How to Write Emails That Feel Personal (Even to Thousands of People)

You’ve probably heard that email marketing is one of the best ways to grow your online business…but let’s be real. No one wants to read another boring, robotic email that sounds like it was written by a faceless company.

People want connection. They want to feel like you’re talking to them, not at them, even if they know they’re on a big email list.

So how do you write emails that feel personal, build trust, and actually get read – even when you’re sending them to thousands of people? Let’s break it down.

1. Write Like You’re Talking to ONE Person

   The biggest mistake people make? Writing to their entire list instead of one individual.

   How to Make Your Emails Feel More Personal:

   • Use “you” instead of “you guys” or “everyone.” (“You’re going to love this” feels more personal than “Hey everyone, check this out!”)
   • Picture a real person when writing. Imagine you’re emailing your best customer, a friend, or even yourself a year ago.
   • Keep it conversational. If you wouldn’t say it in real life, don’t write it in an email.

   Example:

   • Boring & impersonal: Hey everyone! Hope you’re having a great day. Here’s what we have for you today…
   • Warm & personal: Hey, have you ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels in your business? I know I have…

   See the difference? One feels generic, the other feels like a real conversation.

2. Use Their Name (But Not in a Creepy Way)

   People love seeing their name! It grabs their attention and makes the email feel like it was written just for them.But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.

   • Wrong: Hey [FIRST NAME], I hope you’re having a great day, [FIRST NAME]! Here’s what I want you to do next, [FIRST NAME]… (Too much, right?)
   • Right: Hey [FIRST NAME], I was thinking about you today because…

   Pro Tip: Use their name naturally in the email. Maybe in the greeting or once within the first few sentences, but that’s it.

3. Tell Stories (Even Short Ones)

   Nothing makes an email feel personal like a story. It grabs attention, builds connection, and makes your emails more enjoyable to read.Story Ideas That Work Well in Emails:

   • A personal experience (a challenge you faced, a lesson learned, or a quick behind-the-scenes look)
   • A client/customer story (real-life results help build trust)
   • A relatable struggle your audience might be facing

   Example: Instead of saying: “You need to be consistent with your content.” Tell a story: “I used to post randomly whenever I ‘felt like it’… and surprise, I wasn’t getting results. But once I started using a simple content plan, everything changed…”

   Stories make your advice more powerful. Use them often!

4. Keep It Simple & Easy to Read

   People don’t read emails word for word. They skim. If your email looks like a wall of text, they’ll click away fast.

   Make It Easy to Skim:

   • Use short sentences & paragraphs (1-2 sentences max per paragraph)
   • Add bold text or bullet points for key takeaways
   • Write in a casual, natural tone

   Example:

   • Hard to read: “Email marketing is one of the best tools for growing your business, but many people struggle with knowing what to send, when to send it, and how to make it engaging enough so their audience actually reads it and takes action. Here’s what I recommend…”
   • Easy to read: “Email marketing is powerful—but let’s be honest… figuring out what to send, when to send it, and how to make it engaging? That’s where most people get stuck.

   Here’s the simple way to fix that…”

   Breaking it up makes it more inviting and easier to digest.

5. Use a Friendly, Natural Tone (Ditch the Corporate Speak)

   The fastest way to lose a reader? Sound like a formal business memo.Not good: “Dear valued subscriber, we are pleased to announce our latest offerings…”

   Good: “Hey! I’ve got something today that’ll make your life way easier…”

   Talk like a human. Use contractions (you’ll, it’s, I’m). Keep your tone warm and approachable, like a friend giving helpful advice.

   Pro Tip: If you’re not sure if your email sounds natural, read it out loud. If it feels weird to say, rewrite it! In fact, I’m usually talking out loud when I write my email, so I can tell right away if it works or not.

6. Make It About THEM (Not Just You)

   People don’t care about you. They care about how you can help them.Instead of: “I’m launching a new program this week!”
   Try: “Here’s a simple way you can [solve their problem]—and if you want more help, I’ve got something special for you.”

   Pro Tip: A good rule of thumb: Use “you” more than “I” in your emails.

7. End with a Simple Call to Action (CTA)

   If you don’t tell people what to do next, they’ll do nothing.Your CTA doesn’t always have to be “buy now.” It can be:

   • Hit reply and tell me…
   • Click here to grab your free guide
   • Check this out and let me know what you think
   • Read this blog post for more details

   Pro Tip: Make one clear CTA per email. Don’t overwhelm people with too many options. (…and if you’re now going, Jessica, you almost ALWAYS have more than one CTA, you’d be right! And it IS OK to do that sometimes. But if you want the highest click through rates, you really should stick to just ONE CTA per email.)

Final Thoughts: The Secret to Personal Emails (Even for a Big List)

Your email list isn’t just a group of subscribers. It’s made up of real people.

Recap of the Key Strategies:

• Write like you’re talking to one person
• Use their name naturally
• Tell stories to build connection
• Make emails easy to read
• Use a friendly, conversational tone
• Focus on the reader (not just yourself)
• End with a clear call to action

Emails that feel personal get opened, read, and acted on. You don’t need fancy copywriting skills. Just be real, relatable, and helpful.

Try these tips in your next email and see how your audience responds!