In today’s digital age, cold emails remain one of the most effective ways to reach out to new potential customers and prospects. But with inboxes flooded with hundreds of messages every day, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to stand out and get your email opened. That’s where your email subject line comes in: it’s the first impression you make on your recipient, and it can make or break the success of your email campaign.
In this article, we’ll share tips and strategies for crafting irresistible email subject lines that grab attention, spark interest, and drive more opens and clicks. From the basics of subject line structure to advanced techniques for leveraging psychology and personalization, we’ve got you covered. So let’s dive in!
Understanding the Basics of Email Subject Lines
Before we can dive into advanced subject line tactics, let’s review the fundamentals of what makes a strong subject line. Here are some key components to keep in mind:
- Keep it short and sweet: Studies show that subject lines with 6-10 words tend to perform best, so aim for brevity and clarity.
- Be specific and relevant: Make sure your subject line accurately reflects the content of your email and the needs/interests of your audience.
- Use action-oriented language: Verbs and action words can help create a sense of urgency and encourage recipients to take action.
- Avoid spam trigger words: Certain words and phrases can trigger spam filters and prevent your email from getting delivered. Examples include “free,” “earn money,” and “limited-time offer.”
Top 5 Terrible Subject Line Examples to Avoid
“Get rich quick with our amazing offer”
This subject line is overly hyped and makes unrealistic promises. It’s likely to be seen as spammy and deceptive, and it may even damage the sender’s reputation. Instead of focusing on get-rich-quick schemes, it’s better to offer real value and benefits to the recipient.
“Important message from [company name]”
This subject line is vague and doesn’t give any indication of what the email is about. It’s also a common subject line used by spammers and scammers, so it may trigger spam filters or be ignored by recipients.
“Just checking in”
This subject line is bland and generic. It doesn’t give the recipient any reason to open the email or engage with the sender. The other factor is this subject line is overused.
“Buy now and save!”
This subject line is overly promotional and lacks creativity. It’s likely to be perceived as spammy and uninteresting.
“Don’t miss out on {this amazing deal}”
This subject line creates a sense of urgency, but it doesn’t provide any specifics about the deal or the value that the recipient will receive. It’s likely to be seen as spammy and ignored by recipients.
Continue reading to find 5 best practices that we use for subject lines to get more open rates and generate more leads.
Personalization and Relevance: Making the Subject Line About the Recipient
Personalization and relevance are crucial elements in crafting effective subject lines. By making the subject line about the recipient, you can increase the chances of your email being opened and read. Personalization can take many forms, such as using the recipient’s name or referencing their past behaviour or preferences. Here’s how to make your subject lines more about the recipient:
- Use their name: Personalize your subject line with the recipient’s name, but make sure it’s done in a natural and non-creepy way.
- Segment your audience: Use data and insights to segment your audience and create targeted messaging that speaks to their specific interests and needs.
- Tailor your content: Use subject lines that reflect the content of your email, whether it’s a promotion, newsletter, or event invitation.
Leveraging Psychology and Emotion to Create Compelling Subject Lines
One effective way to capture attention and encourage openness is by tapping into human psychology and emotions. Here are some techniques to try:
- Use curiosity: Pique your recipient’s curiosity with a subject line that hints at a benefit or solution they can gain by opening your email. Example: “Double Your Leads in 30 Days or Less – Here’s How”
- Create a sense of urgency: Encourage opens by creating a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) or time sensitivity. Example: “Time is running out to boost your leads – don’t miss this opportunity!”
- Trigger emotions: Use powerful emotions like fear, joy, or humour to spark interest and make a lasting impression. Example: “Don’t let your competitors get ahead – supercharge your lead generation strategy now”
- Be provocative (but not too much): Use controversial or thought-provoking statements to catch attention, but avoid being too polarizing or offensive. Example: “Is Your Lead Magnet a Total Waste of Time? The Surprising Reasons Why It Might Be”
5 Proven Email subject lines that boost open rates
Virtual Coffee with {firstname}?
- It is personalized: By including the recipient’s first name, the subject line feels more personal and relevant to the individual, which can increase the likelihood that they will open and engage with the email.
- It has a Casual tone: The phrase “Virtual Coffee” creates a relaxed, friendly tone that can help to put the recipient at ease.
- It is clear and concise: The subject line is short and to the point, making it easy for the recipient to quickly understand what the email is about.
A call that can fix your {subject matter}
- It offers a solution: The subject line suggests that the email offers a solution that can “fix” a specific problem or issue. This can be very appealing to recipients who are actively seeking solutions to their problems.
- It creates curiosity: The subject line is vague enough to create curiosity and entice recipients to open the email and learn more. It doesn’t give away too much information, but instead prompts the recipient to want to know more about what the email entails.
- It is personalized: The use of “your” in the subject line makes it feel more personal and relevant to the recipient, which can increase the likelihood that they will open and engage with the email
15 min to get a plan to achieve {X number} of sales.
- It offers a specific benefit: The subject line clearly states that the recipient will receive a plan to achieve a specific number of sales, which can be very appealing to individuals or businesses looking to increase their sales.
- It creates urgency: The use of “give me 15 minutes” suggests that the plan can be created quickly, which creates a sense of urgency and encourages the recipient to take action.
- It is straightforward: The subject line is clear and to the point, which can make it more appealing to busy individuals who receive a lot of emails.
{firstname}, thoughts?
- It is personalized: Including the recipient’s first name can help to create a sense of personal connection and make the recipient feel valued.
- It has an open-ended question: The question “thoughts?” is open-ended and invites the recipient to share their opinions or ideas. This can be a great way to start a conversation or gather feedback.
- It is concise: The subject line is short and sweet, which can make it more likely to catch the recipient’s attention in a busy inbox.
{Firstname} & {Yourname} = Collab?
- It is personalized: By including both the recipient’s first name and the name of the person you’re suggesting they collaborate with, you’re showing that you’ve taken the time to consider their interests and skills.
- It is concise: The subject line is short and to the point, making it easy for the recipient to quickly understand the proposal you’re making.
- It has an inviting tone: The use of the word “collab” creates an informal, friendly tone that can make the recipient more receptive to your suggestion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, crafting irresistible email subject lines is an essential part of any successful email campaign. A well-crafted subject line can help you stand out in a crowded inbox, grab attention, and drive more opens and clicks. When creating subject lines, remember to keep them short, specific, action-oriented, and relevant. Avoid spam trigger words and use emojis sparingly. Personalization, relevance, and leveraging psychology and emotion are also crucial components of effective subject lines.
Need help with cold emails?
Book your free brainstorming call here with our team and let’s generate high-quality leads together!
