Tips for Email Subject Lines that Actually Get Opened

Keep it short and sweet.

Use subject lines of 6-10 words or about 50 characters. Shorter subject lines work best on mobile and get attention.

Use a clear and compelling value proposition.

Tell the recipient what they will gain from opening your email. For instance, "5 productivity tips to unlock today" or "30% off best-selling product - limited time only".

Create a sense of urgency or scarcity.

Use urgent or scarce subject lines to prompt quicker email opens. For instance, "Final Call: Sale Ends Today" or "Limited Spots Left for Our Webinar."

Personalize with the recipient's name.

Including the recipient's name in the subject line boosts email open rates, sometimes :)

Ask a question

Use a thought-provoking question in the subject line to boost email open rates. Example: "Are You Making These 3 Common Marketing Mistakes?"

Use emojis strategically

Use appropriate emojis in subject lines to make them stand out in cluttered inboxes. But, use them sparingly and make sure they are suitable for your audience and brand.

Avoid spammy language and all caps.

Avoid using excessive punctuation, all caps, or spammy language in your subject lines ("FREE!!!," "ACT NOW!!!") as they are more likely to be marked as spam or ignored.

Test and optimize

Test multiple subject line variations and analyze open rates to find the best ones for your audience.

Be clear and honest

Use subject lines that reflect the email content accurately and avoid clickbait or misleading statements. This will prevent damage to trust and lower open rates in the future.

Segment and personalize

Customize your subject lines for different audience segments based on their interests, behaviors, or past interactions with your brand to make them more effective.