How To Write Great Email Subject Lines That Boost Your Open Rates

How to Write Great Email Subject Lines That Boost Your Open Rates

Attention grabbing email subject lines can boost your open rates, while an ineffective one can lead to your email being ignored. 

According to Statista, a staggering 376 billion emails are sent daily, with a significant portion going unnoticed. 

The culprit? 

Email subject lines!

Even with a well-crafted email, your efforts can go to waste without an effective subject line. This is because the subject line is the first thing your recipient sees. 

A whopping 69% of email recipients have admitted to marking emails as spam based solely on the subject line. This single element can influence how your leads perceive your brand. 

Let's delve into crafting compelling email subject lines that enhance your open rates and conversions!

     

Elements of a Great Email Subject Line

Before delving into how to write great email subject lines, let’s explore the elements that make a subject line great:

A Sense of Urgency

Subject lines with terms like “breaking,” “alert,” “important,” and “urgent” yield higher open rates as they create a sense of urgency to prompt action. 

Similarly, communicating a defined start and end date for a special sale or promotion encourages recipients scrolling through their inbox to click on your email. It compels them to see what's available within that limited time frame.

You can use this approach in an email campaign with emails that count down to the opportunity's closure. Just don’t spam the recipients with a barrage of unwanted emails.

Compelling Personalization

Every email subscriber is different and your emails should reflect that difference. Nowadays, you have many ways to determine your subscribers' preferences, dislikes, etc. 

So, make sure your email subject suits the individual’s interests, increasing the likelihood of a higher open rate. 

An Element of Curiosity 

Some great email subject lines fuel the recipient’s curiosity and interest by maintaining a sense of mystery. It encourages the receiver to open the email to get more information. 

When using the element of intrigue, make sure your subject lines align with your brand as obscure or unclear words can make your email appear spammy. 

Smartpress smartly uses the element of curiosity in this email subject line that thanks the recipient:

An Irresistible Offer

If your subject line includes an irresistible offer, people will naturally be inclined to open your email. After all, people desire novel experiences and free or discounted products and services.

For instance, a potential customer would be more motivated to open a weekly newsletter if it included a great offer, promised free products with a code, etc. 

The Ideal Length

Short subject lines are typically preferred, but according to Gartner, longer ones with over 70 characters can work just as well as those with 11 to 20 characters. 

Your success depends on how you target your audience. So, feel free to try A/B testing to figure out the best subject line length for your emails.

Relevance, Timeliness & Authority 

If your goal is to capture your audience’s interests and keep them updated on industry news, create email subject lines that include current trends or timely news.

It will help you position your brand as an industry expert and encourage individuals to open and read your emails. 

14 Tips to Write Great Email Subject Lines

Let’s explore 14 ways to write great email subject lines that will boost your open rates:

Personalize the Subject Line Using Specific Words

Personalization tokens, such as the recipient's name, in the subject line can help establish an immediate connection. People generally appreciate hearing their own name, and this practice can also boost the click-through rate. 

Here’s a personalized subject line from Google:

Another successful personalization tactic is customizing subject lines based on the recipient's location, such as sharing lists of the best outdoor bars and restaurants in their respective cities. 

These personalized touches demonstrate that you have a deeper understanding of the recipient beyond just their email address.

However, if you are unable to use personalization tokens in the subject line, you can still make it sound more direct by using "you" or "your." Just don’t overuse personalization, as it can come across as intrusive.

Use Subject Lines With Fewer Than 50 Characters

Email subject lines may get cut off when they're too lengthy, especially on mobile devices. 

Considering that about 46% of email opens happen on mobile, use subject lines with fewer than 50 characters to ensure that people scanning your emails read the whole message. 

If you find it challenging to keep your subject lines short, remove less important words and unnecessary details.

For instance, when sending an order confirmation, “Your order is being processed” might be more effective than “Order #8690582950 is being processed.”

Don’t Mislead the Recipient or Make False Promises

Most great email subject lines are like a promise to your reader regarding what they can expect in your message. You must keep that promise and avoid using misleading tactics just to get your email opened. 

If you break this trust, it can upset your audience, and they may start distrusting your subject lines, leading to lower open rates and more people unsubscribing from your emails.

Choose a Familiar Sender Name

When deciding on your sender name, aim for a more human touch. Using a name like james.scott@yourcompany.com can make recipients feel welcomed and at ease when they check their email. 

The goal is to create the impression that they are dealing with you as an individual.

It’s because if the sender doesn’t appear to be someone you want to hear from, it doesn't matter what the subject line is. More often than not, people will not open your email.  

It’s also why if you've previously interacted with your recipients, it's a good idea to use your own name as the sender, even if the email is technically sent on behalf of the entire company. 

Employ Action-Oriented Words

Subject lines and calls-to-action share a common goal: to encourage people to click. To make your emails more engaging, it's effective to start subject lines with action verbs. 

By incorporating dynamic verbs at the beginning, you can significantly boost the clickability of your emails. It’s because action-oriented subject lines create a sense of urgency and excitement. 

Here’s an action-oriented subject line from Traeger Grills:

For instance, if you're promoting a special discount event at your clothing store, your email subject line could be "Shop Our Exclusive Sale Today" instead of a more generic "Special Discount Event." 

The former subject line uses the verb "shop" to inspire readers to envision themselves taking advantage of the offer.

Create an Air of Exclusivity

Great email subject lines create a sense of exclusivity that can sway the recipient to open your email. When people believe they're part of an exclusive group, it fosters a sense of belonging. 

The right choice of words can make your recipients feel special, and this can have a remarkable impact. It can cultivate loyalty and motivate them to take action on your emails. 

