This Is Where Sales Go To Die

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This is where you begin… BUT it is also where MOST sales end… And Just like THAT… they’re Gone

If your reader can’t get past your first sentence, it’s over. 💀

If they’re already snoozing at the thought of spending another second reading… you messed up. 

And guess what? It’s your fault.

But don’t panic—I’ve got you.

Today, we’re diving into how to write opening lines so gripping, they’re impossible to ignore. Let’s go. ⬇️

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The First Line That Kills or Converts

Most people think an email’s job is to sell. Wrong.

Your email’s job is to be read.

The first line’s job? To get them to read the second line. The second line’s job? To get them to the third. And so on, until they can’t stop reading.

This is called the slippery slope effect. If you do it right, they won’t even realize they’re sliding down the email until they hit the CTA (and take action).

But if you fail at this?

They’re gone. And they’re never coming back.

Worse? They’ll start ignoring your emails altogether. Open rates will drop. Sales will plummet. And suddenly, your once-engaged audience becomes a ghost town.

Curiosity is Your Secret Weapon

A boring opening is a death sentence for your sales. But you know what keeps people reading? Curiosity.

Your first sentence should force the reader to ask:

👉 “Wait, what do they mean?”
👉 “Where is this going?”
👉 “I need to know the answer to this.”

Here’s an example:

Yesterday, I got asked a question I never thought I’d hear.

What question? Who asked it? Why was it so unexpected? The reader has to keep reading to find out.

Or this:

Last night, I had a sudden realization… and it changes everything.

What realization? What changed?

These openings work because they demand attention. They create mental tension that can only be resolved by reading further.

Compare that to:

"Hey, I wanted to reach out and tell you about our latest offer."

Click. Delete. Unsubscribe.

The Two Biggest Mistakes That Kill Your Email Openings

There are two major reasons most emails flop in the first few seconds:

🚫 Mistake #1: A Wall of Text
Ever open an email and immediately see a giant block of text staring back at you?

Yeah. No thanks.

When people see a wall of text, they tune out. It looks like work.

Fix this by using white space. Keep your sentences short. One-liners. Two-liners. Make it easy to read.

🚫 Mistake #2: No Curiosity
If your first sentence doesn’t make the reader wonder what’s next, you’ve lost them.

Think about how TV shows keep you hooked. They end episodes on cliffhangers. They tease the next episode with an open loop—something unresolved that forces you to tune in.

Your email should do the same.

Here’s What You Need to Do (Right Now)

If your emails aren’t getting read, they aren’t getting clicks. And if they aren’t getting clicks, they aren’t making money.

Here’s how to fix it:

✅ Write a first sentence that sparks curiosity. Leave something unsaid—make them need to read on.

✅ Keep it short. One line, two max. No walls of text.

✅ Use white space. Short, punchy sentences. Easy to scan. Easy to read.

✅ Look at your own inbox. What emails do you actually open and read? Steal that format.

✅ Test different first lines. Run A/B tests. Find out which types of openings hook your audience best.

Still Unsure? Try This…

Take a look at your last three email campaigns.

Now, delete the first sentence and replace it with something that makes the reader curious.

Then, compare the engagement rates before and after.

I guarantee you’ll see a difference.

Because when you hook them at the start, the rest takes care of itself.

Real-World Example: Why This Works

Let’s say you’re selling a health supplement.

You could start your email with:

"Our new gut health formula contains powerful probiotics to support digestion and well-being."

Or…

"Spit or swallow? Turns out, it makes a HUGE difference for your gut health."

Which one are you more likely to keep reading?

Exactly.

The second one creates curiosity. It makes the reader wonder what you’re talking about. It pulls them in.

This is the difference between emails that get ignored and emails that drive sales.

Fix This, Fix Everything

If your first line is weak, nothing else in your email matters.

Your offer could be incredible. Your product could be life-changing. Your CTA could be flawless.

But if they never get past that first sentence?

It’s game over.

So don’t let your sales die at the start.

Fix your first line.

Cheers
The InBoXer Team