In your opinion, what's a successful layout for a high-performing email?

[Champion]

High-performing emails are focused on taking the essential parts of an email and making sure they are optimized to drive your contacts toward your specific goal. In your opinion, describe what a successful marketing email template looks like.

Extra credit: If you have an example to share (whether it be a drawing or screenshot), please upload it.

*To learn more about this, check out the Creating a High-Performing Email lesson via HubSpot Academy. 

[SLiW]

High-performing emails are focused on taking the essential parts of an email and making sure they're optimized to drive your contacts toward your specific goal.

Start with a goal on WHY you're sending it and then give reasons to support that goal.

First of all, you have to select the right goal and then you have to optimize each part of your email to drive conversions.

It's important to know what content you're sending, at what point and to what segment of contacts.

You have to answer 5 wh-questions to narrow down the goal.}

who

what

when

where

why

who - it's important that you know who the right person for this content and your email send is

what - what do you want your contacts to do with this email

when - in the awareness stage?, in the consideration stage?, in the decision stage?

where - do you want your email to be opened on  a smatphone?

why - questions to help you answer why:

what's the desired aoutcome?

is that outcome more for your benefit than for the reader's?

what value does the reader receive in this email?

how does this email fit into all the other conversations you're having with your contacts.

When it comes to optimizing eac part of your email to drive conversions:

You have to take into consideration two key actions:

The open

The click

The open

Your subject line is the door to your email.

41 - 50 characters is the average character lenght that will appear on a mobile device.

Avoid any language that isn't human or helpful.

For the subject line:

Keep it short and sweet

Personalize it when appropriate

Be creative

Keep your emails as a conversation (that's make them human)

The snipped is typically displayed underneath the from name and subject line in a subscriber's inbox.

Once you have this, you're setting your email up for a successful open, and then you can focus on the value you're providing inside of your email.

The click

It's necessary to write effective email copy

Write with clarity, purpose and have your primary goal in mind.

Use the right tone

Personalize it, this means making the content relevant and engaging for the reader.

Spell check

This is important because it's what gets your reader out of the inbox and onto the next step

Footer and CAN-SPAM compliance

CAN-SPAM Act: It is a law that gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

You must have a footer that includes your address and unsubscribe links for your readers to access at any time.

Finally images and design

Images are a great way to engage your reader.

Create the design of your email.

Emails can't do everything, use all your channels to your advantage to help your readers grow.

[Wandera]

A high-performing email should be clear, engaging, and action-driven. Start with a compelling subject line that sparks curiosity or urgency. Use a warm, personalized greeting to connect with the reader. Keep the body concise, emphasizing value and breaking up text for readability. Include a strong, clear call-to-action (CTA) that stands out and guides the recipient toward the next step. End with a friendly closing and, if needed, a postscript to reinforce urgency or add a secondary CTA. Simplicity, personalization, and clarity are key to maximizing engagement and conversions.

[Nowrin_Khan]

A successful layout for a high-performing email should be clean, visually appealing, and mobile-friendly. It should have a clear and concise subject line, an attention-grabbing headline, and a strong, prominent call-to-action (CTA). The content should be easy to skim with short paragraphs, bullet points, and relevant images. Most importantly, the design should guide the reader’s focus toward the CTA without overwhelming them.

[JGibson3]

a sucessful layout for a high performaning email begins with a great subject line, clear format that easy to read and information that is relevant to the subject.  A great high res image and a clear CTA.

[ASawyer0]

It is the Compelling Subject Line Preheader Text Branded Header & Logo Eye-Catching, Hero Image Personalized & Concise Cop Clear, Call-to-Action  Social Proof or Urgency Footer with Contact, Info & Unsubscribe Link

[Raheel_Arshad]

Short Example of Creating a High-Performing Email

There are two main components in creating a high performing email.

1. Setting a goal
2. Optimizing each part of your email to drive the conversions toward your goal

Setting a Goal

While setting a goal you need to consider five important questions:

Who are you sending the email to

What will be the content for your email

When in the buyers' journey you are sending the email

Where this email is going to be received i.e. location, mobile, computer etc

Why are you sending this email to the customer

Optimizing your Email

Next step is to optimize each part of your email to maximize the engagment and conversions.

You need to consider two key points at this step:

• The Open
• The Click

The Open: In order for your target to open the email you need to work on your subject line, name of the sender and email and preview text

The Click: After your customer opens the email you need to make sure that your email includes following aspects:

• Scanability
• Personlized Content
• Call-to-Action

Note* Before sending email to any prospect, don't forget to proofread your content

[KVargh]

A high performing email might need an enticing subject line and a convincing preview text to increase the click rate.

The email should show the purpose of communication, add value to the reader's time through the right tone, content, and a call to action to guide the outcome from the reader. 