Some phrases to consider for creating exclusivity:

• “A special gift for you…”
• “Reserved for you, our valued customers…”
• “An exclusive offer just for you…”
• “Exclusive invitation for you…”

Stills creates a sense of exclusivity with this email subject line:

Use Concise Language to Put Your Point Across

People tend to quickly scan their inboxes, so a clear and concise subject line is usually more effective. Using simple and direct language is often better, unless you're deliberately aiming for a mysterious tone to intrigue your recipients.

When crafting a concise subject line, focus on how your email benefits the recipients, and make that benefit evident. 

For instance, a subject line such as "Unlock 20% off your next purchase" is more appealing than "Ways to save on your next purchase."

If you find that your subject line needs to be longer, ensure it remains relevant. Longer subject lines are effective when marketers are sending targeted emails with relevant insights for the customer.

Do Inform Them About What’s Inside

When sending a lead magnet or offering to a visitor who has downloaded it, it's a smart move to use a subject line like “(Recipient’s Name,) your guide awaits!” 

This approach is more effective than simply saying “Thank you for downloading our guide” in the subject line because it clearly indicates that something valuable is waiting for them inside the email.

This concise subject line from Disco Country Club clearly explains what’s inside for the recipient:

Use the Fear of Missing Out to Your Advantage

Nobody enjoys missing out on things as the fear of mission out gets the best of most of us. So, a subject line that persuades the reader the email contains something they shouldn't pass up can be highly effective.

Here are some ways to leverage the recipient’s fear of missing out:

• “Did you know?…”
• “Your friends are attending, will you?”
• “Take a look at who’s performing at [your event]!”
• “Grab your chance to network with industry professionals!”

Incorporate Numbers in Your Subject Line

Numerous businesses send emails with unclear subject lines that aren’t effective. This is why incorporating numbers into your subject lines can be an excellent strategy. 

All great email subject lines grab attention, deliver a clear and straightforward message about your offer, and set the right expectations. Numbers can help you do that. 

You can use numbers to highlight various benefits in your subject line, such as:

• Listicle Content: “5 Proven Tips for Better Sleep”
• Guide Page Length: “30-Page Recipe eBook Inside!”
• Discounts: “Save 20% Today on Your Order”
• Resource Benefits: “Unlock 100+ Exclusive Recipes Now!”

Here’s a email subject line from Ever Eden that uses the discount number:

Stay Away From an ALL CAPS Subject Line or Excessive Punctuation

A subject line that reads, “YOUR FREE GUIDE IS INSIDE” or “40% off all products today!!!!!” will not appeal to your recipients. If anything, it will have the opposite effect.

After all, no one likes being yelled at and using excessive exclamation points or all caps can communicate an air of desperation. These tactics are disruptive and can make your email look spammy.

Use Inviting Preview Text

Even though preview text is not officially part of your subject line, it's displayed right next to the subject line and is something you should definitely consider. 

Preview text offers recipients a glimpse of what's inside your email, and Gmail,  iPhone Mail, and Outlook show it alongside the subject line.  

If you don't set the preview text manually, the email platform will automatically extract it from the email's body. It’s a missed chance to capture your audience's attention.

Write Compelling ReTargeting Email Subject Lines

Sometimes, despite writing great email subject lines, some readers may not open your emails. You can craft compelling subject lines to retarget those recipients.

When retargeting, be upfront about your intention. For instance, you can use “Oops, looks like you missed this offer!” or “Don’t forget to avail your 50% discount.”

Such clear subject lines will remind the recipient that they have missed your offer or discount.

Here’s a great email subject line for retargeting:

A/B Test Your Subject Lines

Conduct an A/B test to assess which subject line performs best. It involves drafting multiple subject lines using varying words and tones. 

You want to have a few ideas to choose from to determine which ones are the most impactful. Once your test is done, use the most effective email subject lines in your upcoming email marketing campaign. 

25 Excellent Email Subject Examples

Looking for some expert help to write great email subject lines? Here are X compelling email subject examples to inspire you for your next campaign:

Newsletter Subject Lines

• 7 ideas to [benefit]
• You deserve this, [First Name]
• Struggling with [goal]? I created a 1-page guide to help.
• 5 options to get started on your [goal]
• We’ve got some BIG news today!

Cold Email Subject Lines

• Can I help you with [specific goal]?
• [First Name], I have an idea for [objective]
• Check this out, [First Name]
• Congrats on [latest achievement]!
• [First Name], need help with [Pain Point]?

Sales Email Subject Lines

• Don’t let this $10 bonus get away!
• Final call to save up to $25
• [First Name], Earn double points today only
• Time is running out to shop from our 50% off collection
• Still undecided? This might help.

Retargeting Email Subject Lines

• Still Interested in [Product/Service]? Here's an Exclusive Offer!
• Your Cart Misses You: Come Back for [Discount] on [Product]
• Last Chance: [Product] is Almost Sold Out!
• Reconnect with [Your Brand] and Get [Special Offer]
• We Miss You! Enjoy [Discount] on Your Next Purchase

Follow-Up Email Subject Lines

• Quick Follow-Up on Our Meeting
• Checking In: How Can We Assist You Further?
• Your Inquiry About [Product/Service]
• Next Steps: Moving Forward with Your Project
• Did You Receive Our Proposal? Let's Discuss!

CDP - Home to Seasoned Email Writing Experts!

At CDP, we offer custom email writing service that includes creating dynamic subject lines for clients across varied industries. Our writers can craft subject lines and email content for:

• Autoresponder emails
• Business emails
• Custom emails
• Email campaigns
• Email series
• Introductory emails
• Sales emails & more!

Our professional writers will craft great email subject lines and content to drive your open rates and conversions.