In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay shares an important email marketing tip - making sure your first email communication with a new prospect or customer gets opened. He explains why that first email open rate is so critical for future deliverability and customer lifetime value.

Key Discussion Points:

- The first email you send to a new prospect or customer is the single most important one. Getting it opened helps receiving systems (like Gmail) learn that the person wants to receive your emails.

- Most businesses mistakenly send a plain "thank you" as the first email. But people don't open these because there's no incentive. Low open rates on the first email hurt future deliverability.

- To increase open rates, create an intriguing subject line promising exclusive offers, discounts, or special content. Give them a reason to open it.

- Getting the first email opened can increase lifetime customer value by 80%, because it enables more communication long-term.