Email marketing is a powerful tool for any business – it allows you to target specific customers, create relationships, and increase sales. But even the best email campaigns won't be successful if your subject lines don't grab people's attention and make them open your emails. That's why mastering the art of writing effective email subject lines is so important.
So, how can you write email subject lines that convert? First, you need to understand what makes an effective subject line: it should be eye-catching but not misleading; it should entice readers by offering something of value they cannot resist and convey the message quickly and clearly.
By following these guidelines, you can create exciting email subject lines that will get your messages opened, read and clicked on. In this article, ScottHall.co and company share our best tips to help you master the art of email marketing and write compelling subject lines that will deliver results.
Make It Personalized
As you embark on your email marketing journey, it's important to remember that every new subscriber is an opportunity for a personal connection. You want them to feel like they're receiving something special - not just another one of dozens of emails in their inbox.
It's essential to take the time and put in some effort when crafting personalized emails with touches that make each individual feel like they've been given a private invite.
From catchy subject lines to tailwind emails, there are plenty of ways to ensure your message stands out. But don't be fooled into thinking quantity is better than quality here.
If you send too many generic emails without personalization, people will start tuning them out quickly. Instead, focus on ensuring each email feels like it was made specifically for them.
Write content that speaks directly to their interests and desires while providing valuable information or related resources. Doing so can help foster long-term relationships between you and your subscribers while creating a deeper level of trust--all things which will lead to more conversions down the line.
Keep It Short And Succinct
Now that you've personalized your subject line, it's time to check that it's not too long. Longer email subject lines tend to get cut off in the inbox view, resulting in a truncated message that can't communicate its true value.
Your email subject line should be no more than 50 characters. Any longer, chances are good that the recipient’s inbox display settings will cut it off.
Avoid Spam Words And Triggers
It's important to know email marketing rules when writing subject lines that convert. One key rule is avoiding words and phrases often flagged by an email spam filter, such as "free," "100% guaranteed," or anything with too many special characters.
Keep your subject line clear and concise. Don’t get too wordy or try to cram in too much information.
List segmentation is a great way to ensure you send relevant emails to specific groups on your list. This helps avoid crowding someone's inbox with irrelevant content while also helping improve your email deliverability.
Additionally, addressing actual people in the subject line—such as mentioning their names—could increase open rates and engagement significantly.
When it comes to the language used in the subject line, always be authentic and human-sounding. Try not to sound like a robot. People respond better when they feel connected to something real, so using conversational language goes a long way when trying to capture attention in a crowded inbox.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
You've got a great idea for an email campaign, but your message will likely end up in the trash without the right subject line. Asking open-ended questions can be an effective way to engage readers and boost clickthrough rates. It's all about getting people curious enough to want to find out more.
Unlike close-ended questions with a yes or no answer, open-ended questions don't give away too much information upfront. They encourage readers to clickthrough by sparking curiosity — something we're hardwired to do as humans.
Try running multivariate tests on different types of actionable subject lines with open-ended questions like "What if you could save time this summer?" The results may surprise you when it comes to improving your click-through and click-to-open rate.
Open-ended questions create suspense which is why they work well in email marketing campaigns. Use them strategically with other elements such as urgency and scarcity for maximum effect—like promising readers huge savings during your summer sale if they act now.
This type of question encourages customers to take immediate action while piquing their interest simultaneously.
By asking open-ended questions in your subject lines, you'll be able to grab attention quickly and entice readers into clicking through. Now let’s look at how including a deadline in the subject line can also help improve engagement.
Add A Deadline
Deadlines can be a powerful tool for getting readers to click on your emails. For email marketers, including a deadline in the subject line clarifies that they must act now and encourages them to open the email immediately. This way, you increase the chances of capturing their attention long enough to read through your message.
Your buyers may have different preferences regarding how soon they want to see an offer or announcement from you. Depending on your buyer persona, setting up reasonable deadlines is key if you want people to take action after reading your content.
Letting them know there's only so much time left before an offer expires or something changes in your business increases urgency and motivates them to take immediate action.
Deadlines are also great for increasing revenue per subscriber. By reminding subscribers about upcoming offers and discounts via email within a limited time frame, you create a sense of exclusivity that helps bring in customers and encourage existing ones to buy more from you.
To maximize results from using deadlines in your email subject lines, make sure the deadline is realistic and relevant to what’s inside the body of the e-mail. This will help keep people engaged until they reach the end of your message.
Write A Teaser Subject Line
A captivating subject line is as essential to an email marketing campaign as a lighthouse beacon guiding ships safely in the harbor. With just a few words, you can capture your recipient's attention and set yourself apart from all other emails cluttering their inbox. You must be creative to craft irresistible subject lines that will leave your readers wanting more.
