This Old House email examples & ideas
1. 3 Ways to Get Rid of Ice Dams—Fast! 🧊
Objective
This email aims to educate homeowners on urgent, practical solutions for ice dam removal while driving engagement with This Old House’s digital content, including app downloads, episode streaming, and insider membership. It positions the brand as a trusted authority for seasonal home maintenance and long-term repair guidance.
Why this works
The email opens with a vivid, problem-focused headline that immediately resonates with homeowners facing winter damage, using emotional urgency to hook readers before offering practical, trusted solutions.
How to implement
By integrating educational content with product and service CTAs, like app downloads and episode guides, it seamlessly blends utility with monetization, turning a how-to guide into a multi-touchpoint engagement funnel.
Pro Tip
Add a visual countdown or seasonal urgency indicator near the ice dam solution section to reinforce time-sensitive action, since ice dams are a winter-specific problem that benefits from immediate attention. • Reposition the 'Download the This Old House App' CTA closer to the hero image or integrate it as a sticky banner, since it’s buried below the main educational content and risks being overlooked by time-pressed readers.
2. How to Remove Smoke Smells, Gas Fireplace Safety, and More!
Objective
This email aims to drive engagement with the This Old House Radio Hour podcast by highlighting practical, timely home improvement topics and encouraging immediate listening. It also promotes the House Insider membership to deepen audience loyalty and unlock premium content.
Why this works
The email smartly frames each episode topic as a direct solution to a common homeowner pain point, like smoke smells or gas fireplace safety, making the content feel immediately relevant and actionable rather than just informational.
How to implement
By embedding precise timestamps next to each learning objective, the email respects the reader’s time and positions the podcast as a structured, efficient resource, which increases perceived value and encourages completion of the episode.
Pro Tip
Add a visual progress bar or episode duration indicator near the CTA to reduce perceived time commitment and increase click-through by reassuring users the episode is digestible within a short timeframe. • Include a short audio preview or voice snippet from Darren Hudema or Lewis Black directly above the CTA to create emotional resonance and auditory curiosity, which can significantly boost conversion for audio-based content.
3. How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing 🥶
Objective
This email aims to drive engagement with the This Old House Radio Hour podcast by highlighting practical, seasonally relevant home maintenance tips, specifically preventing frozen pipes, while encouraging immediate listening through a clear CTA and promoting long-term value via the House Insider membership.
Why this works
The email opens with a highly relevant seasonal pain point, frozen pipes, immediately signaling value to homeowners in cold climates, which builds instant relevance and urgency without needing a sales pitch.
How to implement
By listing specific, time-stamped takeaways from the episode, the email transforms passive content into an actionable learning experience, helping listeners visualize the ROI of investing 30 minutes in the podcast.
Pro Tip
Add a visual progress bar or episode duration indicator near the CTA to reduce perceived time commitment and increase click-through by reassuring users the content is digestible. • Include a short, embedded audio preview or transcript snippet from the pipe-freezing segment to demonstrate value before the click, reducing friction for hesitant listeners.
4. Creating a Safe and Healthy Home 🏡
Objective
This email aims to engage homeowners by delivering practical, safety-focused home maintenance advice while promoting brand loyalty through content consumption and app downloads. It also drives membership sign-ups by highlighting exclusive perks like ad-free streaming and live Q&As.
Why this works
The email opens with a high-stakes, emotionally resonant headline about home health risks, immediately capturing attention by framing maintenance as a safety imperative rather than a chore, which builds trust and urgency.
How to implement
By embedding episode previews with specific host names and project details, the email transforms passive content into an experiential invitation, making viewers feel like insiders who are being personally guided through real home solutions.
Pro Tip
Add a visual progress bar or countdown timer near the 'Join Insider Today' section to create urgency around membership perks, leveraging FOMO to convert passive readers into paying subscribers. • Reposition the 'Download the This Old House App' CTA higher in the flow, ideally beneath the hero image, so it’s seen before users scroll past, increasing app installs by aligning with initial engagement momentum.
5. Upgrade Your Kitchen For Less 💸
Objective
This email aims to help homeowners declutter and organize their outdoor spaces by showcasing five smart, space-efficient storage solutions that double as functional decor. It positions These Old House as a trusted advisor for practical, stylish upgrades that solve real summer storage pain points.
Why this works
The email opens with a relatable seasonal pain point, cluttered patios and garages, then immediately positions each product as a tailored solution, making the reader feel understood and the offer personally relevant.
How to implement
Each product is presented with a clear visual, followed by a concise feature list and a persuasive 'Why We Like It' section that ties functionality to emotional benefits like peace of mind and aesthetic harmony.
Pro Tip
Add a clear primary CTA button beneath each product description to reduce friction, currently, the only CTA is in the subject line, which may not drive clicks for readers scrolling past the header. • Include a short testimonial or customer rating near each product to build social proof, especially since the email mentions editorial review but lacks real-user validation to reinforce trust.
