_The following article is a guest blog post by Helen Cartwright._ _Helen Cartwright is a passionate blogger, who excels in the Digital Marketing and Technology niche. When not wired in marketing strategies she ghost-writes for a variety of authors who have their work published on leading online media channels such as The Huffington Post and Entrepreneur.com._If you use email marketing to earn sales and retain customers so that you can get the most from your effort, you are probably wondering what steps will allow you to enhance your click-through rate.Finding the right path can seem impossible if you don’t know where to start or how to move forward.Luckily, you will soon uncover the top steps that will encourage your subscribers to take action. If you monitor your progress, you will be amazed when you discover how much a few changes can impact your bottom line, and you will know that improving your click-through rate was the right call when you see the outcome.[](https://s3.amazonaws.com/movableink-blog-production/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/15191854/Funnel.png) _Image Source: [blog.thesocialms.com](https://blog.thesocialms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ctr1.png)_#### Use a Consistent DesignUsing a consistent design is a smart step for anyone who wants to get better results. Opting for the same background color as your website will remind your readers why they signed up for your mailing list, but adding your logo will also help.The font that you use in your emails will also play a role in the outcome that you can expect. In other words, do your best to make each email that you send look like one of your webpages, and people will notice.#### Use the Right LayoutIf you have not been trained in [email marketing](https://www.shopify.com/blog/email-optimization), you might have a hard time deciding what type of layout you should use in your campaigns, which is understandable. Since randomly listing your points will harm your bottom line, you will want to put some thought into the process. When you want to grab attention, start with the most important part of your message first, but using subheadings and bulleted lists will also take you far.Doing so will make your email easy to scan and show people why they should read your content. Some marketers and business owners will use giant walls of text in their emails, but you don’t want to make that mistake. Using small paragraphs will make your content easy to read, and you will hold the attention of your prospects.#### Use ImagesIf you don’t use images in your emails but want to improve your click-through rate, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. [According to a study by Vero](https://www.getvero.com/resources/increase-email-click-through-rates/), companies that use images in their email campaigns enjoy a conversion rate that is 42 percent higher than the ones that don’t. If you run a startup and are on a tight budget, you can find tons of free stock images if you are willing to look, and they will allow you to get people to visit your website or Shopify store.But if you can fit them into your budget, buying premium images and using them in your email campaign can work wonders to enhance your profit. Depending on the size of your email, putting one image in the header of your message should do the trick, but you can experiment if you want to see what works the best for your business.#### Use BenefitsIf you make the mistake of focusing more on yourself and your business than on the needs of your prospects, your business will never go far. Rather than caring about you or your history, your prospects are interested in what you can do for them, so each email should focus on the benefits that you can provide to your prospects when they buy from you.Using this tip will make a difference for your bottom line, and you will be pleased with the result. If you don’t know about your customers’ needs, conducting market research is worth the effort and will empower you to refine your approach.[](https://s3.amazonaws.com/movableink-blog-production/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/15191906/AnnTaylor.png)_Image Source:_ [_klaviyo.com_](https://www.klaviyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ann-taylor-email-example.png)#### Use Directional CuesIn addition to using an effective layout and utilizing a strong call-to-action, taking advantage of visual cues is another great way for you to enhance your results. Arrows that you place on your website will draw people’s attention to where you want it, and you can experiment to see how using arrows will impact your click-thru rate. You can also use pictures of people if you make them look in the direction to which you want your readers to turn their focus.#### Use a Limited Offer[](https://s3.amazonaws.com/movableink-blog-production/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/15191913/EBAYUK.png)_Image Source: [smartmail.io](http://smartmail.io/resources/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/eBay_reminder_email-1.png)_Even when your prospects are interested in what you have to offer, they won’t always take action right away. Many of them will plan to click your link at a later time, but the problem is that most of your prospects will forget about your message.You can overcome that issue by using special discounts and limited offers. By placing a time limit on your offer, you will encourage people to move fast because they won’t want to miss their chance to get a good deal. You can take this tip to the next level by placing a timer near your call-to-action.#### Final ThoughtsIf you want to get an outstanding return on your investment of time and money, craft a strategy that will optimize your click-through rates as much as possible, and the rewards will be worth the effort. When you use the right design, focus on the needs of your prospects and use a strong call-to-action, you will gain impressive results. Not only will you get more sales, but you will also entice buyers to become long-term customers.Although this formula will get you moving down the right path, you will still want to run tests to see if making small changes can help. Following the proper steps and using the correct approach will increase your profitability, allowing you to enjoy the best results possible.
5 Proven Ways to Improve Your Click-Through Rates
