improve Your Email Sender Reputation For a Higher Email Deliverability Rate

What is an email sender reputation? How do you check your reputation in the first place? Are there any practices to maintain a good sender reputation? These are the questions we'll answer together in this article without overwhelming you with irrelevant technical jargon.
Amine Boussassi
Sep 13, 2024

If you run a quick Google search on the factors that impact your email deliverability, you'll likely see the same common elements pop up: email list quality, ESP, sender reputation, and email content.

Wait—what is an email sender reputation? How do you check your reputation in the first place? Are there any practices to maintain a good sender reputation?

These are the questions we'll answer together in this article without overwhelming you with irrelevant technical jargon.

Okay, we can already tell this is going to be a long one, so you might want to grab a bowl of pineapple 🍍 slices before diving in.

Happy reading! 🗞️

What is an email sender reputation?

Email sender reputation, which you might also hear referred to as sender score, is the rating that email sending providers assign to your email sending IP address. This rating measures how likely your emails are to land in recipients' inboxes and directly impacts your overall email deliverability.

It goes without saying that a good sender reputation means ESPs (email service providers) trust your emails and are more likely to be delivered to their customers' inboxes, and on the flip side, a poor reputation means your emails could end up in the spam folder because ESPs simply don't want their customers flooded with spammy emails.

Which metrics determine sender score?

Now, you're probably thinking things like “what are the metrics that determine sender reputation?” Well, there are many. Let's get into them one by one.

Bounce rates

If your emails frequently fail to be delivered and often bounce back because you're sending them to invalid addresses (which might suggest you're buying email lists), it can seriously damage your sender reputation.

Engagement rates

This metric refers to the performance of your email marketing campaigns. High open, click-through and reply rates indicate that your emails are relevant and wanted and will boost your reputation, while low open rates suggest your emails aren't engaging enough, which can lead ESPs to mark your emails as spam. 

Sender history

Sender history is basically your email activity over time, so if you're sending a lot of emails each day, it can be perceived as a warning sign by ESPs, and your emails might not reach inboxes. Because, after all, ESPs want to keep their customers' inboxes spam-free.

Spam complaints

You don't need to be a seasoned marketer to know that recipients can mark any email as spam, and as you'd expect, each time someone sends your emails to the spam folder, your sender reputation will take a significant hit.

High unsubscribe rate

When a high number of individuals unsubscribe from your emails, ESPs might see it as a red flag, and they could assume you've bought email lists or you're simply not offering much value to your subscribers.

How can you check your sender reputation? 

You may think: "Okay, everything is clear so far, but how do I check my sender reputation?" Well, to understand how mailbox providers (MBPs) view you as a sender and check your domain reputation, your best option is to use tools designed specifically for that purpose:

Gmail Postmaster: this tool is built by Google, it offers insights into your domain's reputation with Gmail, and allows you to keep track of any issues like spam complaints and delivery errors.

Microsoft SNDS: this Microsoft service offers data on your sending IP's reputation and delivery performance with Outlook and other Microsoft email services.

Sender Score: This tool rates your IP reputation on a scale from 0 to 100. Needless to say, the higher your score, the better your domain's reputation with MBPs.

How can a good email sender reputation improve email deliverability? 

Now that we have established what an email sender reputation is and what determines its score, let's get to know its impact on email deliverability.

We hate to sound like a broken record, but we'll say this one more time, when you maintain a good sender score, there's a higher chance that ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and ESPs will deliver your emails because they trust that your content is valuable to their subscribers.

Even better, when you maintain a good sender reputation, your email marketing campaigns are less likely to be flagged by spam filters across different ISPs and will seamlessly reach your subscribers. 

And this will create some sort of snowball effect: because when the emails land in the inbox, they are more likely to be opened, and a higher open rate signals to ISPs that your emails are relevant and engaging to recipients. The end result of all this? An even stronger sender reputation.  

And with a stronger sender reputation comes higher response rates. And with higher response rates, more chances of attracting customers.

Five practices to improve your email sender reputation

You've learned the factors that determine your sender score and the way to check it. Congratulations, but you're not done yet! 

Now, let's move on to the more complicated part. How to improve your email sender reputation. 

Let's start the hands-on work!

1. Maintain a clean email list 

Running email marketing campaigns in the dark without knowing who your recipients are or what interests they have is like flying blind, and that's why buying email lists is a huge red flag 🚩 for ESPs and ISPs that will result in high bounce and unsubscription rates. 

And just a friendly little tip here: regularly check for invalid email addresses and remove inactive subscribers because corporate emails keep changing all the time, and not having an updated contact list can end up affecting your reputation.

2. Authenticate your emails

If you're facing some challenges with deliverability, starting with email authentification might be your best bet! For those out of context, authentication involves using specific protocols to prove that your emails are genuinely coming from you and not from someone pretending to be you.

Pick one of the industry-standard authentication protocols, like SPF, DKIM, or DMARC, to verify your emails and help ISPs confirm that your messages are legitimate and trustworthy.

3. Avoid spam triggers

This one is a big piece of the puzzle that probably gets talked about less than it should: spam triggers. ESPs actually have a list of words that trigger spam filters. 

