Email subject lines are the first impression you make on your subscribers. They can make or break your open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. How can you write catchy, relevant, and engaging subject lines that stand out in the inbox? Here are some tips to improve your email subject line writing skills.
Before you write any subject line, you need to know who you are writing for. What are their pain points, interests, goals, and preferences? How do they talk and what do they respond to? Use tools like surveys, analytics, and segmentation to learn more about your audience and tailor your subject lines accordingly. For example, if you are targeting millennials, you might use emojis, slang, or pop culture references to catch their attention.
Knowing the audience is very important. Before any action in digital marketing, try to know your audience first and design several personas based on the type of service and product as well as the target market. According to the results of the campaigns, update the audience persona and bring it closer to your main audience.
It's becoming a lot harder to stand out in a sea of email communications, but with careful consideration of your audience, you might just hit the jackpot: 1. Pay extra attention to visualization. Images, gifs and even videos make your content even more digestible and attractive 2. Avoid spam - Refrain from using words and phrases that commonly trigger spam filters 3. Experiment - Conduct A/B tests using various subject lines to identify the ones that connect most effectively with your audience 4. Review - Regularly assess the effectiveness of your email subject lines. Analyze open rates and refine your approach based on what resonates most with your audience.
I try to spend some time thinking like my target client. I consider what they're doing right now and what would grab their attention and immediately add value. When I send an email, I keep in mind that I should be trying to solve my prospect or client's problem - not mind. My problem is how do I sell my service? Their problem may be an under-resourced marketing department that isn't hitting deadlines, or an end of financial year rush that's impacting sales or...whatever. I always try to go for a walk while putting myself in their shoes. A change of scenery and a physiological shift leads to better ideas, for me anyway.
Avoiding spammy language in your email subject lines is essential to ensure your emails reach the recipient's inbox and don't trigger spam filters. Spam filters are designed to identify and filter out unsolicited or potentially harmful emails.
Before creating a subject line, You must fully understand and know your audience well. Understand what they care about, how they communicate, and what grabs their attention. Use tools like surveys and analytics to learn more about them. This ensures your messages resonate with your audience and boost engagement.
Your subject line should communicate the main benefit or value proposition of your email in a clear and concise way. Avoid vague, generic, or misleading subject lines that don't tell the reader what to expect or why they should open your email. Use words that trigger curiosity, urgency, or emotion, but don't overdo it or sound spammy. Keep your subject line short and sweet, ideally between six and 10 words or 50 characters or less.
Marketers often think the length of the subject line matters...that should not be the focus. The most important part of your subject line is the first few characters. People DO NOT read the whole subject line... Starting your subject line with a number, a capitalized word, a word within brackets, an emoji...anything to grab attention early (and no that won't cause you to go to the junk folder - that is old news)
Short and minimal content is more appealing to the audience, as many people do not have the time or interest to read long content. Therefore, try to write as concisely as possible and present the key points in a simple and smooth way. You can use the inverted pyramid method, which means writing the most important information first and then providing the necessary details later. This way, the audience can get the main message quickly and refer to the explanations if they want to.
Don't drag your subject line ever and also don't try to be click bait-y in your subject lines to increase the open rate. People will may be fall for it once or twice but you'll lose the game in the long run. Make it simple, clear, and personalized to have a lasting impact on your target audience.
The fewer words, the better - consider emoji use and capitalization as well in your testing if you feel like there's an appropriate audience and safe environment to do so. Without being misleading, see how few words you can use (I have found 2-3 are the best, with a preheader that closely mimics the opening copy of the email) can boost open rates exponentially. If it looks like a friend sent you a note quickly from their mobile? Perfect. Just make sure the content aligns and your segmentation makes sense for the subject line and copy.
The subject line of your email should be very clear and crisp so that it can communicate exactly what you want to tell your audience. Frame the line in a way that caters to the interest of your audience and they want to open it otherwise your motive of sending the email will not be fulfilled. Plan the layout of the email body so that the content is clear and capable of communicating properly what you want to communicate through it. Try to use words that arouse a feeling of curiosity in the mind of the viewer so that they are keen to read it. Also, try to keep the body of the email short as no one wants to read lengthy emails.
