How to Attract Attention and Get More Emails Opened

The email inbox is one of the most valuable places to influence people. But standing out in a crowded inbox has become more difficult than ever.

Most people receive dozens, sometimes hundreds, of emails every day. Even valuable messages can easily get buried beneath newsletters, promotions, work emails, and endless notifications competing for attention.

That is exactly why attracting attention is so important.

A fascinating example comes from the World Wildlife Fund. The organization regularly runs fundraising email campaigns and once tested two versions of the same subject line. One simply said:

“Nature needs you now.”

The second version added a small elephant emoji at the beginning of the subject line.

That tiny change produced a surprisingly powerful result. The email with the elephant emoji generated nearly 12 percent more opens.

The answer is simple. The emoji visually stood out in an overcrowded inbox. It immediately drew attention to the message and increased the chances that recipients would notice and open the email.

Attention is often the very first step in persuasion. If people never notice your message, the rest of the communication does not matter.

Five Powerful Attention Triggers

1. Motion

The human brain is naturally wired to notice movement. Even subtle motion can interrupt automatic scanning behavior and direct attention toward a message.

2. Shapes and Colors That Stand Out

Visual contrast naturally attracts the eye. Something that looks different from everything around it becomes more noticeable.

3. Unexpected or Unusual Messages

Messages that feel surprising, different, or slightly unexpected can interrupt routine thinking patterns and create curiosity.

4. People and Animals

Humans are naturally drawn to faces and living things. Images of people and animals often capture attention more effectively than objects or text alone.

5. Strong Emotion

Emotionally charged messages are harder for the brain to ignore. Excitement, surprise, urgency, curiosity, or even humor can increase engagement.

Why the Elephant Emoji Worked So Well?

The elephant emoji was effective not only because it stood out visually, but because it also aligned perfectly with the WWF brand.

It felt relevant and intentional rather than distracting or random.

That alignment strengthened the message while also helping it rise above the noise of a crowded inbox.