Using words like "Free," "Earn money," or "Guaranteed" can get your emails sent to the spam folder—or worse, not delivered at all. These terms are often associated with salesy or even fraudulent emails. 

But don't get us wrong—ESPs and mailbox providers are smart enough to analyze the context. If your email genuinely includes offers or valuable digital services or products, it's totally okay to use the word "free" (or even all three). 

4. Segment your audience

People love personalization, so instead of sending the same content for everyone on your list, go the extra mile by segmenting your audience based on things like subscriber behavior and preferences. And it's not as tough as you think; there are plenty of tools out there that can do the heavy lifting for you, like HubSpot or ConvertKit. 

When you segment your audience, you'll see how your subscribers get excited to hit that reply button and engage with the content you shared with them, which ends up boosting your reputation—bringing us to our next point 👇

5. Add engagement elements

You could say that there are email marketing campaigns that can succeed without a 

visually appealing email design, and sometimes they do—but that's definitely the exception, not the rule.

Beefree is one tool that can help you design eye-catching email templates with simple drag-and-drop actions in seconds and get your open and click-through rates through the roof. No steep learning curve 🎢 or endless onboarding videos needed. Go ahead, give it a go! 

Final thoughts

That's all for now. Appreciate you sticking with us till the end!

We think by now, one thing is clear for you. Having a strong email sender reputation is powerful enough to improve your email deliverability and ensure your marketing campaigns hit your subscribers' inboxes and convert them! 

We hope this article helps improve your email sending reputation — we'd love to hear what you implement!

Oh, and while you're at it, why not explore Beefree’s email templates 🐝? It's just a click away!

Wish you good luck, a strong sender reputation, higher engagement, and more customers! 😉

60 Fall Email Subject Lines To Increase Autumn Sales

Discover the best fall email subject lines to drive conversions. Click here to explore a collection of expert subject lines to boost your fall email engagement.
Beefree team
Sep 5, 2024

The arrival of fall not only brings a change in the weather but also opens a window of opportunity for email marketers to tap into the sales season.

Did you know that according to OptinMonster, a striking “47% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone?” This makes your email subject lines a key player in your autumn marketing strategy. 

Let’s dive into a world where creativity meets strategy, exploring a variety of fall email subject lines designed to captivate your audience and boost your autumn sales.

Fall email subject line tips

Let’s explore some pivotal tips that will elevate your fall email subject lines and ensure they capture the essence of your message and the season.

1. Personalize with a touch of seasonal warmth

Utilizing data like past purchases, location, or browsing history allows you to craft subject lines that speak directly to the individual, enveloping them in a personalized experience that feels inviting.

2. Avoid the spam trap with thoughtful wording

Crafting a subject line that avoids the dreaded spam folder is akin to carefully stepping through a patch of crunchy fall leaves – it requires thoughtfulness and precision. Steer clear of using all caps, excessive exclamation points, and words that are commonly associated with spam, such as “free” or “buy now.” Instead, focus on creating a natural, conversational tone that gently guides your subscribers into your content.

3. Incorporate timeliness and urgency

Infusing your subject lines with a sense of timeliness and urgency, such as highlighting a limited-time offer or a flash sale, can encourage subscribers to open your email promptly. Ensure that the urgency is genuine and the offers are valuable to maintain trust and engagement with your audience.

4. Highlight your brand’s personality

Fall is a season that comes with its own array of playful language and puns. Whether it’s playing with phrases related to leaves, pumpkins, or cozy sweaters, a clever pun can add personality to your communication.

5. Embrace A/B testing for your subject lines

By testing two variations of your subject lines you can gain insights into which phrases, keywords, or emojis resonate best, enabling you to send the more effective subject line to your list. 

60 Best Fall Email Subject Lines 

From the allure of sales and the unveiling of new collections to the playful charm of puns and the festive joy of holidays, each of these subject lines is a pathway into the heart of your subscribers. 

Fall sale or discount subject lines

Incorporating the seasonal charm of fall into your sale subject lines not only enhances their appeal but also creates a timely and relevant context that can resonate with your subscribers, inviting them to explore your offerings and, ultimately, make a purchase.

Subject line examples:

  • "🍂 Fall Into Savings: Up to 50% Off Starts Now!"
  • "Harvest the Savings: Exclusive Fall Discount Inside!"
  • "Sweater Weather, Sweeter Deals: 30% Off Fall Fashion!"
  • "Unbe-leaf-able Deals: Your Exclusive Fall Sale is Here!"
  • "Autumn Exclusives: Enjoy an Extra 20% Off Sale Items!"
  • "Fall in Love with Our Autumn Sale: Up to 40% Off!"
  • "🎃 Spooktacular Savings: Frighteningly Good Deals Inside!"
  • "Cozy Up to Exclusive Fall Discounts – Limited Time Only!"
  • "A Cornucopia of Savings: Shop Our Fall Sale Now!"
  • "Rake in the Deals: Your Fall Discount Awaits Inside!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Hay
  • Subject line: "Crisp, cozy, colorful (and 15% off)"
  • Purpose of the email: Announce their “Autumn Sale.” 
(source)

Fall subject lines to introduce new collections or products

Introducing new collections with fall-centric subject lines seamlessly blends the anticipation of the new with the comforting familiarity of the season, crafting a delightful and enticing invitation to explore, discover, and shop.

