Email Copywriting Formulas You Should Steal
If you’ve ever stared at a blank email editor wondering what to write, you’re not alone.
The truth is, great email copy doesn’t have to come from scratch. The best marketers rely on time-tested copywriting formulas to write compelling emails faster, easier, and with better results.
Whether you’re writing a newsletter, sales pitch, product update, or welcome email, these formulas will help you write faster and better without reinventing the wheel.
Let’s break down the top email copywriting formulas you can (and should) steal.
🧠 Why Use Copywriting Formulas?
Copywriting formulas are structured frameworks that guide how you write persuasive messages. They help you:
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Save time
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Increase clarity
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Drive more opens, clicks, and conversions
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Avoid overthinking or overwriting
They’ve been proven to work across industries, platforms, and audiences.
🔥 7 Email Copywriting Formulas That Work Like Magic
1. PAS: Problem – Agitate – Solution
Use when: You want to highlight pain points and offer your product/service as the fix.
Formula:
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Problem: Start by stating a common pain or frustration.
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Agitate: Make it worse by digging into the emotional cost or consequences.
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Solution: Offer relief — aka, your product or offer.
Example:
Still wasting time on messy spreadsheets?
Every hour you spend fixing formulas is time you’re not growing your business.
Switch to [Tool Name] and automate your data management in seconds.
✅ Great for: sales emails, product launches, upgrades
2. AIDA: Attention – Interest – Desire – Action
Use when: You want to grab attention and lead readers to take a specific action.
Formula:
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Attention: Use a hook or bold statement.
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Interest: Share relevant details or benefits.
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Desire: Show emotional or practical outcomes.
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Action: Add a clear, compelling CTA.
Example:
You’re leaving money on the table.
Most businesses only convert 2% of their website visitors.
What if you could double that — automatically?
Try our free landing page builder and start converting better today.
✅ Great for: product promos, sales campaigns
3. Before – After – Bridge
Use when: You want to show transformation.
Formula:
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Before: Paint a picture of the current pain or problem.
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After: Describe the ideal outcome or benefit.
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Bridge: Show how your offer gets the reader from point A to point B.
Example:
Struggling to hit your email open rate goals?
Imagine getting 40%+ open rates on every campaign.
With our subject line generator, that’s not a dream — it’s your new reality.
✅ Great for: product launches, lead magnets, feature announcements
4. The 4 Ps: Picture – Promise – Proof – Push
Use when: You need to build trust quickly.
Formula:
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Picture: Create a relatable scenario.
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Promise: Highlight what they’ll gain.
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Proof: Add a testimonial, stat, or result.
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Push: End with a strong CTA.
Example:
You’re sitting at your desk, 50 tabs open, trying to meet a deadline.
What if your project plan ran itself?
Over 20,000 teams use [Tool Name] to stay ahead — without the stress.
Try it free and breathe easier today.
✅ Great for: case study emails, testimonial features
5. The 1-2-3 Formula
Use when: You want a clean, easy-to-read format.
Formula:
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Here’s what we’ve got.
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Here’s why it matters.
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Here’s what to do next.
Example:
Our latest guide to email automation is live.
It breaks down 10 proven workflows to save hours each week.
Click here to download it free.
✅ Great for: newsletters, announcements, content promos
6. Problem – Myth – Truth
Use when: You need to bust misconceptions and reframe thinking.
Formula:
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Problem: Call out a pain point.
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Myth: Highlight the common (but wrong) belief.
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Truth: Reveal the real reason — and offer your solution.
Example:
You’re not growing your list as fast as you want.
You might think you need more traffic.
The truth? You need better opt-in forms. We’ll show you how.
✅ Great for: education, list-building emails
7. The “Why Now?” Formula: Email Copywriting Formulas You Should Steal
Use when: You need to create urgency.
Formula:
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Why this matters
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Why this matters right now
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What to do next
Example:
Email marketing is still the most profitable channel in 2025.
But your competition is leveling up fast — and so should you.
Join our free 3-day challenge and build a list that actually converts.
✅ Great for: event invites, webinars, limited-time offers
Quick Tips for Better Email Copy (No Matter the Formula)
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Use short paragraphs and lots of white space
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Write like a human, not a robot
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Use action verbs and active voice
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Test your subject lines with tools like CoSchedule or SubjectLine.com
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Always include a clear CTA (and don’t bury it)
Final Thoughts: Email Copywriting Formulas You Should Steal
The best email copywriters don’t wait for inspiration they follow proven frameworks.
Use these formulas as your writing toolkit. Mix, match, tweak, and test them until you find what resonates with your audience.