[STech1]

In my opinion, a successful marketing email template is all about clarity, engagement, and driving action. Here’s what I think works best:

1. Attention-Grabbing Subject Line: Short, punchy, and benefit-focused (e.g., "Save 30% Before It’s Gone").
2. Preheader Teaser: A quick preview that builds curiosity (e.g., "Your exclusive offer awaits…").
3. Minimalist Header: A clean logo or branded banner for instant familiarity.
4. Personal Touch: Start with "Hi [Name]," to feel conversational and relevant.
5. Hook Up Top: 1-2 sentences that hit the main value or pain point (e.g., "Struggling to stay organized? We’ve got you.").
6. Visual Pop: One bold image (product, lifestyle shot, or simple graphic) to break up text and draw focus.
7. Scannable Content: Use short paragraphs or 3-5 bullets to highlight key benefits (e.g., "Save time, boost results, easy setup").
8. Standout CTA: A single, colorful button with urgent, action-driven text (e.g., "Get Started Now" in bright orange).
9. Trust Element: A quick stat or quote (e.g., "Rated 5 stars by 500+ users") to build credibility.
10. Clean Footer: Unsubscribe link, basic contact info, and optional social links—unobtrusive but compliant.

[KOsmillo]

For me, this includes the following:

1. A clear and enticing subject line that creates a sense of urgency and curiosity to encourage opens
2. A relevant and valuable body content that resonates with the email recipient
3. A clear and prominent CTA to take action
4. Has a clear and simple layout that's easy to navigate on mobile devices
5. Use of visuals and graphics to make the email more engaging.

[ikhelifa]

The subject has to create the curiosity from the first letter :
Use the first name of the prospect/client.
Very short paragraph with a question to expend the curiosity.
The button to click on needs to be clear and not complicated to find.

[LPWoods]

A successful layout is one that's clear and concise. My preferred format starts with a personalized Sender Name (John Doe from Company, a personalized subject line, and catchy preview text. The email begins with the company logo as the header image, followed by a personalized greeting and 1-2 short paragraphs, then a bullet list (if the content allows it, I may also use box text with graphics). The CTA button often comes afterward, but it's worth testing whether a button after the first paragraph performs better. The layout ends with a signoff, either generic or including the specific name of the sender, and then the boilerplate footer with address, contact info, unsbscribe button.

[Ofunne]

In my opiiinion, a successful layout for a high-performing e-mail is that it has a catchy "thumbnail" text that will attract the reader to open the email. It has a mysterious subject that makes them want to read more, followed by relevant, clear, quality and interesting images, good copy and has ONE goal/CTA

[DSC-KHallPhD]

A successful marketing email template is optimised for the mobile phone.  It has a short subject line that sounds human.  Ideally personalised with the receiver's name.  It has a CTA that is aligned with your email's goal.  The body of the email should drive the reader to engage with your CTA.  Overall a successful marketing email should engage the reader, be short & sweet, perhaps add visuals - if that will further engage the reader.  Most importantly meet the readers where they are - in their customer journey with your brand. 

[Znaoumi]

A successful layout for me is an well structed email, with a creative headline and some appealing images that match our goal. we should keep it as short as possible, a language style that is matching our buyer persona, using words that our customers use. and also having a minimalist design so the reader won't be overwhelmed by visuals.

[KJones812]

1) great subject line to hook the reader to open the email

2) preview text should be short and sweet - don't put discounts, offers in there or they will think it's spam

3) body of email should not be cluttered - should not have blinking images and clutter

4) be sure your CTA matches your goal

[alexander_]

A successful layout for a high-performing email would have a strong headline followed by short and precise content with short paragraphs and bullet points. It would have good images to support it, and a clear CTA.

[RSmalling]

Easy to understand and concise. 

[KWills-Jones]

clear and engaging subject line

concise header 
body text - easy to read
visuals - enhance the message.
strong call-to-action (CTA) 

[AliaK]

A successful high-performing email has a clear subject line, a personalized greeting, a concise and compelling body (focusing on benefits, not just features), a strong CTA (call to action), and a clean, visually appealing layout with minimal distractions.

[Darkhero77]

Subjectively speaking, a successful layout for a high performing email would be, having a clear goal in mind on what you desire on your CTA(get their emails, sign up, join a webinar and more), providing important value to your readers ,engaging and easy to understand.

[PSingh61]

A successful marketing email layout should have a clear and engaging subject line to grab attention, followed by a concise header that aligns with the message. The body text should be easy to read with bullet points or short paragraphs, and the visuals should enhance, not overwhelm, the message. Most importantly, there should be a strong call-to-action (CTA) that guides the recipient on what to do next. Personalizing the content and including social proof can also increase trust and drive higher engagement.