Subject line examples:

  • "🍁 Fresh Picks for Fall: Explore Our New Arrivals!"
  • "New Season, New Styles: Shop the Fall Collection Now!"
  • "Autumn Elegance: Discover Our New Fall Jewelry Line!"
  • "Wrap Up in Style with Our New Fall Outerwear!"
  • "Fall Flavors Have Arrived: New Seasonal Menu Inside!"
  • "Step into Fall: New Boot Collection Just Dropped!"
  • "Cozy Up with Our New Fall Home Decor!"
  • "Sip into Autumn: New Fall Beverage Line Launched!"
  • "Fall Beauty Unveiled: Explore Our New Makeup Line!"
  • "Fresh Fall Reads: Discover Our New Book Releases!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Juvee
  • Subject Line: “Bringing You a Taste of Autumn” 
  • Purpose of the email: Promote the launch of their Caramel Apple drink.
(source)

Subject lines with fall puns

Fall provides a fertile ground for playful wordplay that can bring a smile to your subscribers and create a lighthearted, engaging entry point to your email content.

Subject line examples:

  • "Orange You Glad It’s Pumpkin Season? 🎃"
  • "Nuts About Our New Fall Collection!"
  • "Oh My Gourd, These Fall Deals Are Unbe-leaf-able!"
  • "Squash Your FOMO: Fall Sale Now On!"
  • "Leaf Your Worries Behind: Fall into Relaxation!"
  • "Yam-tastic! Sweet Deals on Our New Fall Menu!"
  • "Apple-y Ever After: Fall in Love with Our New Arrivals!"
  • "A-maize-ing Deals Just for You This Fall!"
  • "Harvest the Fun with Our Fall Festival Lineup!"
  • "Spice Up Your Wardrobe with Our Fall Collection!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: FitVine Wines
  • Subject Line: "No tricks, just treats 🎃🍷🦇”
  • Purpose of the email: Promote their FitVine.
(source)

Holiday-specific fall subject lines

Crafting holiday-specific subject lines allows your brand to resonate with the festive spirit and sentiments that naturally permeate through the season. By aligning your messages with the holidays and celebrations that your audience holds dear, you create a bridge of relevance and shared joy, enhancing the connectivity and appeal of your emails during this festive fall period.

Halloween
  • "No Tricks, Just Treats: Spooktacular Deals Inside!"
  • "Unmask Frighteningly Good Offers This Halloween!"
  • "Boo-tiful New Arrivals to Spook and Delight!"
  • "Witching You a Happy Halloween: Special Treat Inside!"
Thanksgiving
  • "Gobble Up the Savings: Thanksgiving Deals Inside!"
  • "Grateful for You: A Thanksgiving Treat Inside 🦃"
  • "Feast Your Eyes on Our Thanksgiving Specials!"
  • "A Cornucopia of Thanks: Exclusive Offer Inside!"
Veterans Day
  • "Honoring Heroes: Special Veterans Day Sale!"
  • "A Salute to Savings: Veterans Day Exclusive!"
  • "Celebrating Courage: Special Offer for Veterans Day!"
  • "Thank You for Your Service: Exclusive Veterans Day Deal!"
Black Friday
  • "Black Friday Bounty: Unbeatable Deals Inside!"
  • "Sneak Peek: Black Friday Deals Unveiled!"
  • "The Black Friday Sale You’ve Been Waiting For!"
  • "Unlock Black Friday Savings Early: VIP Access Inside!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: Carhartt 
  • Subject Line: "Black Friday: Early Access"
  • Purpose of the email: Promote their Black Friday early access sale. 
(source)

Fall subject lines that reference fall weather

Subject lines that reference the weather crafts a narrative that is immediately recognizable and engaging to your subscribers, inviting them to explore your offerings with the comforting, familiar backdrop of the fall season.

Subject line examples:

  • "Fall Breeze, Autumn Ease: Wind Down with Our Cozy Picks!"
  • "Rainy Day Rescue: Stay Dry with Our Stylish Raincoats!"
  • "Sweater Weather is Better Weather: New Arrivals Inside!"
  • "Crisp Air, Don’t Care: Explore Our Fall Essentials!"
  • "Stay Cozy in Our Must-Have Fall Layers!"
  • "Chilly Days, Stylish Ways: Warm Up with Our Collection!"
  • "Embrace the Chill: Hot Deals on Cool Styles Inside!"
  • "Leaf the Cold Behind: Warm Up with Our Hot Picks!"
  • "Autumn Showers, Stylish Hours: Waterproof Favorites Inside!"
  • "Warm Hues, Cozy Shoes: Step into Fall Comfort!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Hotel June
  • Subject Line: "Feels Like Fall"
  • Purpose of the email: Encourage travelers to book a stay at Hotel June by promoting new fall specials. 
(source)

Fall subject lines about autumn activities and events

From apple picking and leaf-peeping to festive gatherings and holiday preparations, these subject lines evoke anticipatation of these cherished moments. By aligning your messages with the activities that define the fall experience, your emails become a celebration of the season, intertwining your brand with the warmth and nostalgia.

