has this ever happened to you?

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This past Saturday, I met up with some new friends for drinks and drawing. It was a lot of fun, and I’m so glad I went!

Naturally, the conversation turned to dating — specifically, how much it suuuucks in 2024. One of the girls asked if anyone had been on a good first date lately, and I couldn’t help but share my experience (since it was literally the night before, lol).

I was excited to meet this guy. I’d gotten all the green flags over text, and he seemed like someone who could hold a decent conversation. But… when we actually met? All he did was ramble about himself. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Don’t get me wrong, he was nice. But I couldn’t even get a word in — he never asked me a single question.

And I’ll be honest, by the third time he started a new story about his truck without even pausing to ask me about my interests? I mentally checked out.

When I brought this up to the girls, they all groaned in agreement. “Why do so many guys think a first date is their personal podcast episode?” one of them joked.

We all had the same complaint: It’s frustrating to be in a conversation where you don’t feel seen.

When it comes to email marketing, it’s not that different. Your subscribers don’t want to be talked at — they want to feel like they’re part of the conversation. And that’s where emotional triggers come in.

How Emotional Triggers Can Improve Your Open Rates

What Are Emotional Triggers?

Emotional triggers are the feelings that make someone stop and pay attention. \

They tap into our natural reactions (like curiosity, urgency, or even nostalgia) and make your emails feel personal, relatable, and worth opening.

It’s kind of like a playlist that hits just right — the kind that makes you stop mid-task and think, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed to hear.”

And no, it’s not about being manipulative. It’s about understanding what your audience cares about and creating an emotional connection that makes them feel seen.

Why It Matters

Your subscribers’ inboxes are FULL of emails they'll never even open. Think about it, how many emails are left unread in your inbox? I'd bet a decent amount. 😜

Intentionally using emotional triggers helps you to break through that pattern of being ignored by tapping into the heart of what your audience actually cares about.

When someone feels understood, excited, or even intrigued, they’re much more likely to open your email — and that’s the first step toward building trust and getting them to take action.

Examples of Emotional Triggers in Copy

• Curiosity: Subject lines like “Wait, you haven’t heard this yet?!” or “This one thing changed everything…” make readers want to know more.
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• Urgency: Phrases like “Last chance to save!” or “Only 24 hours left!” create a sense of FOMO that pushes action.
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• Nostalgia: References to shared memories or cultural moments can create an instant connection, like “Remember when we were all stuck in the house for months?”​
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• Empathy: Subject lines that reflect your reader’s struggles — “Struggling with flat hair? You’re not alone.” — make them feel understood and open to solutions.

How It Helps You Write Better Emails

When you use emotional triggers intentionally, your emails become more than just another thing collecting digital dust in someone’s inbox.

They create a moment of connection, showing your readers you get what they’re feeling or craving (& not just talking to hear yourself talk lol).

This makes your emails stand out and builds trust over time, which means better open rates and stronger relationships.

Your 5-Minute Challenge

Look at one of your upcoming emails. How can you add an emotional trigger to your subject line or first sentence?

Maybe it’s a question that sparks curiosity or a phrase that makes them feel seen. Pick one trigger to test and see how it changes your open rates!

Reading: Been beebobbing between Stalking Jack the Ripper during my cardio days at the gym (pro hack: read when you're on the stair master. time FLIES) and The Power of Now (A MUST READ!) before my morning journal sessions.

Listening: I moved on from Hate to the second book, Liar, and now Fake. It's a reverse harem, dark romance, mystery series that, oddly enough, keeps getting better the further into the series I get (usually it's the opposite!)

Wellness Goal: To try and get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Now that I (finally, lol) have a couch, I feel like I'm finally sleeping better at night so here's to hoping no more 5 hour nights🤞🏼

Obsessing Over: My new bicep tattoo! I'd been saving up for over 2.5 years and I go in tomorrow to finish it! It helped me process a lot of heavy emotions & it means SO much to me. Can't wait to show you!! :)

You know that sinking feeling when your emails feel like they’re just... there? You’re sending them, but the engagement isn’t what you hoped for, and the ideas aren’t flowing like they used to.

It’s not just frustrating — it can feel like a total waste of your time, right?

What if your emails felt effortless again? No scrambling for ideas, no “ugh, what do I send this week?” moments — just a clear, actionable plan that connects with your audience and aligns with your goals.

You’re not second-guessing every send. Instead, you know exactly what’s working and why.

That’s exactly what I want to help you with in January. With my audit, 90-day strategy, and content plan, we’ll map out everything you need to start the year strong.

Whether it’s refreshing workflows or creating content that speaks directly to your readers, this is about building a foundation for emails that will support your business goals all year long.

And, if you book now through December 1st, you'll also get 15% off! If you want to chat about if it's the right move for you, you can book a free consult call here.​

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Always here when you need me,

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