Why Your Emails Aren’t Converting (And How to Fix It)
Hey there, Rebecca here.
My mission is to write copy that feels unmistakably you—capturing your voice, sharing your stories, and engaging your audience in a way that drives real impact.
Once you understand this, you’ll be leaps ahead of many business owners.
The truth is most business owners are great at running a business…
But they’ve never been taught how to write emails that convert.
So, they spend hours crafting the perfect emails.
Hit send…and then?
Crickets.
No replies…
No clicks…
No conversions…
Sounds familiar?
Your emails might be getting opened, but if no one is clicking or replying, something isn’t working. ➡ (Boost open rates and sales with an engaged email list)
You tell yourself, maybe they’re busy or maybe it went to spam—but deep down, you’re probably wondering… what am I doing wrong?
After writing hundreds of emails, I can tell you the three biggest reasons emails fall flat—and most importantly, how to fix them fast.
1. You’re Writing At Your Audience, Not To Them
Ever been stuck with someone talking at you instead of with you?
I’m sure you have.
You feel trapped, your interest wanes, and you start subtly looking around for someone to rescue you.
It’s not a great experience, and for some reason, many people slip into this talking-at-you style when they sit down to write emails.
They become formal and robotic and sound like they’re making a company announcement.
However, luckily for the reader in this situation…
They don’t need to wait to be rescued; they just click delete and rescue themselves!
How do you fix it?
It’s not just about writing—it’s about making your message resonate with your reader.
Do your emails sound human—or like a corporate memo? (Why most marketing is boring and how to make yours impossible to ignore).
Write like you’re talking to a friend. Imagine one ideal client and write as if you’re emailing just them.
Use natural language.
Drop the corporate tone.
And make it personal.
A great example of this in action? Stealing the Reader’s Mind: The Art of Mental Choreography in Copywriting explains how to craft copy that gets inside your reader’s head and keeps them engaged.
2. You’re Asking for Too Much (or Nothing at All)
I see this all the time: emails that are packed with links, multiple CTAs, and a whole lot of “buy this, check that, follow me here.”
The reader becomes overwhelmed by the options.
And ends up doing nothing at all.
Or on the flip side, they don’t ask for anything.
They’re just informative and end with a “hope you enjoyed this!”
Whilst this might be nice, it’s a bit of a waste of time and doesn’t move your business forward.
Or get your readers in the habit of taking action.
How do you fix it?
Make it easy for your reader.
Stick to one clear goal per email.
If you want them to book a call, make that the focus.
If you want them to click a link, remove all other distractions.
A confused reader doesn’t take action.
So, make it easy for them—give them one option.
For more on this, check out The Velocity of Belief: How to Speed Up Buyer Decisions with Your Copy to learn how to write in a way that makes saying “yes” effortless.
3. You’re Trying to Be Informative Instead of Persuasive
Here’s an email mistake no one talks about: giving too much value.
Sounds weird, right?
We’re constantly told to give value.
But the reality is, we are drowning in a sea of information…
And no one needs or wants more.
What your ideal clients are actually looking for is transformation.
To solve their problems.
To understand your solution.
If your emails are just teaching without guiding people toward a solution, you’re missing out on sales.
How do you fix this?
Write stories that demonstrate how your solution works.
The transformations people experience and the results they get from working with you.
Then show them how to buy.
Want to see how storytelling increases conversions? Your Story = Your Biggest Sales Asset (Here’s Why) walks you through how to use personal and client stories to sell effortlessly.
The Bottom Line?
Emails convert, but only if they’re written to connect, persuade, and drive action.
Use these tips to sharpen your skills and get those emails converting. And if you want to dive deeper, check out The Email Goldmine: How to Sell More Without More Subscribers for more strategies.
Need more help?
Let’s talk. I write high-converting emails for business owners who don’t have time to figure it out themselves. Click here to discover how we can work together.