Subject line examples:

  • "Harvest Happiness with Our Fall Collection!"
  • "Leaf-Peeping Essentials: Gear Up for Autumn Adventures!"
  • "Apple-Picking Season is Here: Grab Your Fall Favorites!"
  • "Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: Fall Flavors Have Arrived!"
  • "Get Festive: Everything You Need for Fall Gatherings!"
  • "Fall Crafting: Create Your Cozy with Our DIY Kits!"
  • "Bake Up a Storm: Autumn-Inspired Baking Essentials Inside!"
  • "Cozy Campfires Await: S’mores, Stories, and Styles Inside!"
  • "Haunted Happenings: Spooky Styles and Decor Inside!"
  • "Thanksgiving Prep Starts Now: Get Ready to Feast!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: HomeAway
  • Subject Line: "Get in the fall spirit with a cabin stay”
  • Purpose of the email: Encourage customers to book a cabin stay. 
(source)

Elevate your fall email campaigns to new heights

The harmony between a captivating subject line and a visually engaging email design is where the true magic happens.

With Beefree’s fall email templates, you gain access to a curated selection of designs that encapsulate the warmth and vibrancy of fall and perfectly compliment your captivating subject lines.

8+ Hot Email Design Trends in 2024 & Beyond

We’ve teamed up with Really Good Email’s Matt Helbig and a group of email experts for a roundup of the hottest email design trends.
Beefree team
Aug 30, 2024

We’ve teamed up with Really Good Email’s Matt Helbig and a group of email experts for a roundup of the hottest email design trends.

How can you incorporate email design trends into your brand? 

“You have to know what's right for your audience, your brand, and your company. Don't just adopt a trend because it's the cool thing to do. 

Focus on the foundations, what makes a really good email is this email is customer-centric and solves a problem that someone might have. 

A lot of the time, company emails are very self-serving, but keep in mind that the person at the other end is not just a dollar sign; they are people as well. Use human language and not corporate gobbledy. 

Be clear about what you are making, why, and who it's for. Its really important to communicate your message clearly and tell people, you know, come to our site, come visit us. Send emails with a purpose and think about, “How can I make this person's day better?”

Accessibility is always a big thing. At Really Good Emails, we see a lot of all-image emails and that’s rarely ever accessible. You want to meet your readers where they are, whether it's on a mobile device or they have a disability and can't access your email. 

Beyond just including something like alt text, it's making sure your email is available on all devices that they might be reading on.

Lastly, just treat the inbox as a sacred, personal, and safe place. It is a safe place and you have some responsibility behind what you're sending to your audience. Your email should be a delight and a nice surprise in an inbox filled with annoyance and filtered spam emails. People should look forward to receiving your email in their inboxes.”

Matt Helbig, Integrated Manager at Beefree & Really Good Emails

Email design trends for 2024 & beyond 

#1: Raw & unfiltered 

“As an amateur photographer myself,  I'm always excited to see that this trend continues to gain momentum. It's all about capturing images in their most natural state with minimal to no editing or retouching.

Unlike traditional stock photos or marketing images, which are often very produced, very stylized, very polished – raw and unfiltered embrace imperfection. This style, this trend, shows real people, real environments, and it captures genuine moments.

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

It's often characterized by natural lighting, minimal post-production editing, and authentic expressions and scenarios, which makes it feel very spontaneous and very candid. 

This trend is becoming popular largely due to social media. We're very used to seeing what at least appears to be authentic situations and with consumers demanding more transparency from brands we are kind of skeptical of overly polished images or images that we may feel are too photoshopped. 

Another plus of “raw and unfiltered” is that it can evoke a sense of nostalgia and help to strengthen the connection with your audience. 

Finally, and one of the most important, I think, is that it can be very cost-effective. You don't have to pay for the big production, the expensive photographer, or all the editing.”

Kristy McCarley, Founder & Managing Director of Pure Firefly. 

#2: Chunky text

“This trend of oversized text is really dominating the visual space. If you're a design geek, this can be super fun to experiment with to add a sense of playfulness and grab a reader’s attention as soon as the email is open.

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

This trend is really popular because of the rise in appreciation for minimalism and the need to create quick digestible content. It allows you to convey that message in a really concise way. 

If you're trying to decide whether to experiment with this or if it's right for your brand, just keep in mind that you don't want it to be overwhelming. There should be a balance between the size of the text and its chunkiness so that it doesn't affect readability.” 

Kristy McCarley, Founder & Managing Director of Pure Firefly. 

#3: Deep & dark

‘’This trend was sparked or spurred by the prevalence of dark mode, but think we've moved way beyond that now. 

I just love the spectrum of dark colors that I see brands bringing into the inbox to create this kind of mood instantly within their email. 

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

My cautionary tale is to test the heck out of it beforehand. For a few email clients with some partial color inversion, darker tones turn into a salmon pink, which can strain the eyes. You obviously don't want to accidentally serve the audience that wants dark mode, something that's way outside of your brand guidelines.’’

Laura Sullivan, Head of Brand & Marketing at Inbox Monster

#4: Color blocking

"These big, bold areas of color usually help you differentiate visual hierarchy in emails or make a section in an email stand out.

