Guess how many emails are sent per day? 269 billion. That means in the time it takes you to finish reading this sentence, roughly 2.4 million emails have been sent out. That’s a lot of emails.

With billions of emails being sent everyday, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. We’re here to help you stand out. Check out 5 tips for creating memorable emails that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.

1. Create a simple, clean design

If you overwhelm your readers with too much information, they will most likely not read your email, no matter how brilliant it is. A clean, simple design will engage your reader. Include only the most necessary information and one eye-catching image.

Your email should also contain a call to action. Maybe you want them to subscribe to a newsletter or download an ebook. Readers will respond to you more if your email is more interactive.

2. Have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment

There are plenty of helpful websites (though not as helpful as us of course) out there that will give you advice on how to create the perfect look for your emails. While those rules are a good general guideline, don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment. Readers will appreciate your creativity, as long as your design isn’t too busy.

Just make sure that your emails are compatible with mobile devices, as many people read their emails inclusively through their phones.

3. Include useful information

If your emails are too promotional, readers will undoubtedly skip them over.  Try to include actual useful information. Ask yourself what problems readers might face that you can help with. Provide useful information up front and your readers will be more likely to engage with your content.

4. Know your audience

In order to provide the best content for your readers, you have to know them well. Advertisers often create buyer personas, which are fictionalized, general representations of their ideal customers. What’s the average educational level of your readers? What are their goals?

What events take place in their life?

Once you understand your audience better, you can use storytelling to grab your reader's’ attention. For example, if your audience is mostly young women, you can tell a story about a bachelorette party and relate it to your brand. After you have figured out how to connect with your readers, you will be able to provide content your audience cares about.

5. Respond to feedback

As a marketer, you should constantly be innovating. It’s a good idea to include a form in your welcome email to allow your readers to decide how often they receive your content. You don’t want to harass your readers into unsubscribing from your list.

Not every email you send will dazzle your readers. If you do create a brilliant email (probably based off our advice) it might be tempting to repeat the same design over and over. Unfortunately, this approach will probably lead to diminishing returns. Instead, make a list of the strongest components of that email and try carrying those strengths over to your next attempt. Remember, there is always something that you can improve.

There may come a time (gasp!) when your readers want to unsubscribe from your emails. Don’t take it too personally; the average person’s email inbox is 54% promotional material. Still, there might be a chance to win them back. Try providing an opt-down option, where your reader can simply reduce the frequency of the emails they receive from your website. Win-win.

Despite ominous predictions that emails are dying, numbers don’t lie. Billions of emails are sent every day, making email a powerful marketing tool—if you know how to use it. Educating yourself on the best methods is a great first step.  Now go forth and conquer! Detail your conquests in the comments section.