Open This: 5 Tips for Writing Great Email Subject Lines

If your business uses email marketing, you know that the subject line you use is extremely important. It is what will make or break whether or not your email is opened or deleted. It is what will make or break whether or not your email marketing campaign is successful.

Most people have trouble coming up with a great email subject line, but instead of losing readership based on a poor subject, use these tips to help you create a good subject line that ensures your emails get opened.

Pique curiosity.

Give your readers a little teaser of what they can find in your email. If you tease them perfectly, they will want to open your email to read more. Look over your email and find out what you can say that will be a teaser to the content, then use this as your subject line.

Be straightforward.

If you don’t want to play games, let your readers know exactly what they’ll find if they open your email. Are you providing them with content? Give them the topic. Are you offering a deal? Tell them exactly what it is. Not only will they appreciate your honesty as to what they’re about to receive, but you’ll also know which emails they respond best to.

Ask questions.

Asking questions is a great way to compel your audience to open your emails, but you need to make sure you’re asking the right questions. Try to refrain from asking anything that can be answered with a simple yes or no. If a customer feels that they can answer your question, they won’t feel as if they need to read your email. Make sure that your questions have them feeling as if they need to open your email to find out the answer. These subject lines are more likely to get opened.

Talk directly to your consumers.

You’re more likely to get your audience to open your emails if it calls out directly to them. Make sure that your subject lines are more personable. Use the word “you” to call out that you’re talking to your customer and not at them. Instead of saying “Save 20% today”, say “You can save 20% today”. It’s a small trick, but it’s amazing how people are more willing to respond to this type of subject line because they feel as if the message is only directed at them and not every customer.

Don’t sound spammy.

There are certain words that, if used in your email subject line, will be sent directly to spam. If your emails are sent to your customers’ spam folders, they won’t see your message, and you’ll be unsuccessful. Hubspot created a great list of spam words for email subject lines, but you can always use this tester to determine whether or not your email subject line will be marked as spam.

Email subject lines are tricky, and if you’re not creating the best types of email subject lines, it can be harming the success of your email campaigns. Make sure that you are straightforward, piquing curiosity, asking questions, talking to your customers and avoiding spam words at all costs. When you learn how to master email subject lines, your email campaigns will find much more success.

This valuable online marketing article was prepared by Jessica Brown in tandem with SEOMap – a group specializing in SEO keyword research.