5 Shocking Reasons Why Your Email Click-through Rate Is Low

You’ve spent hours writing the perfect email.

The subject line is clever, the design looks great, and you’ve included that shiny new call-to-action button right where it belongs.

But after all that effort, the numbers tell a different story:
Your click-through rate is… disappointing.

Sound familiar?

If you’re here, you’re probably frustrated—and rightfully so. Low click-through rates (CTR) can feel like shouting into the void.

But here’s the thing: you’re not alone, and it’s not always about writing better copy or designing prettier emails (though that helps too).

There are often hidden culprits dragging your numbers down—and in this post, we’re going to uncover them.

Let’s walk through five surprising reasons your CTR might be underperforming, and how you can turn it around—especially if you’re using (or thinking of using) a smarter tool like MailDrip.io to automate and improve your email marketing.

1. You’re Sending to the Wrong Segment

Let’s be honest: if you’re still sending one-size-fits-all blasts to your entire list, you’re leaving money (and engagement) on the table.

Relevance is everything.

People open emails that speak directly to them. But if your email about a new photography course is going out to people who signed up for copywriting tips, they’re not going to click—no matter how great your content is.

How to fix it:

• Start segmenting your list based on interest, behavior, or purchase history.
• Use drip sequences tailored to those segments.

With MailDrip.io, segmenting your audience is painless. You can easily tag subscribers based on what they clicked in previous emails or which form they used to sign up. Then, set up drip sequences that match their interests.

Pro Tip:

Start small—just segment your list into “engaged” vs. “unengaged” users, and tailor your next campaign for each. You’ll likely see an instant boost in CTR.

2. Your Call-to-Action Is… Hiding

You’d be surprised how often CTAs are buried under walls of text or blend into the email design. If readers have to work to find your link or button, many won’t bother.

Ask yourself:

• Is your CTA clear?
• Is it placed above the fold?
• Does it use compelling, action-oriented language?

Instead of saying “Click here,” try something more specific like:

• “Start your free trial now”
• “See how it works”
• “Grab your discount today”

With MailDrip.io’s templates, you don’t need to be a designer to make CTAs pop. Pick a layout, drop in your message, and let the structure guide readers toward the action.

3. You’re Sending at the Wrong Time

Timing isn’t just about convenience—it’s about catching your audience when they’re actually checking emails.

What works for one audience might flop for another. A B2B audience might be most active Tuesday mornings, while a lifestyle brand targeting young creatives might do better late at night or on weekends.

What you can do:

• Test different send times (not just once, but consistently)
• Monitor open + click data over time

MailDrip.io makes this easier than you’d expect. With Pay-As-You-Go scheduling, you can experiment with daily, weekly, or monthly sends—no guesswork, just flexibility.

4. Your Emails Look Bad on Mobile

Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your design isn’t optimized for phones, you’re likely losing clicks before users even finish scrolling.

Clunky layouts, tiny buttons, or image-heavy emails that load slowly—these are silent CTR killers.

Quick fixes:

• Use mobile-friendly templates
• Keep your copy concise
• Make buttons big enough to tap

MailDrip.io offers mobile-optimized templates out of the box, so your emails look clean and clickable on every screen size—no coding needed.

5. You’re Not Building Curiosity

Here’s something not enough marketers talk about: curiosity drives clicks.

If your emails give away everything, there’s no reason for readers to click. The trick is to tease just enough value to make them want more.

Compare these two approaches:

❌ “Our new eBook is out. Download it here.”
✅ “Learn the 3 mistakes most creators make when launching their first product—mistake #2 will surprise you.”

One gives away the punchline. The other opens a curiosity loop. Guess which one gets more clicks?

If writing compelling copy feels overwhelming, don’t sweat it. MailDrip.io gives you free templates and proven copy formats to get started fast. You can even A/B test subject lines and body content to learn what gets your audience excited.

So, How Do You Fix a Low CTR (Without Burnout)?

Getting people to click your emails isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about giving them a reason to care, a clear next step, and delivering it at the right time.

If you’re tired of trying to do everything manually, or your current tool just isn’t helping you move the needle, MailDrip.io might be exactly what you need.

We designed MailDrip to take the complexity out of email automation—whether you’re sending once a week, or managing multi-step nurture flows. With features like:

• Segmented drip campaigns
• Mobile-optimized templates
• Flexible, PAYG scheduling
• Free built-in email copy frameworks

…you can finally build smarter, more personal email journeys that actually convert.

Try MailDrip.io today—no subscriptions, no stress.

FAQs

What is a “good” click-through rate?

It depends on your industry, but generally, a CTR of 2–5% is average. Higher than 5% is considered strong, but if you’re below 2%, it’s a sign something’s off.

Is it better to send emails daily, weekly, or monthly?

It depends on your audience and the type of content you send. With MailDrip’s PAYG model, you can test different frequencies without being locked into a plan.

Do I need to hire a designer to make mobile-friendly emails?

Not at all. MailDrip.io includes beautifully-designed, mobile-friendly templates you can customize in minutes—no design or coding skills needed.

Can I import my list from another platform?

Yes! MailDrip.io allows easy import of your existing email lists, so you can switch without losing any data.

Over to You

Email marketing is still one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal—but only if your readers are clicking through.

Now that you know what might be holding your CTR back—and how to fix it—there’s no reason to keep guessing.

What’s the first change you’ll make to boost your email click-through rate this week?

Let us know—or better yet, try it out with a free campaign using MailDrip.io. You might be surprised at how simple (and effective) email marketing can be.