6. Keep Warm with These Outdoor Heaters
Objective
This email aims to drive sales of outdoor heaters by showcasing top-rated models that transform chilly patios into cozy gathering spaces, while subtly guiding readers to a buying guide for additional decision-making support.
Why this works
The email opens with a strong emotional hook, turning chilly patios into cozy gathering spaces, which instantly aligns the product with lifestyle aspirations rather than just utility, making the purchase feel like an upgrade to comfort and social enjoyment.
How to implement
Each product is presented with a clear, benefit-driven headline and a concise description that highlights unique features like heating radius, space-saving design, or portability, helping readers quickly identify which heater fits their specific outdoor setup and usage needs.
Pro Tip
Add a brief comparison table or visual icon system (e.g., heating radius, fuel type, mounting options) under each product to help readers quickly evaluate options without needing to click through to individual pages. • Insert a short testimonial or customer quote near the top of the product grid to build social proof early, reinforcing the claim that these heaters are 'top-rated' and increasing perceived reliability before the reader scrolls further.
7. Preventing a Frozen Septic System 😱
Objective
This email aims to educate homeowners on preventing frozen septic systems during winter while driving engagement with This Old House’s content library and membership offerings. It also promotes seasonal content, products, and media to build brand loyalty and encourage app downloads.
Why this works
The email opens with a high-stakes, seasonally relevant problem, frozen septic systems, to immediately capture homeowner attention and position the brand as a trusted, proactive solution provider before offering actionable advice.
How to implement
By embedding multiple content CTAs (episodes, DIY guides, gift ideas) within a single email, the campaign transforms a utility-focused message into a multi-touchpoint engagement funnel that nurtures users across different interests and intent levels.
Pro Tip
Add a visual progress indicator or checklist under the 'Here’s How to Prepare' CTA to guide users through the steps, increasing perceived value and encouraging completion of the recommended actions. • Reposition the 'Join Insider Today' section higher in the email, perhaps after the hero, to capitalize on initial engagement and convert readers while they’re most motivated by the problem-solution narrative.
8. Celebrate Valentine's Day With These Home Favorites
Objective
This email aims to inspire couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home by showcasing curated, cozy products that enhance romantic, relaxed experiences, while driving sales through direct product links and cross-category discovery.
Why this works
The email brilliantly reframes Valentine’s Day as a cozy, at-home experience by curating products that support shared relaxation, turning a traditionally外出-focused holiday into a warm, intimate domestic celebration.
How to implement
Each product is presented with emotional context, like movie nights or date-night cooking, making the items feel essential to the romantic experience rather than just commodities, which deepens emotional resonance and purchase intent.
Pro Tip
Add a subtle countdown timer near the CTA in the hero section to create urgency around Valentine’s Day, encouraging immediate action before the holiday passes. • Include a short customer testimonial or social proof snippet under one or two high-impact products (like the foot spa or raclette grill) to reinforce trust and validate the romantic experience claim.
9. 👉 Inside an 1896 Victorian in Needham, MA
Objective
This email aims to engage subscribers by teasing a new renovation project in a historic 1896 Victorian home, while also promoting the brand’s app, TV episodes, and educational content to deepen viewer loyalty and drive traffic to multiple platforms.
Why this works
The email opens with a compelling narrative hook, revealing a historic home before renovation, which instantly creates curiosity and emotional investment in the project’s transformation journey.
How to implement
Strategically interspersing episode highlights with practical how-to guides and product recommendations keeps the content varied and useful, catering to both entertainment seekers and DIY homeowners without feeling overly promotional.
Pro Tip
The CTA 'Take a Sneak Peek' is buried under text; move it above the hero image or make it a sticky button to increase immediate engagement and reduce scroll friction for mobile users. • The 'Shop' section featuring garage heaters feels disconnected from the Victorian renovation theme; replace it with tools or materials used in the episode to maintain narrative continuity and strengthen product relevance.
10. Take Back Your Entryway!
Objective
This email aims to help homeowners regain control of their entryways during winter by showcasing practical, high-quality organizational products that tackle mud, snow, and clutter while encouraging immediate purchases through clear product benefits and direct CTAs.
Why this works
The email brilliantly frames each product as a solution to a specific winter pain point, like melting snow or muddy paws, making the benefits instantly relatable and emotionally compelling for homeowners overwhelmed by seasonal messes.
How to implement
By organizing products into clear categories like Entryways and Storage, the email guides the reader logically through their home’s problem zones, subtly teaching them how to think about organizing their space while nudging them toward purchase.
Pro Tip
Add a subtle countdown timer or limited-time offer badge near the top to create urgency, especially since winter is a seasonal window, this would nudge procrastinators into acting before the season peaks. • Include a short customer testimonial or star rating under one or two high-impact products (like the Dog Door Mat or Boot Dryer) to reinforce social proof and reduce perceived risk for first-time buyers.