5 email psychology tricks your competitors don’t know

5 Email Psychology Tricks You Haven’t Tried

Tired of those same old “email marketing hacks” that haven’t worked since 2021?

I’ve been testing some wild subject line strategies lately (you probably think I’ve lost it – some of the tricks I’ve pulled are on this here list).

The results? They’re kind of insane.

We’re not talking about those basic “best time to send” blog posts. I don’t do blog posts LOL. These are the strategies that are actually working in 2025. For me, at least. 

Time for some inbox psychology:

1️⃣. The Pattern Interrupt Method

Everyone’s doing the same old email subject lines. The “Hey {{first_name}}” era is DEAD (thank goodness). You know the ones I’m talking about – those subject lines that scream “I’m a marketing email, please ignore me!” 🙄

I tested this last month and it’s kind of insane.

Using unexpected symbols and formatting that make people stop mid-scan. Like these:

“Your marketing strategy is [NOT APPROVED]”

“⚠️ Warning: This email contains dad jokes”

“[CONFIDENTIAL] Your competitors don’t want you to see this”

“This marketing tip is [REDACTED]”

⚠️ Your inbox seeing these subject lines (via Tenor)

2️⃣. The “Wait, What?” Formula

You know AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action)?

Yeah, forget everything you know about it. I’m serious.

Instead of building up to the action, hit ’em with it 1st. Like this:

Bad: “Learn how we tripled our email list”

GOOD: “Delete 60% of your email list today (here’s why I did)”

When I tested this flip last month, it bumped our opens by another 12%.

The key? It triggers immediate curiosity.

Your readers can’t help but want to know the “why” behind such a bold statement.

 Marketing textbooks seeing this trick (via GIPHY)

3️⃣. The Weird Time Hack

Stop scheduling emails for 9:00 AM.

Instead, try 9:13 AM. Or 2:42 PM.

Why? Because EVERYONE and their marketing dog is sending at round numbers. 🐶

When I started sending at odd times, my opens jumped 15%. I’ve actually been sending at odd times for years, but never really tested it against the typical formally until now. 

That’s it. That’s the hack.

The best part?

It takes like 2 seconds to implement. Just add some random minutes to your usual send time and watch what happens. Look to today’s send time as an example that I really believe in this. 

Me explaining this to my team (via GIPHY)

4️⃣. The Double-Open Loop

Think of this like those MAX shows where you HAVE to watch the next episode (I am watching White Lotus Season 3 episode 2 tonight and I can’t wait. Are you?):

Subject: I got fired for using this email trick…

Pre-header: (until our CEO saw the numbers)

1st line: “What I’m about to share might get me in trouble…”

Each line makes you need to know what comes next.

Well-planned? Absolutely. 

Effective? You bet your marketing budget it is.

 Me watching my open rates after using this (via GIPHY)

5️⃣. The “Tough Love” List Clean

Okay this might hurt a little…

Think of your email list like that crowded Instagram feed where you follow way too many people. Time to hit the unfollow button on the quiet ones. CHOP CHOP. 

Here’s the truth nobody wants to admit: A massive email list means nothing if people aren’t actually reading your stuff. I know, I know – bigger numbers look better in your marketing reports and for our egos. But, hear me out.

Would you rather:

10,000 subscribers who scroll past your emails

5,000 subscribers who actually care about your content

The answer’s obvious. 

Here’s the move: Take everyone who ghosted your last 5 emails and send them 1 “we need to talk” email. Something like “Hey… you still there?” or “Should we break up?”

2 things will happen:

1. Some people will wake up and start engaging again

2. Others will unsubscribe

And guess what? Both of those outcomes are GOOD for your deliverability.

Me hitting send on that cleanup email and me also worried about the future of RHONJ (via GIPHY)

BONUS TIP

Look at your pre-header. Is it still saying “View in browser” like it’s 2019?

Here’s a quick win: Add [5 min read] to your pre-header.

When someone sees an email from me, they get:

Subject: The marketing secret that got me in trouble…

Pre-header: [5 min read] My boss wasn’t ready for hack #3

Seriously, it’s the “this meeting could have been an email” of… well, emails.

People want to know what they’re getting into BEFORE they open.

When I started including read times in my pre-headers a few months ago, opens bumped up another 12%. Not bad for a 2-second fix.

MEME OF THE WEEK