It’s that time of year again! Sun’s out, sandals on, and half your audience is mentally sipping a fruity drink by the pool. Summer brings a seriously needed break for many of us, but it also brings something else: a steep drop in attention to detail. This is the season when communication can easily slip through the cracks, and nowhere is that more dangerous than in your email strategy. Let’s talk about how to keep your email communication sharp, even when the heat (and the inbox fatigue) is on.

First… Did They Actually Opt In?

It’s super tempting to do a big send to your entire email list, especially if you’re short on time. But summer is no time to play fast and loose with your email contacts. If someone didn’t clearly opt in to hear from you, should they really be on your list? Before sending your next message, ask yourself:

Would this person notice if they didn’t receive this email? If not, that’s a sign it might be time to rethink your approach or remove them from your active list.

Have they engaged with anything I’ve sent in the past three months? If they haven’t opened or interacted lately, it’s worth segmenting them into a re-engagement list.

Am I sending this because it’s helpful or because I want to hit my numbers? Sending just to send doesn’t move the needle. It weakens your impact over time.

Every person on your list should want to hear from you. You want emails to feel like a welcomed guest, not an uninvited vacation crasher. If your message doesn’t make someone pause, click, or feel a spark of value, it’s probably better to hold off and fine-tune your targeting.

Be a Human, Not a No-Reply

One of the easiest ways to stand out during the summer slowdown is to sound like an actual human being. When people receive your email, does it feel like it came from someone real? If you’re using a generic “[email protected],” you could be missing an opportunity to build a connection. Try to make sure:

The “From” name is a person (not just your company).
Replies go to a monitored inbox, ideally one where someone responds.
Your tone is friendly, professional, and personal. Not robotic.

Use your name and share your personality. Summer’s slower pace can be a perfect time to nurture those connections outside of business.

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

You’re busy. Maybe you’re multitasking, approving content while planning a weekend trip, or sending updates from your phone while at your kid’s swim meet. That’s when little mistakes slip in. The wrong tone, missing attachments. Here’s a mini-checklist before you send:

Is your message clear and concise?
Have you double-checked the links, attachments, and recipients?
Would you be embarrassed if this email ended up on the front page news?
Also… are you sure you want to hit Reply All?

Before you press send, just take a beat. Summer mistakes are forgivable at the beach, but not necessarily in someone’s inbox.

Short Attention Spans = Stronger Subject Lines

With open rates naturally dipping in summer months, your subject line has to work overtime. Your audience is trying to decide in a split second whether to open your message or not. When you write your subject, ask:

Is it clear what this email is about?
Does it spark interest or urgency?
Would I open this email?

A subject line like “Quick July Update” might be accurate, but “Our Summer Offer Ends Friday!” is far more likely to earn that click.

Let’s Make This Summer Count

Clean, clear, human communication always wins. Especially when your audience is halfway out the door (mentally or literally). Every email is also a chance to remind your customers that you see them, even if they’re reading it poolside.

At Jason Hunter Design, we help businesses create communication strategies that work in every season, including the slow ones. Fill out the form below and let’s talk about how to sharpen your email strategy while everyone else is checking out. Because even in flip-flops, your brand deserves to stay buttoned up.