If you do a little bit of Googling on the history of color blocking, apparently this is a big fashion trend coming back from the 1960’s which is what gives color blocking a little bit of a retro feel."

Justin Jordan, Head of Strategy & Community at Beefree

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

#5: Longing for Dial-up

"This trend combines old-school nostalgia with some of the new fun trends we’ve mentioned previously. This is all about the nineties being cool again. 

This summer, I have gone to so many concerts with 90s bands coming out and playing. For example, I saw a Green Day show, and they played the entirety of Dookie because it was Dookie's, I think, 25th or 30th anniversary of being released. That night, I felt like I was 18 again. The next morning, maybe not so much. But I was totally willing to relive 18 for an evening. 

If you've got that demographic, then take advantage of it. This is not for every brand; you really have to know your audience, know your style, and see if it works."

Justin Jordan, Head of Strategy & Community at Beefree

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

#6: Ticker GIFs 

"Ticker GIF also known as the repeating text, usually at the top of the email, really grabs attention and makes the email feel lively and energetic. It can add playfulness similar to the chunky text, and it's eye-catching.

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

I’m kind of on the fence about ticker text because I'm affected by movement in email. So sometimes, if it's a little too fast or if it just feels like too much, I will look away, but I know there are other subscribers, the audience that loves it and really get into it.

I say be very thoughtful about the use of it. Make sure you have enough contrast. If you're using it to highlight a key message, it can be great. Or a sense of urgency for like a promotion or limited time offer. Just be aware that it can overwhelm some subscribers and it may be distracting and sometimes it's just not the right fit for the campaign."

Kristy McCarley, Founder & Managing Director of Pure Firefly. 

#7: Styled letter 

"This trend is leading in popularity because it approaches email with a human voice instead of a product or brand. With the rise of AI, people’s spidey sense is up for things that aren't authentic and real and this approach helps tackle that. 

Style letter is a good balance between using plain text and brand elements like fonts and colors to make it feel a little bit more personalized.

In the example below, which is written by Justine, is all written in her voice, like when I read it, I could hear her reading it.

Read full email

This trends is relatively low effort. You don't always need a designer to do something like this. You can make things stand out by using bullet points or adding a GIF. 

I like to think of email almost like as a tool belt, you know, you can use a plain text email or you can use a well-designed email. It doesn't have to be one or the other. 

You just know that your reader has this problem that they’re trying to solve, and you can use different types of content to make your email get the job to be done"

Laura Sullivan, Head of Brand & Marketing at Inbox Monster

#8: Hover effects

We are seeing brands do some really cool, fun hover effects in email. It's a good way to tell people that something's clickable.

I think it's catching on because it's interactive. I think it catches your eye when you're scrolling, especially on like a desktop environment where it's supported. And some of these, especially hover effects, are little things you can add at the end of the email that may not change the whole design, but they show that you are spending the time and attention on your email designs and your marketing.

Matt Helbig, Integrated Manager at Beefree & Really Good Emails

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Honorable email design trend mentions: 

Typography: Weird fonts

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Typography: 3D Text

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Shapes: Waves

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Imagery: Hand models

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Interactivity: Choose your own adventure

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Movement: 360 rotate

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Messaging: Sustainability

RGE's Email Design Trends: What's Hot & What's Not Collection

Final hot take: 

"It’s important for me to share the disclaimer that trends are not going to save your business; however, they can help you better communicate your message. 

I've mostly been on the B2B side of things for my entire career. And so every time I look at what all the cool things that retail and e-commerce brands are doing, I'm reminded that B2B doesn't have to be boring.

While all of these trends may not not be totally a “hot” for your brand,it cool to at least be informed about what other brands are doing in the space and maybe one of them will work for you.

This is not an endorsement for any trend in particular. Choose your trends responsibility. Don't use it if it might not be for your brand. 

And finally make sure that whatever you do, you continue to be really good and make some really good looking emails."

Matt Helbig, Integrated Manager at Beefree & Really Good Emails

You can watch the entire live event with Q&A here

How To Improve Your Email Sender Reputation For a Higher Email Deliverability Rate

What is an email sender reputation? How do you check your reputation in the first place? Are there any practices to maintain a good sender reputation? These are the questions we'll answer together in this article without overwhelming you with irrelevant technical jargon.
Amine Boussassi
Amine Boussassi
13 Sep
2024

If you run a quick Google search on the factors that impact your email deliverability, you'll likely see the same common elements pop up: email list quality, ESP, sender reputation, and email content.

Wait—what is an email sender reputation? How do you check your reputation in the first place? Are there any practices to maintain a good sender reputation?

These are the questions we'll answer together in this article without overwhelming you with irrelevant technical jargon.

Okay, we can already tell this is going to be a long one, so you might want to grab a bowl of pineapple 🍍 slices before diving in.

Happy reading! 🗞️

What is an email sender reputation?

Email sender reputation, which you might also hear referred to as sender score, is the rating that email sending providers assign to your email sending IP address. This rating measures how likely your emails are to land in recipients' inboxes and directly impacts your overall email deliverability.

It goes without saying that a good sender reputation means ESPs (email service providers) trust your emails and are more likely to be delivered to their customers' inboxes, and on the flip side, a poor reputation means your emails could end up in the spam folder because ESPs simply don't want their customers flooded with spammy emails.

