"Nobody replies to my emails"

Warning: This might be the first email advice you actually want to reply to.

Most newsletters ask for engagement the wrong way. So let’s explore how to ask in a way that gets actual replies, without sounding desperate.

One reader recently told me:

“It feels impossible to get responses when it seems like I’m sending emails to nobody.”

I know that feeling. It’s like shouting into a canyon and hoping the echo sounds like feedback.

But in most cases, silence doesn’t mean your audience isn’t interested. It usually means they’re waiting for a better invitation. Something that makes replying feel obvious and worth their time.

Make it frictionless

99% of newsletters end with a shrug: “Let me know what you think!”

That’s not a prompt, it’s a polite exit.

If you want replies, replace “open-ended” with “obvious.” Try:

• Get specific: “What’s one thing you’re stuck on in [your topic] right now?”
• Offer a choice: “Reply with A or B: Should I cover [topic X] or [topic Y] next?”
• Reference the reader: “Last week, 80% of you said [X] was a challenge. Is that true for you too?”

Show why it matters

People don’t reply when they think no one’s listening.

So say the quiet part out loud: Let them know you actually read and respond. That past replies shape your next email. That this isn’t a robot… it’s you.

Sometimes readers just need permission to engage. They may not even realize they can.

Start with a story

One of the best ways to spark replies is vulnerability.

Instead of asking a question cold, share your own challenge:

“This week, I completely stalled out writing a welcome sequence. Ever hit a wall like that?”

That one sentence says “We’re equals” and that’s when people start talking back.

Your next steps

Let’s put this into practice

If you want more replies, make it obvious why someone should respond and safe for them to do so.

Here’s how:

• Swap “Let me know what you think” with a question that’s easy to answer but meaningful
• Remind your readers that real people are reading, and you’re one of them
• Share something real about your own journey, even if it’s unfinished