20+ Tips to Write Powerful Email Subject Lines

Email marketing is a powerful tool for businesses to reach their target audience, but with the average person receiving dozens of emails a day, it can be difficult to make your message stand out in their inbox.

That’s where the importance of catchy email subject lines comes in.

A well-crafted subject line can make all the difference in whether your email is opened or ignored.

In this article, we’ll share 20 tips to help you write effective and attention-grabbing subject lines that will increase your email open rates and engagement.

From keeping it concise and using action-oriented language to personalization, urgency, and curiosity, we’ll cover all the essential elements of a successful subject line.

We’ll also delve into the importance of relevance, using power words, social proof, and specificity to make your subject lines stand out.

Additionally, we’ll explore the use of humor, emojis, and asking questions to make your subject lines more engaging and memorable.

We’ll also discuss the importance of testing different subject lines and avoiding spam triggers to ensure your emails make it to your recipient’s inbox.

By the end of this article, you’ll have all the tools you need to write compelling and effective email subject lines that will help you connect with your audience and achieve your marketing goals.

Why are email subject lines important?

Email subject lines are important because they are the first thing your recipient sees when they receive your email.

They act as a gatekeeper, determining whether your email gets opened or ignored.

A well-crafted subject line can pique the reader’s curiosity, create a sense of urgency, and encourage them to open your email and engage with your message.

In contrast, a poorly written subject line can turn off the reader, cause them to delete your email, or even mark it as spam.

The importance of email subject lines is also evident in the statistics.

According to a study by Convince & Convert, 35% of email recipients open emails based on the subject line alone.

Additionally, emails with personalized subject lines have a 26% higher open rate than those without.

Another study by Campaign Monitor also found that emails with a clear and compelling subject line can increase open rates by up to 29%.

In today’s fast-paced world, people are bombarded with a constant stream of information, and their attention spans are short.

A catchy and attention-grabbing subject line can cut through the noise and make your message stand out.

It’s important to keep in mind that your subject line should not only be compelling but also relevant to the recipient’s interests and needs.

By taking the time to craft a well-written subject line, you can increase the likelihood of your email being opened and read, leading to higher engagement and better results for your business.

How can I write effective email subject lines?

1. Keep it concise: Your subject line should be short and to the point. People are busy, and if your subject line is too long, they may not bother to read the rest of the email. A good rule of thumb is to keep your subject line under 50 characters.
2. Use action-oriented language: Using action-oriented language in your subject line can help grab your reader’s attention and encourage them to open your email. Verbs like “discover,” “learn,” “join,” and “explore” can be effective.
3. Personalize it: Personalization is key to making your email stand out. Using the recipient’s name in the subject line can help grab their attention and make them more likely to open the email.
4. Make it urgent: Creating a sense of urgency in your subject line can encourage the recipient to open your email right away. Words like “urgent,” “important,” and “time-sensitive” can be effective.
5. Create a sense of curiosity: Creating a sense of curiosity in your subject line can encourage the recipient to open your email to find out more. Using phrases like “you won’t believe what happened” or “the secret to success” can be effective.
6. Use numbers or statistics: Using numbers or statistics in your subject line can help grab the reader’s attention and make your email seem more valuable. For example, “5 tips for a better night’s sleep” or “50% off all products today only.”
7. Use humor: Using humor in your subject line can help grab the reader’s attention and make your email stand out. However, be careful not to overdo it or be offensive.
8. Make it relevant: Your subject line should be relevant to the content of your email. If it’s not, the recipient may feel misled and be less likely to open future emails from you.
9. Use emojis: Using emojis in your subject line can help grab the reader’s attention and make your email stand out. However, be careful not to overuse them or use inappropriate emojis.
10. Ask a question: Asking a question in your subject line can encourage the recipient to open your email to find out the answer. For example, “Are you making these common mistakes in your business?”
11. Use power words: Using power words in your subject line can help grab the reader’s attention and make your email seem more valuable. For example, “proven,” “exclusive,” and “limited time offer.”
12. Make it benefit-driven: Your subject line should highlight the benefit of opening your email. For example, “Get more clients with these proven marketing strategies” or “Save time and money with this productivity hack.”
13. Use language that resonates with your audience: Your subject line should use language that resonates with your target audience. For example, if you’re targeting millennials, using phrases like “lit” or “on fleek” may be effective (if used sparingly).
14. Test different subject lines: Testing different subject lines can help you determine what works best for your audience. Try A/B testing different subject lines to see which ones perform the best.
15. Use social proof: Using social proof in your subject line can help grab the reader’s attention and make your email seem more valuable. For example, “Join over 10,000 satisfied customers” or “See why industry experts are raving about our product.”
16. Make it specific: Specificity can help make your subject line more compelling. For example, instead of “Save money on your next purchase,” try “Save 20% on your next purchase.”
17. Keep it professional: While humor and creativity can be effective, it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your subject line. Avoid using slang or overly casual language.
18. Avoid spam triggers: Avoid using language that may trigger spam filters, such as excessive use of capital letters, exclamation points, or certain trigger words like “free” or “act now.”
19. Keep it relevant to the recipient: Your subject line should be relevant to the recipient and their interests. Consider segmenting your email list and tailoring your subject lines to different segments.
20. Use a clear call-to-action: Your subject line should include a clear call-to-action that encourages the recipient to open the email and take action. For example, “Claim your free trial now” or “Register for our upcoming webinar.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing effective email subject lines is crucial for getting your message read.

By following these 20 tips, you can create subject lines that grab the reader’s attention, encourage them to open your email, and take action.

Remember to keep your subject lines concise, action-oriented, personalized, and relevant, and don’t be afraid to test different approaches to see what works best for your audience.