How to write great email subject lines
Your subject line is the first thing your audience will read – and most likely, it’ll be sitting alongside a lot of other unread emails. Here are a few tips to make sure your subject lines will click to open, not delete.
Keep it short
You want your readers to quickly understand what your email’s all about. Keep it under 30 characters – and if you can convey your point in only three or four words, even better.
Don’t be aggressive
The fastest way to get caught by a spam filter is to put an aggressive sales pitch in your subject line. Avoid using all caps or more than one exclamation point. Don’t make it sound like a sales pitch; focus on the value to your subscriber. It should come across as a friendly offer, not a demand.
Make it personalised
As the saying goes, the sweetest sound to anyone’s ears is the sound of their own name. Use a merge tag to include the reader’s name in the subject line, delighting them and attracting their attention.
Ask a question
Questions help to build intrigue and can increase your open rate. If your reader thinks the answer to the question is in your email, they’re more likely to open it.
Convey urgency or curiosity
Using time-sensitive language such as 'Ends today' or 'Limited offer' can motivate readers to open right away. Alternatively, spark curiosity with something intriguing but relevant to your audience.
Stand out from the rest
It’s easy to forget how many emails your subscribers get from other companies. Your email might be interesting to you, but will it stand out? Think creatively about what makes your business or product special, and find a way to put this across in a way that’s unique to you.
Test across different devices
Remember that your subject line will probably get cut off at different points on different devices. Send a test to yourself and take a look before you hit send – make sure it doesn’t get cut in a way that changes the email’s meaning or feels incomplete.
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