How to get more people to open emails, such as newsletters, etc?

I own a flower shop, and I email a monthly informative newsletter (it's an opt in list--these people have asked to be on the list) with flower care, a monthly flower recipe they can do at home, history of a different flower each month, quirky holidays list with dates, etc. I also send out 1-2 additional emails each month to promote a sale or something. Compared to others in my industry, I send a fraction of emails (some send 2-3 each week), yet only 14% of recipients open my emails each month. I try catchy but not gimmicky subject lines...one month the newletter's subject line was, "Debunking Floral Myths--Why Mouthwash is Bad for Flowers and More". Any hints or tips as to how to get more people to open the emails? Thanks!

How to get more people to open emails, such as newsletters, etc?
Yes, it is getting more difficult to do email marketing -- even with a 100% double opt in list.



First, make sure that your list is indeed 100% opt in -- without trickery. When you ask people to sign up for the newsletter, make sure that they actually not sign up and not have the newsletter signup box checked by default



Then clean up your list. Look at your mailing list, and segment your current subscribers. Remove those that have not opened your emails for the last year (or some other timeline). If they have not opened your emails in the last year, chances are they are not going to open it again.



Remove from your list those who have blocked you, or bounced emails, or emails no longer exist. It may cut your list by half, but you will be left with the more responsive half.



As part of segmenting your list, send different sets of emails to those who have just purchased from you, as against those who have purchased from you 5 months ago.



Then of course make your offers more compelling. Look at your past emails and their open rates. What types actually got the best open rate? Then tweak that some more
Reply:I sell candles and i face the same issues. Try sending the e-mails to those who open it and teling them that if they refer people that you would give that person a discount and the person a discount as well. I find that to be the best way to gain customers.
Reply:Do you mean, how do your force people to spend their personal time paying attention to your advertising? Something called free will makes me believe they are not interested in your e-mails.