How can I increase my pizzeria's weekly email open rate to above the current 30%?

Since you already have an excellent open rate, why not put more emphasis on your conversion rate? A 100% open rate with 0 conversions won't do you any good, now will it? ;) Make sure that getting email subscribers on your Twitter & Facebook list is a top priority, since it gives you more chances to increase your "open" rate, AKA getting them to the message that you want them to read. Then, make sure whatever it is that you want them to do once they open your email /click on your tweet/ read your FB update - is very clear to them. If you don't have a call to action, every week, you may consider sending less frequently so that people don't unsubscribe all together. I think including a coupon exclusive to email subscribers is a great idea, but a weekly would lessen the effect since they know all they have to do is look back in their email box and find one if they ever need it. It will keep them on your list, but what you really want is to get them in your pizza shop. Here are some pizza marketing gimmicks from that worked and you might find useful: http://blog.swipelyworks.com/pizza-marketing/5-pizza-marketing-gimmicks-that-actually-worked - especially the SPIN case study.

Wow! There are a lot of questions here. :) First thing I would do is look at your open rate. Did you know that 30% is actually a great open rate? The next thing is to figure out why you want people to open. Do you want them to take a certain action (redeem a coupon, come to the store, enter a contest, "like" you on facebook, follow on twitter)? What is your objective? From there, set a goal and test, test, test. Sending a different subject line to a segment of your list to try it out is better than changing something that is working for your entire list. If you see a lift in the open rate from the test, then you can roll out the change to the rest of your list. Define your objective, what you will consider success and then test. That's the only way you will know if what you are doing is working. Your email marketing efforts should be constantly evolving to keep your readers and customers engaged with your brand.

Subject lines make up the majority of the pull. Upto 80% is in the traditional direct mail headline. For email sometimes the "from" needs tweaking. People often forget it might say "John Doe" rather than "John's Pizza". Test new subjects to see which ones work. Look at the introductory part of the email, the lead. This maintains interest. Keep going through the main body for how it looks in HTML or plain text, desktop or mobile. Test calls to action and any order devices you use. Only test one change at a time though to know what works. Also try testing message times and dates.

Since you are concerned about email open rate and marketing ideas, I must say, you should have following strategies in 2 part:Marketing Strategy: Use attractive email subject lines Implement new promotions strategy inside the emails. Can ask for feedback, ask the customers to design their menu. Be engaging and never miss-guide with inappropriate subject lines. Right Technology Platform:For improving email open rate, you should follow latest technologies being used in email marketing. One is sending targeted emails to segmented customer groups. And, other one is using right technology infrastructures, like hybrid email marketing solutions from EasySendy Pro. These help in improving open rate upto 150%.

Assuming everyone you are sending to has opted in then the best way to encourage them to open it is through an intriguing or enticing title. If every week it's "My Pizzeria's Weekly Newsletter" then you are unlikely to have high open rates. If it's "Chef shows how to make the best pizza in 5 simple steps." your chances of success are much higher. If you go with the free pizza plan then include that in the title and your opening rates will skyrocket! There are many blog articles out there on crafting great titles. Once that's done I agree with that you need to be focusing on conversion. A few well crafted subjects, each with a goal in mind and clear calls to action, will see your email subscribers converting in to paying customers.

30%. That's not bad when it comes to open rates. That's 6x better than Facebook. Here are 3 things you can do to increase open rates and conversion: 1. Give your readers something valuable inside each email that relates back to you. Combine thank-you messages, giveaways, and coupons along with a list of healthy foods that you can offer (for the weight watchers). 2. Implement this to avoid the Gmail Bots and raise your open rates: Keep it short and sweet Hold the links to one (possibly 2) Include as much information about the reader Be consistent with delivery Every email must add value to reader No pictures No sales pitch No RSS Text Form In HTML You must have an amazing subject line Reply to Messages But doing this you will stay clear of the new filtering system Google has implemented.  More explanation here: http://lukeguy.com/why-i-hate-email-up-for-newsletters-i-like/ 3. Make your emails more conversational. Do whatever you can to get them talking. This keeps you alive inside their mind and that's a good thing when they're hungry on your side of town.

Commercial e-mails bring an average of 22% open rate, according to the Direct Marketing Association. So your 30% is quite satisfying. Try to include a "Call-to-action" in your e-mail's subject line, so that they know why they have to open, and how they will benefit from opening. But try your best for a good offering, because there will be no second time, if they see there is nothing in there for them.

One other thing you really want to focus on is list hygiene.  Today more than ever, email providers make it harder and harder to get out of the junkmail folder once you get put in.  Sending to invalid email addresses will kill your deliverability to the user Inbox and can eventually even get you blacklisted altogether if your bounce rate is too high.  I would highly recommend using a service like http://BriteVerify.com - BV can identify bad email addresses so you don't waste time and money sending to them.  The service can work in your web sign up form on your site so people don't register with invalid email addresses, or you can also just send your file of data over for verification.

Email marketing depends on various factors. Enticing your customers through your subject line is good, but keep in mind it must be short. And with this strategy, you might get them to open your emails for the first time, but in the long run, they'll know it's just your way of mailing them, which will ultimately affect your reputation. So I'd suggest you to not do that.Here's a link of articles about increasing your email open rate. Read them. They are worth it.http://huntinghundred.com/increase-email-open-rate/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/increase-email-open-rate/144864/