To create memorable subject lines for your campaigns, consider using teaser phrases or funny one-liners to entice recipients to open your email. Give them something unexpected when they open their inboxes, whether with witty wordplay or dynamic verbs.
Many email platforms offer built-in tools and resources designed specifically to help with this process - so make sure you take advantage of those.
When writing your teasers, think about what would draw people in at first glance – use strong language that commands attention but leaves enough intrigue for someone to click through and learn more about what’s inside.
Look at some great examples of effective subject lines used by others for inspiration, then test out various iterations until you find the perfect balance between curiosity and clarity for your unique message.
Include A Call-To-Action
A clear command in your subject lines can be the difference between a successful conversion or ending up deleted from someone's inbox. This concept applies to both cold emails and business emails alike.
The power of a strong call-to-action should not be underestimated when writing effective email subject lines. You want to make sure you are giving people access to something that will benefit them by opening your mail - whether that’s an exclusive offer, free trial, product demo or simply more information.
Whatever incentive you provide needs to be clearly stated for readers to take action on what they see in their inboxes.
It isn't enough to include words like 'free,' 'trial,' or 'discount.' Your subject line must give users direct instructions and encourage engagement with whatever you offer. If done correctly, this approach will help boost conversions while enticing people to read the email body copy, too.
Share Exclusive Information
The art of email marketing is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. Crafting the perfect subject line that resonates with your audience can feel like you're walking on a tightrope— one wrong move, and it's all over.
However, you can become a subject line superhero by understanding how to use keywords in an engaging way and leveraging conversational or casual tones in your messaging.
Subject lines should be designed to capture people’s attention immediately and make them feel like they might miss out by not opening the message. To do this, offer something valuable upfront.
You could share exclusive information or special offers that prepare readers for what they'll find in the email. It's also helpful to keep track of which words perform best among different types of email clients -- this knowledge will give you an edge in making sure your message gets opened each time.
Be creative with your subject lines too! If you want to stand out from the crowd, try using puns or play around with bling-worthy language -- if done correctly, it can create a good time atmosphere and draw users in without seeming insincere.
On top of that, don't forget about timing, either. When people are busy, they may only have a few seconds to decide whether or not they should open a message, so being mindful of their schedule can help boost performance even more.
By tapping into these tips, you can write effective emails that resonate with your readership every single time.
Make An Announcement
Having something valuable to share in the subject line of your email is only one aspect of effective email marketing. Another highly effective technique is making an announcement right in the subject, as this can create a sense of urgency and anticipation among your email subscribers.
When crafting announcements with your emails, it's important to ensure they are appealing and action-oriented without being overly promotional or pushy. You want to present offerings that benefit your audience while staying true to your brand identity.
Utilizing A/B testing features when available can help you determine which types of content resonate best with different segments of your list.
Additionally, it's wise to be unique in the email inbox by using personalization tactics such as using the recipient's name in the subject line or offering exclusive discounts for loyal customers. Doing so helps build greater trust between yourself and your readers, increasing their likelihood of engaging with each message you send.
By combining these strategies - from sharing something valuable in the subject line to making exciting announcements - marketers have plenty of options for creating successful emails that convert.
Stand Out In A Crowded Inbox
Writing subject lines that stand out in the inbox makes it even more important. If you don't, your email will likely be overlooked, no matter how good the content may be.
When applying for a job or sending an email with access to restricted information, it's important to use a formal tone. But when writing an engaging blog post title or other marketing-related emails, being creative can help ensure readers open yours first.
Humor can effectively grab your reader’s attention, especially in the email subject lines. While some may think that being too humorous or corny can hurt the open and reply rates of regular emails, done correctly, it can benefit readers.
Here are three ways you can use humor effectively when crafting clever email subjects:
Use blog titles as inspiration
Many popular blogs feature funny headlines which you could adapt for your emails. Make sure the joke is still relevant to your offering, though.
Ask a humorous question
Asking a thought-provoking question with a hint of humor will make people want to click through and find out more about whatever you're promoting.
Keep it under character limit forces
With most email platforms having strict character limits, cheesy jokes might not always work if they take up too many characters. But this also presents an interesting challenge. Instead, try telling a joke without all the words by leveraging emojis or gifs instead.
Adding humor into your subject line doesn't need to feel forced either – write something unexpected or intriguing enough to pique interest and encourage people to open your message.
Add Some Intrigue
It takes more than just writing a few clever words. It takes understanding how people think, what they're looking for, and knowing when to say something unexpected or intriguing.