One of the best ways to improve your email subject line writing is to test different versions and see what works best for your audience. You can use tools like A/B testing, split testing, or multivariate testing to compare different elements of your subject lines, such as word choice, length, tone, punctuation, personalization, or format. Track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to measure the performance of your subject lines and optimize them accordingly.
Don't forget A/B testing. Try to design some small campaigns and based on their results, optimize and run the main campaign. Use the results of previous campaigns for optimization.
One of the best ways is to try multiple subject lines and then figure out what is the one way that matches the interest of your audience. Try to be creative with the lines and send them to your audience to figure out which types of lines work best with your audience. Try different types of tones and punctuation to test the compatibility of the mail with your audience.
A/B testing is very important. -Test with multiple creatives on a small set of data. -Test with multiple Subject line -Try to optimize based on the every test campaign learning in new campaign.
Your email subject lines are like the first handshake with your subscribers - they set the tone for what's to come. Getting them right can significantly impact your open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. So, how do you craft subject lines that truly grab attention? Test and Learn: To become a subject line maestro, start by experimenting. Try out different versions and see what resonates with your audience. Tools like A/B testing can be your best friend here. Compare aspects like word choice, length, tone, punctuation, personalization, and format. Keep an eye on metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to fine-tune your subject lines based on what's working best.
I often advise testing different subject lines to identify which ones resonate with your target audience and lead to increased open rates. Three strategies to consider are: Curiosity-Driven Lines: These aim to intrigue readers. For example, "This secret changed everything for us..." can make readers eager to uncover the mystery. Benefit-Focused Lines: Highlight the direct value or advantage for the reader. A line like "Unlock 50% more productivity with this strategy" clearly states the benefit. Personalization: Personal touches can make emails feel unique. "Exclusive deal for [Name]!" gives a sense of exclusivity. There's no one-size-fits-all. Continual testing, refining, and adapting are key to optimizing your email outreach.
Personalization can make your subject lines more relevant and appealing to your subscribers. You can use data like names, locations, preferences, behavior, or purchase history to customize your subject lines and make them more specific and targeted. For example, you can use a subject line like "Hey John, here's a special offer for you" or "How to use your new <product name> like a pro". However, don't overuse personalization or make it creepy or intrusive. Use it sparingly and appropriately to add value and build trust.
Personalization doesn't mean including your customer's <<first name>> in the subject line only. It means crafting a subject line tailored specifically for them—reflecting who they are, what they do, and what they aspire to be. Name the audience: "5 Fundamental Tools for a UX Designer." Name the process: "Say goodbye to CSV exports with this new integrated dashboard from ACME." Name the outcome: "Unlock these 3 career steps to become a Marketing Director." Put it all together. "99.5% of CMOs have abandoned attribution models, and this is why."
Personalization = people-first. You need to put people at the center of every interaction and that starts with your email subject lines.
Personalisation in your subject line has multiple effects. 1. It grabs attention in the times of so many mails on the inbox. 2. It acts as connect and makes you feel not among a long spam list of emailer. 3. It builds a trust, making the receiver feel the sender knows the list for once
Personalization helps in making your target audience feels special. It can be based on their pain points too. In my experience, personalized emails works best when an event is near by and you offer some special discounts. For example: With a subject line of "Christmas Gift for Steve", offer 20% discount.
Use the recipient's information such as name, company name, industry, etc. in the subject line and email body. Segment your email list and send personalized emails to each group of subscribers. Use dynamic content to personalize your emails based on the recipient's interests and purchase history.
Your subject lines should stand out from the crowd and spark interest in your subscribers. Don't be afraid to be creative and original with your subject lines and use techniques like humor, storytelling, questions, or surprises to pique curiosity and entice clicks. For example, you can use a subject line like "You won't believe what we found in your closet" or "The secret to getting more done in less time". However, don't sacrifice clarity or relevance for creativity. Make sure your subject lines still match the content and purpose of your email.
Creativity can definitely level up the whole game. Using different approaches according to different circumstances can help in better conversion. For Example: A headline for Halloween ca be "Here is a Spooky gift for Paul" and then follow it with a story in the body but don't derail from the subject.
