Hey {{First Name}},
If deliverability feels fragile or you just want a quick win, there’s one email every brand should send occasionally.
It’s simple.
It’s boring.
And it works.
The reply-bait email
This is a plain-text email, sent from a real person at the company, with no links.
The only goal is to get replies.
That’s it.
Why this matters:
Replies are one of the strongest positive inbox signals
It trains inbox providers that people want your emails
It boosts future placement without touching volume or content
Think of it almost as a deliverability reset button.
Why it works so well
Reply-bait emails:
Get high open rates (they look personal)
Avoid spam triggers (no images, no links)
Create real engagement (replies > clicks)
Every reply is a positive hit on your sending IP.
That’s gold.
💡 NOTE: Make sure your support team is notified that this is happening, as it can cause hundreds or THOUSANDS of inbound emails.
What to actually send
Keep it short. Human. No marketing voice.
A few examples:
“Quick question NAME. We’re planning on doing X and wanted to personally ask you, what’s one thing you want us to improve this year?”
or
“We’re planning our next drop and I’d love your input. Worth replying with one thought?”
or
“Out of curiosity, what made you buy from us the first time NAME?”
That’s it.
No CTA buttons. No links. No design.
When to use this
This works especially well:
Before a big promo period
When warming a list back up
If deliverability has dipped
Or when engagement feels stale
You don’t need to send this often, just intentionally.
Most brands try to fix deliverability with tools, throttling, or complex rules.
Sometimes the best move is just:
Strip it back
Sound human
Ask for a reply
If you want, reply to this email and I’ll send a few reply-bait templates we’ve used successfully for different scenarios (discounts, surveys, product feedback, re-engagement).
– Anthony