Which metrics determine sender score?

Now, you're probably thinking things like “what are the metrics that determine sender reputation?” Well, there are many. Let's get into them one by one.

Bounce rates

If your emails frequently fail to be delivered and often bounce back because you're sending them to invalid addresses (which might suggest you're buying email lists), it can seriously damage your sender reputation.

Engagement rates

This metric refers to the performance of your email marketing campaigns. High open, click-through and reply rates indicate that your emails are relevant and wanted and will boost your reputation, while low open rates suggest your emails aren't engaging enough, which can lead ESPs to mark your emails as spam. 

Sender history

Sender history is basically your email activity over time, so if you're sending a lot of emails each day, it can be perceived as a warning sign by ESPs, and your emails might not reach inboxes. Because, after all, ESPs want to keep their customers' inboxes spam-free.

Spam complaints

You don't need to be a seasoned marketer to know that recipients can mark any email as spam, and as you'd expect, each time someone sends your emails to the spam folder, your sender reputation will take a significant hit.

High unsubscribe rate

When a high number of individuals unsubscribe from your emails, ESPs might see it as a red flag, and they could assume you've bought email lists or you're simply not offering much value to your subscribers.

How can you check your sender reputation? 

You may think: "Okay, everything is clear so far, but how do I check my sender reputation?" Well, to understand how mailbox providers (MBPs) view you as a sender and check your domain reputation, your best option is to use tools designed specifically for that purpose:

Gmail Postmaster: this tool is built by Google, it offers insights into your domain's reputation with Gmail, and allows you to keep track of any issues like spam complaints and delivery errors.

Microsoft SNDS: this Microsoft service offers data on your sending IP's reputation and delivery performance with Outlook and other Microsoft email services.

Sender Score: This tool rates your IP reputation on a scale from 0 to 100. Needless to say, the higher your score, the better your domain's reputation with MBPs.

How can a good email sender reputation improve email deliverability? 

Now that we have established what an email sender reputation is and what determines its score, let's get to know its impact on email deliverability.

We hate to sound like a broken record, but we'll say this one more time, when you maintain a good sender score, there's a higher chance that ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and ESPs will deliver your emails because they trust that your content is valuable to their subscribers.

Even better, when you maintain a good sender reputation, your email marketing campaigns are less likely to be flagged by spam filters across different ISPs and will seamlessly reach your subscribers. 

And this will create some sort of snowball effect: because when the emails land in the inbox, they are more likely to be opened, and a higher open rate signals to ISPs that your emails are relevant and engaging to recipients. The end result of all this? An even stronger sender reputation.  

And with a stronger sender reputation comes higher response rates. And with higher response rates, more chances of attracting customers.

Five practices to improve your email sender reputation

You've learned the factors that determine your sender score and the way to check it. Congratulations, but you're not done yet! 

Now, let's move on to the more complicated part. How to improve your email sender reputation. 

Let's start the hands-on work!

1. Maintain a clean email list 

Running email marketing campaigns in the dark without knowing who your recipients are or what interests they have is like flying blind, and that's why buying email lists is a huge red flag 🚩 for ESPs and ISPs that will result in high bounce and unsubscription rates. 

And just a friendly little tip here: regularly check for invalid email addresses and remove inactive subscribers because corporate emails keep changing all the time, and not having an updated contact list can end up affecting your reputation.

2. Authenticate your emails

If you're facing some challenges with deliverability, starting with email authentification might be your best bet! For those out of context, authentication involves using specific protocols to prove that your emails are genuinely coming from you and not from someone pretending to be you.

Pick one of the industry-standard authentication protocols, like SPF, DKIM, or DMARC, to verify your emails and help ISPs confirm that your messages are legitimate and trustworthy.

3. Avoid spam triggers

This one is a big piece of the puzzle that probably gets talked about less than it should: spam triggers. ESPs actually have a list of words that trigger spam filters. 

Using words like "Free," "Earn money," or "Guaranteed" can get your emails sent to the spam folder—or worse, not delivered at all. These terms are often associated with salesy or even fraudulent emails. 

But don't get us wrong—ESPs and mailbox providers are smart enough to analyze the context. If your email genuinely includes offers or valuable digital services or products, it's totally okay to use the word "free" (or even all three). 

4. Segment your audience

People love personalization, so instead of sending the same content for everyone on your list, go the extra mile by segmenting your audience based on things like subscriber behavior and preferences. And it's not as tough as you think; there are plenty of tools out there that can do the heavy lifting for you, like HubSpot or ConvertKit. 

When you segment your audience, you'll see how your subscribers get excited to hit that reply button and engage with the content you shared with them, which ends up boosting your reputation—bringing us to our next point 👇

5. Add engagement elements

You could say that there are email marketing campaigns that can succeed without a 

visually appealing email design, and sometimes they do—but that's definitely the exception, not the rule.

Beefree is one tool that can help you design eye-catching email templates with simple drag-and-drop actions in seconds and get your open and click-through rates through the roof. No steep learning curve 🎢 or endless onboarding videos needed. Go ahead, give it a go! 

Final thoughts

That's all for now. Appreciate you sticking with us till the end!

