The preview text (sometimes called a preheader) is the brief bit of copy that follows the subject line of the message in the mailbox. It’s typically used to give recipients a taste of what’s inside the email and entice them to open it.
Custom previews allow you to control what appears in this space so that your emails are displayed the way you want them. Relevant previews encourage reader interaction. But the space is limited, so you should use it wisely by writing a custom message that signifies what’s in your inbox.
Preheaders and previews are both pieces of text that appear before an email’s contents to give a brief overview. The one difference between them? It’s where you see this type of message. Previews show you what’s coming up in an email before opening it:
While preheaders give more info about the entire message as soon as they’re clicked on:
The preview and preheater are two closely related concepts. If you don’t set up separate previews, a preheader will automatically become part of the preview inbox message. This is why these concepts are intertwined.
You can customize your previews with custom text in the email builder. For example, Selzy’s feature allows you to enter a preheader copy at the top of each message by placing the Text content block at the top and filling it with appropriate content. You can choose to make it visible or hidden.
We won’t describe all the steps here, since we wrote a detailed article on how to add preview text to your emails.
With no preview text, email clients and ESPs will pull different pieces of your message into the preview line. As a rule, they are usually taken from your first 150 characters (with spaces) and include any image captions that may be present.
To write a good preview, you need to make your email exciting. This means focusing on what will make them open the email and avoid giving too much info or describing details of an upcoming event.
Here are some examples and best practices for crafting great email previews:
Think about how your subject line and preview text work together. They should flow seamlessly from one into the other, like two halves of a whole. Your creativity is best spent here — feel free to use emojis or personalization to make sure that your emails stand out against others on people’s screens.
Clio’s email subject line and preview text form a complete sentence, making sure that recipients can understand the message at a glance. This clever strategy ensures that its emails are easy to read and comprehend.
One of the best things you can do to improve your previews is to put your most important keywords at the beginning. This will help people who are scanning their inboxes quickly to see what’s inside. Make sure that your keywords are relevant to your email content, and that they accurately describe what’s inside.
So, the Dissolve company in its preview text from the first words makes it clear what content is waiting for their subscribers in its email.
Your email preview text should be short and sweet. Think of it as a mini headline about what’s coming next.
When sending an email, keep in mind how much preview text you’re allowed. The character limit for preview and displayed messages varies among email providers, but it’s best not to go over 90 characters so your recipient can see everything that was sent. Mobile users will need shorter previews as they have less screen estate on mobile devices.
If you want to get people excited about your email, don’t give away all of the important info in the subject line. Instead, play on their curiosity by writing a tease in the preview and leaving some details for them without revealing too much.
Teasing subscribers with just enough detail while still making it clear what’s inside can be an efficient approach that encourages recipients into opening emails when they’re already hooked.
The subject line of this email is designed to get people wondering what homeowners complain about the most. The preview leaves readers wanting more and makes them interested in opening up their inboxes.
If you want customers to buy your product now, you need to create a sense of urgency. This can be done by setting time limits, having limited supplies, or offering limited openings. By making your audience feel like they need to act fast, your message is more likely to be read.
A good incentive in the form of urgency is what makes people act quickly.
In this example, the subject line promises that you’ll save 25% on your next purchase, and the preview text urges you to take advantage of the sale before it ends (this week only).
Curiosity is an emotion that can be useful for email marketing because it gets people thinking. If you leave your audience with unanswered questions, they may be more likely to try and find the answers themselves. This can be beneficial for your business as it encourages engagement.
Who doesn’t love getting a present? Everyone likes feeling thought of and appreciated.
If the offer is compelling enough, it will be the reason people open the email. So instead of trying to be clever and mysterious, just give them the offer upfront and make them open the email with a clear call-to-action like in the example below:
In previews, include personal details that will grab the reader’s attention and build trust. This could include their name, location, or recent actions or services received. By making your email more personal, you improve the chances that it will be opened and read.
The personalized nature of an email is key when it comes to creating upsell or abandoned cart emails.
The way emails are displayed varies depending on the devices and email clients used. The length of the text preview and how it is displayed also varies depending on the email client.
So it’s best to keep your previews brief, within 50-100 characters. This way, people on any device will be able to see your preview text and get a sense of what your email is about.
Give your email marketing a makeover with engaging preview text that will keep people reading. The following types might come in handy:
