Most marketing emails are too long. They try to say everything at once, overwhelming readers and burying the real message. But in a world where attention is scarce, short emails win. Let’s dive into that and look at an example.
No ad this week…check out this free article I wrote for The Startup instead.
They get read. People skim emails, especially on mobile. A short, clear email keeps them engaged.
They drive action. With fewer distractions, readers focus on your main CTA.
They build trust. Concise emails respect the reader’s time, making them more likely to open your next message.
Bad: "We’re excited to announce our latest feature that allows you to manage projects more efficiently!"
Better: "You can now manage projects 30% faster—here’s how."
Don’t list every feature or benefit—focus on the one thing that matters most.
Avoid jargon. Keep it natural, like a quick text to a friend. Seriously, pretend you’re texting when you draft your next brief email blast.
Remove unnecessary words. Example:
❌ “We just wanted to quickly reach out and let you know that...”
✅ “Heads up—”
Not this: "Check it out when you have a chance!"
Do this: "Try it now."
Subject: Get more customers in less time
Body:
Struggling to grow your email list? Try this one trick: Ask for referrals in your welcome email. It works because new subscribers are most excited when they first sign up.
Here’s how to do it → [link]
Before sending your next marketing email, cut it in half. Then cut it again. Does it still make sense? Does it get to the point faster? Less is more.
What’s the shortest, most effective email you’ve sent? Hit reply and let me know!
Thanks for reading. See you next week. Check out these other newsletters for more marketing and business-related content. And please forward No Budget Marketing along to anyone else you think might be interested.
-Mike
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Find me online: bio.link/mikeholden