All of the best examples of marketing are creative and original. The subject line isn't just a tick-box exercise. Avoid boring, unoriginal and poorly thought-out subject lines. (e.g. "Quick Question for Jamie") Instead, make sure you stand out, grab attention and generate intrigue.
I like to break down subject lines into 6 types. Command: Encourages an action. Curiosity: Provide a snippet of text that builds intrigue and makes the supporter want to find out more. Informational: Make a statement Question: Asks a question Quote: Uses a quote from the email Timeliness: Conveys a sense of urgency Most subject lines I see fall into the "Informational" category, but to be creative and improve your open rates use any of the other types.
Think of what a typical subject line would look like, deconstruc it and write it in the exact opposite way in every aspect (without it being misleading). The light version of it would be to somehow put your most controversial statement of the email into the subject line
Fun and interesting subject lines peak the readers curiosity and encourage them to open. Keep the subject line relevant to the email content. Ask a question, to encourage them to open the email and find the answer.
Finally, before you hit send, make sure you proofread and polish your subject lines. Check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization errors that could hurt your credibility and professionalism. Use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or CoSchedule Headline Analyzer to help you improve your subject lines and avoid common mistakes. Also, preview your subject lines on different devices and platforms to ensure they look good and fit the screen. A well-written and polished subject line can make a big difference in your email marketing success.
Always go through your write-up and proofread it before sharing it with the world. Don't share your first draft, read it, polish it and then publish it. Use AI if you are stuck for some new ideas or want someone to give you a review on it.
Polishing your email subject lines is a fundamental step in effective communication. Ensuring they are free from errors and well-crafted not only reflects professionalism but also enhances the clarity and impact of your message. It's important to invest time in refining subject lines, as they serve as the gateway to your email content, leaving the reader with a lasting impression of your communication skills. Utilizing proofreading tools and testing on various platforms can significantly contribute to the success of your email marketing efforts by emphasizing a goal of brevity and precision.
For me there are a number of balances to be made between: - aiming for something that grabs attention but it mustn't be clickbait. - finessing the line and spending so much time that it delays action. I would say your opening para and the ongoing journey is as or more important. If the text doesn't quickly grab you, suck you in and take you on a compelling, easy-to-read journey to the end, you'll feel cheated by the title/sender.
Before you send your email, be sure to proofread and polish your subject line. Make sure there are no errors in grammar or spelling. You should also make sure that your subject line is within the character limit for most email providers. A good rule of thumb is to keep your subject lines under 50 characters. This will ensure that your subject lines are displayed in full on most devices.
Sometimes a typo (made on purpose) can engage your audience. Just don't use this tactic often and make sure it relates to your audience and the content of your email.
Wildcard: I don't really care about your subject line copy. If I'm going to open your email, it's because I care about WHO is sending it. I want their content regardless of the 60 characters typed into the subject. This all goes back to brand. If you build a brand that curates an audience that cares about your content because you have something to say, you’ll spend less time A/B testing subject line copy.
IMHO marketers stress too much about email subject copy... think about why you open emails. is it because of the email subject? why do you open emails from your dad? or from your utilities company? or from your favourite newsletter sender? or from your kids school about their newsletter for the next term? it is because you care about the sender -- less about the email subject. you know you get value / information / learn something establish a company / personal brand so that your audience will want to open your emails because of you as the sender, and that your email subject simply becomes informative for the reader and not the reason they open actionable tip: find those emails you always open. think why and how you can replicate that?
Make it sound like a person is sending it, not a bot. Keep it simple bc the subject line isn’t that important as the person or company sending it. You know it and I know it
Make a swipe file of all your favorites, and add to it every single day. You might not see a great one every day, but one of them will be the greatest of the bunch. Create sub-folders for campaigns, Black Friday, last chance, invitations, webinars etc. Even if you think you'll be able memorize all the good ones, writer's block will wipe every great subject line you've ever read.
Sometimes the best email subject line..... ....is no email at all. It's far too common that marketers treat email as a 'free' channel, and therefore don't use the discipline they would use if every email cost them money: - What's your open rate? - What's your unsubscribe rate? - How many times have you emailed this customer without them opening it? Of course it's important to have a brilliantly crafted subject line - but developing and sticking to a contact strategy is absolutely crucial. Otherwise, you're just noise.