We think by now, one thing is clear for you. Having a strong email sender reputation is powerful enough to improve your email deliverability and ensure your marketing campaigns hit your subscribers' inboxes and convert them! 

We hope this article helps improve your email sending reputation — we'd love to hear what you implement!

Oh, and while you're at it, why not explore Beefree’s email templates 🐝? It's just a click away!

Wish you good luck, a strong sender reputation, higher engagement, and more customers! 😉

60 Fall Email Subject Lines To Increase Autumn Sales

Discover the best fall email subject lines to drive conversions. Click here to explore a collection of expert subject lines to boost your fall email engagement.
Beefree team
Beefree team
5 Sep
2024

The arrival of fall not only brings a change in the weather but also opens a window of opportunity for email marketers to tap into the sales season.

Did you know that according to OptinMonster, a striking “47% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone?” This makes your email subject lines a key player in your autumn marketing strategy. 

Let’s dive into a world where creativity meets strategy, exploring a variety of fall email subject lines designed to captivate your audience and boost your autumn sales.

Fall email subject line tips

Let’s explore some pivotal tips that will elevate your fall email subject lines and ensure they capture the essence of your message and the season.

1. Personalize with a touch of seasonal warmth

Utilizing data like past purchases, location, or browsing history allows you to craft subject lines that speak directly to the individual, enveloping them in a personalized experience that feels inviting.

2. Avoid the spam trap with thoughtful wording

Crafting a subject line that avoids the dreaded spam folder is akin to carefully stepping through a patch of crunchy fall leaves – it requires thoughtfulness and precision. Steer clear of using all caps, excessive exclamation points, and words that are commonly associated with spam, such as “free” or “buy now.” Instead, focus on creating a natural, conversational tone that gently guides your subscribers into your content.

3. Incorporate timeliness and urgency

Infusing your subject lines with a sense of timeliness and urgency, such as highlighting a limited-time offer or a flash sale, can encourage subscribers to open your email promptly. Ensure that the urgency is genuine and the offers are valuable to maintain trust and engagement with your audience.

4. Highlight your brand’s personality

Fall is a season that comes with its own array of playful language and puns. Whether it’s playing with phrases related to leaves, pumpkins, or cozy sweaters, a clever pun can add personality to your communication.

5. Embrace A/B testing for your subject lines

By testing two variations of your subject lines you can gain insights into which phrases, keywords, or emojis resonate best, enabling you to send the more effective subject line to your list. 

60 Best Fall Email Subject Lines 

From the allure of sales and the unveiling of new collections to the playful charm of puns and the festive joy of holidays, each of these subject lines is a pathway into the heart of your subscribers. 

Fall sale or discount subject lines

Incorporating the seasonal charm of fall into your sale subject lines not only enhances their appeal but also creates a timely and relevant context that can resonate with your subscribers, inviting them to explore your offerings and, ultimately, make a purchase.

Subject line examples:

  • "🍂 Fall Into Savings: Up to 50% Off Starts Now!"
  • "Harvest the Savings: Exclusive Fall Discount Inside!"
  • "Sweater Weather, Sweeter Deals: 30% Off Fall Fashion!"
  • "Unbe-leaf-able Deals: Your Exclusive Fall Sale is Here!"
  • "Autumn Exclusives: Enjoy an Extra 20% Off Sale Items!"
  • "Fall in Love with Our Autumn Sale: Up to 40% Off!"
  • "🎃 Spooktacular Savings: Frighteningly Good Deals Inside!"
  • "Cozy Up to Exclusive Fall Discounts – Limited Time Only!"
  • "A Cornucopia of Savings: Shop Our Fall Sale Now!"
  • "Rake in the Deals: Your Fall Discount Awaits Inside!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Hay
  • Subject line: "Crisp, cozy, colorful (and 15% off)"
  • Purpose of the email: Announce their “Autumn Sale.” 
(source)

Fall subject lines to introduce new collections or products

Introducing new collections with fall-centric subject lines seamlessly blends the anticipation of the new with the comforting familiarity of the season, crafting a delightful and enticing invitation to explore, discover, and shop.

Subject line examples:

  • "🍁 Fresh Picks for Fall: Explore Our New Arrivals!"
  • "New Season, New Styles: Shop the Fall Collection Now!"
  • "Autumn Elegance: Discover Our New Fall Jewelry Line!"
  • "Wrap Up in Style with Our New Fall Outerwear!"
  • "Fall Flavors Have Arrived: New Seasonal Menu Inside!"
  • "Step into Fall: New Boot Collection Just Dropped!"
  • "Cozy Up with Our New Fall Home Decor!"
  • "Sip into Autumn: New Fall Beverage Line Launched!"
  • "Fall Beauty Unveiled: Explore Our New Makeup Line!"
  • "Fresh Fall Reads: Discover Our New Book Releases!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Juvee
  • Subject Line: “Bringing You a Taste of Autumn” 
  • Purpose of the email: Promote the launch of their Caramel Apple drink.
(source)

Subject lines with fall puns

Fall provides a fertile ground for playful wordplay that can bring a smile to your subscribers and create a lighthearted, engaging entry point to your email content.

