Holidays offer a golden opportunity for promotional emails, but many miss the mark by relying solely on discounts. In this review, we’ll take a close look at a typical Labor Day Sale email to identify some of the tactics used – and the opportunities to do better.

Holidays like Labor Day are a golden opportunity for companies to run promotions, but all too often, these emails miss the mark by relying solely on discounts and lacking context. I conducted a quick search in my inbox for “Labor Day sale” to see which brands are offering promotions.

One email that caught my eye is from Teachable. You’re probably familiar with Teachable if you’re a course creator, and chances are some of you are already using their platform.

The email subject line reads: “Today only: Celebrate Labor Day with 20% off of plans.” This subject line creates a sense of urgency by emphasizing that the discount is available for one day only. I received this email on a Saturday morning.

Upon opening the email, I was greeted with a banner that reinforced the 20% discount and emphasized the urgency. It’s a smart move because it encourages recipients to click the image and learn more about the offer.

The countdown timer displayed prominently in the email is another effective tactic. It reminds subscribers of the limited time they have to avail of the 20% discount. As of the time I opened the email, there was only one hour left.

While these elements are great, I found that the email could benefit from some variety in its messaging. The same message about the 20% discount was repeated several times throughout the email, which could potentially come across as redundant.

There’s also a line in the email that caught my attention: “You have the knowledge to build an impactful business through courses, coaching, and downloadable content.” While this statement is inspiring, it may not resonate with everyone. Many people may aspire to build an impactful business, but they might not feel they possess the necessary knowledge. This is an area where the email could be improved by addressing the knowledge gap and offering support.

One aspect I wasn’t too fond of was the line, “But don’t wait, tomorrow’s discount won’t be quite as major.” This statement somewhat dilutes the urgency created by the “today only” message. It implies that there will still be a discount available tomorrow, which might not encourage immediate action.

One missed opportunity in this email is the absence of customer testimonials.

Teachable could have featured testimonials from successful content creators who have used their platform to great effect. This would add credibility and showcase the real-world benefits of their service.

Learn more about using testimonials to drive conversions.

In conclusion, while discounts are undoubtedly attractive, they’re not always enough to sway potential customers. In today’s competitive landscape, brands need to go beyond discounts and tell a compelling story that resonates with their audience.

Thank you for joining me in this review. I’m Monica, an email marketing copywriter, and I’m passionate about showing people that email marketing can be authentic, engaging, and highly effective without resorting to overly salesy tactics.