What does a low open rate usually indicate about an email campaign?

A low open rate often indicates that the subject line may not be compelling enough to catch the attention of recipients. The subject line serves as the first impression of the email; if it does not spark interest or relevance for the audience, they are likely to ignore it and not open the email. An effective subject line should create curiosity, convey the value of opening the email, or resonate with the recipient's needs and interests.

Other factors can affect open rates, but the subject line's influence is generally the most immediate. For instance, while sending timing and the complexity of content can impact engagement, they typically do not influence the initial decision to open the email as directly as the subject line does. Similarly, while visually appealing emails may enhance engagement once opened, they do not play a role in whether the email is opened in the first place.