9 Email Subject Line Tips

Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer who has just refreshed their email, and these are the first two subject lines to appear:

Want 50% off tickets?

CLICK HERE to receive 50% off on your next ticket purchase!!!!!

Would you open the first email and send the second straight to the trash, or vice versa?

A subject line is the first thing a potential customer will see when opening their email. Therefore, they can either make or break you. With the help of a successful subject line that is engaging, it is likely to increase the average open rate of your emails.

Now the next question is, what is it that makes a subject line appealing?

Here are 9 tips that can heighten the success of your next email, all with a “winning” subject line!

Tip #1: Get to the Point

              Don’t sugarcoat it. The subject line should embody what is being offered or promoted in the email itself. A subject line that is not clear/concise or is too wordy is less likely to grab a potential customer’s attention.

              Ultimately, it can be said that the less words used, the higher the open rate. People are quickly scanning through their email, so a lengthy subject line will probably draw them away. For instance, filler words would not be necessary. Instead, get straight to the point.

Tip #2: Be Creative

            When it comes to making a subject line, the more creative the better. The more boring it is, the more likely it is for people to skip over the email entirely. The subject line is a great way to be more witty or even punny. Having a creative subject line could increase the chances of a higher open rate because it will catch the eye of the reader.

              This is a great opportunity to show off the creative side of YOU or your company/brand, so why be generic!

Tip #3: Personalize It

Including a personal touch is a lot more engaging to customers. For instance, including their first name, the industry they work for, or even their job title will be more likely to grab their attention.

“Great meeting you, Sam!”

“Sam, we need you at Nike!”

It can be said that an email is more likely to be opened when the subject line includes some sort of personalization to it. Catering to the individual in which you are sending the email to will only make the email stand out more from the rest.

For example, including one’s job function, industry, or even their title, can increase open rates.

“What’s Trending for Marketers”

Think about it. If a subject line is relating to you, you’ll more likely open it.

Tip #4: Make an Offer they Can’t Refuse

            Right off the bat, the first thing people will see when opening their email is the subject line. That being said, people are always looking for a good deal or ways to save more money. Having a call to action in the subject line may leave them feeling as if they are the first to receive the offer, making it hard to refuse.

              For example, “Just 10 tickets left!” ties into not only having a sense of urgency, but also making an offer that they won’t want to lose.

Tip #5: Urgency

            To create a sense of urgency, including phrases like “Last Chance” or “Now or Never,” could lead to an increase in open rates. Think of if it was you opening your email and the first to pop up has the subject line “Last Chance 50% off Tickets.”

Intriguing, right? It is likely you will take a quick look at the email to make sure that you won’t be missing out on a great deal.

Tip #6: Keep it Simple

              When trying to capture people’s attention, the best way to do so is getting straight to the point, but also keeping it short and sweet. Big, confusing words may cause person to send the email straight into the junk folder.

              In addition, a large percentage of people normally check their emails on their mobile device. A lot of the time, subject lines will get cut off if they are too long, leaving the potential reader confused and likely no longer interested.

Tip #7: Test the Subject Line

              Luckily for you, there are so many different sites that allow you to test out your subject lines before sending out your email! After entering your subject line, these sites will rate it out of 100. They also give helpful tips and let you know if the line is too wordy, too long, unnecessary information, and much more!

              And the best part of it is, most of these sites are completely free to use!

Tip #8: Ask a Question

Can you think of anything more engaging than asking a question?

(See didn’t we grab your attention right there!)

Including an open-ended question in your subject line is just another great way to grab the readers’ attention. It will also strike a sense of curiosity and leave them wanting to open the email and figure out what the answer to the question might be.

Tip #9: Emojis Anyone?

              As previously mentioned, creative subject lines are a must, so what better way than to add an emoji! Including a fun emoji, that obviously correlates to what your email is about, is likely to draw a readers’ attention. Theoretically speaking, who doesn’t like emojis?

“This will make you smile”

“This will make you 😃”

              Having an emoji that correlates with the subject line is a positive way to engage a reader into opening your email. Wouldn’t you prefer the line above that includes the emoji?!