Subject line examples:

  • "Orange You Glad It’s Pumpkin Season? 🎃"
  • "Nuts About Our New Fall Collection!"
  • "Oh My Gourd, These Fall Deals Are Unbe-leaf-able!"
  • "Squash Your FOMO: Fall Sale Now On!"
  • "Leaf Your Worries Behind: Fall into Relaxation!"
  • "Yam-tastic! Sweet Deals on Our New Fall Menu!"
  • "Apple-y Ever After: Fall in Love with Our New Arrivals!"
  • "A-maize-ing Deals Just for You This Fall!"
  • "Harvest the Fun with Our Fall Festival Lineup!"
  • "Spice Up Your Wardrobe with Our Fall Collection!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: FitVine Wines
  • Subject Line: "No tricks, just treats 🎃🍷🦇”
  • Purpose of the email: Promote their FitVine.
(source)

Holiday-specific fall subject lines

Crafting holiday-specific subject lines allows your brand to resonate with the festive spirit and sentiments that naturally permeate through the season. By aligning your messages with the holidays and celebrations that your audience holds dear, you create a bridge of relevance and shared joy, enhancing the connectivity and appeal of your emails during this festive fall period.

Halloween
  • "No Tricks, Just Treats: Spooktacular Deals Inside!"
  • "Unmask Frighteningly Good Offers This Halloween!"
  • "Boo-tiful New Arrivals to Spook and Delight!"
  • "Witching You a Happy Halloween: Special Treat Inside!"
Thanksgiving
  • "Gobble Up the Savings: Thanksgiving Deals Inside!"
  • "Grateful for You: A Thanksgiving Treat Inside 🦃"
  • "Feast Your Eyes on Our Thanksgiving Specials!"
  • "A Cornucopia of Thanks: Exclusive Offer Inside!"
Veterans Day
  • "Honoring Heroes: Special Veterans Day Sale!"
  • "A Salute to Savings: Veterans Day Exclusive!"
  • "Celebrating Courage: Special Offer for Veterans Day!"
  • "Thank You for Your Service: Exclusive Veterans Day Deal!"
Black Friday
  • "Black Friday Bounty: Unbeatable Deals Inside!"
  • "Sneak Peek: Black Friday Deals Unveiled!"
  • "The Black Friday Sale You’ve Been Waiting For!"
  • "Unlock Black Friday Savings Early: VIP Access Inside!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: Carhartt 
  • Subject Line: "Black Friday: Early Access"
  • Purpose of the email: Promote their Black Friday early access sale. 
(source)

Fall subject lines that reference fall weather

Subject lines that reference the weather crafts a narrative that is immediately recognizable and engaging to your subscribers, inviting them to explore your offerings with the comforting, familiar backdrop of the fall season.

Subject line examples:

  • "Fall Breeze, Autumn Ease: Wind Down with Our Cozy Picks!"
  • "Rainy Day Rescue: Stay Dry with Our Stylish Raincoats!"
  • "Sweater Weather is Better Weather: New Arrivals Inside!"
  • "Crisp Air, Don’t Care: Explore Our Fall Essentials!"
  • "Stay Cozy in Our Must-Have Fall Layers!"
  • "Chilly Days, Stylish Ways: Warm Up with Our Collection!"
  • "Embrace the Chill: Hot Deals on Cool Styles Inside!"
  • "Leaf the Cold Behind: Warm Up with Our Hot Picks!"
  • "Autumn Showers, Stylish Hours: Waterproof Favorites Inside!"
  • "Warm Hues, Cozy Shoes: Step into Fall Comfort!"

Real-life example:

  • Brand Name: Hotel June
  • Subject Line: "Feels Like Fall"
  • Purpose of the email: Encourage travelers to book a stay at Hotel June by promoting new fall specials. 
(source)

Fall subject lines about autumn activities and events

From apple picking and leaf-peeping to festive gatherings and holiday preparations, these subject lines evoke anticipatation of these cherished moments. By aligning your messages with the activities that define the fall experience, your emails become a celebration of the season, intertwining your brand with the warmth and nostalgia.

Subject line examples:

  • "Harvest Happiness with Our Fall Collection!"
  • "Leaf-Peeping Essentials: Gear Up for Autumn Adventures!"
  • "Apple-Picking Season is Here: Grab Your Fall Favorites!"
  • "Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: Fall Flavors Have Arrived!"
  • "Get Festive: Everything You Need for Fall Gatherings!"
  • "Fall Crafting: Create Your Cozy with Our DIY Kits!"
  • "Bake Up a Storm: Autumn-Inspired Baking Essentials Inside!"
  • "Cozy Campfires Await: S’mores, Stories, and Styles Inside!"
  • "Haunted Happenings: Spooky Styles and Decor Inside!"
  • "Thanksgiving Prep Starts Now: Get Ready to Feast!"

Real-Life Example:

  • Brand Name: HomeAway
  • Subject Line: "Get in the fall spirit with a cabin stay”
  • Purpose of the email: Encourage customers to book a cabin stay. 
(source)

Elevate your fall email campaigns to new heights

The harmony between a captivating subject line and a visually engaging email design is where the true magic happens.

With Beefree’s fall email templates, you gain access to a curated selection of designs that encapsulate the warmth and vibrancy of fall and perfectly compliment your captivating subject lines.

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