When crafting your subject line, consider using phrases like “You won’t believe this!” or “The secret behind [insert topic here].” These catchphrases are designed to get attention but do not overuse them as their novelty wears off quickly with repeat exposure.
Try using numbers, symbols (such as exclamation marks), humor, puns or questions in the email subject line to draw attention and pique curiosity. Numbers act as visual cues, while questions compel people to click through out of sheer curiosity.
By saying something unexpected or intriguing within your subject lines, you can capture leads before they slip into oblivion–ensuring you stay top-of-mind among prospects and customers.
Target Pain Points
Pain points are the problems, struggles, and challenges your readers face. Show them in your subject line that you understand their struggle and have a solution for them.
Focus on creating fresh content that pokes at pain points readers may have without being too pushy or direct about sales.
For example, if you own a clothing store selling gift ideas for busy people who don't have time to shop around, try sending out an email with the subject line "Gift Ideas For Busy People Who Need More Time."
This addresses a common problem many people face — lack of free time — and suggests solutions through your products. This subtle yet effective approach will grab attention and stand out among boring emails. You'll be one step ahead of the classic email saboteur who sends bunches of generic emails hoping someone bites.
Take blog posts as an example and use words such as 'tired,' 'fed up,' or 'struggling' when crafting subject lines about sleep deprivation, overwhelm and stress. This will help your reader connect with the content of your emails and be more likely to open them.
A/B Test All Subject Lines
"The only way to know what works is to test it." This adage rings true when crafting an effective email subject line. Email marketing can be a powerful tool for businesses, and maximizing its effectiveness comes down to creating the perfect subject line that will capture your reader's attention.
By using A/B testing, you'll have insight into which type of subject lines works best. Here's how to get started:
- Create two versions of your email with different subject lines
- Send each version out to a portion of your audienc
- Measure the performance of both emails (open rate, clickthroughs etc.)
- Use the results from this data to inform future emails
A/B testing allows for more targeted approaches in understanding how well different messages perform on varying audiences.
For example, if you're looking at examples of email subject lines related to events or promotions, try setting up split tests between questions vs. statements or shorter vs. longer headlines. Through careful analysis and experimentation, you can determine which style resonates most with your readers and use that knowledge moving forward.
By learning which words will catch someone’s eye and optimizing one’s approach accordingly, marketers can create subject lines that excite people about reading their emails - not dreading them.
To get ahead in the competitive world of digital marketing, businesses must stay informed about best practices in email writing and utilize these strategies whenever possible. Without thorough research and testing through A/B testing, companies won't reach maximum success - so start experimenting today.
Write Email Subject Lines That Convert
The success of email marketing all comes down to understanding how to craft effective subject lines that entice readers to open up and engage with the content. The most successful marketers understand that email is a powerful tool for engaging customers, building relationships, and driving conversions.
First, you need to develop an effective strategy. Begin by creating a good mailing list by segmenting customers into different categories. You want your emails to land in their inboxes rather than the spam folder.
You can increase open rates through compelling subject lines and decide on an optimal frequency for sending out emails.
It's essential to track email performance metrics such as click-through rates, unsubscribe rates, engagement metrics, and conversion rates. This will help you assess whether your efforts are working or changes should be made. With practice and dedication, I'm confident that mastering the art of email marketing is within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Way To Track Email Success?
To get started, consider two primary metrics—email open rate and click-through rate (CTR). Your open rate tells you how many times someone has opened your message, while CTR shows the percentage of recipients who clicked through from the email to visit a page on your website. Once you've set up analytics tracking for each metric across all campaigns, use them as benchmarks for future campaigns. Use A/B testing with multiple versions of messages sent out at once to compare results even further and optimize messaging over time.
How Do I Make Sure My Emails Aren’t Ending Up In The Spam Folder?
First, consider how long your email subject line should be - most experts recommend keeping them short and sweet at around 50 characters or fewer. This helps avoid being flagged by spam bots while ensuring readers quickly understand what they're about to open. Secondly, use natural language when writing subject lines; no matter how clever they are, try not to cram too much jargon or marketing lingo in there! Finally, add personalization whenever possible - this can go a long way toward improving your open rates.
What Is The Best Way To Increase Email Open Rates?
Writing compelling subject lines is the key to getting more people to open your emails. This means crafting headlines that grab attention, pique interest, and encourage readers to click through and read your message.
How Often Should I Be Sending Emails Out?
There's no single answer to how often you should send emails out. Still, automation tools will help take some guesswork away, ensuring relevant messages go out on schedule without overwhelming your subscribers.
