Let’s Change the Subject – Ten Ways to Spruce Up Your Email Subject Lines

When you’re sending an email, the subject line is the first and more than likely, the last thing your recipient reads.

So, when creating your business emails, crafting your subject lines should be more than an afterthought! In fact, you should strategically word your subject lines to bolster the content in the body of your email.

In this article, we provide ten ways to make your subject lines more engaging in order to increase your open rates!

Ten Suggestions for Subject Lines

Provide Information

If you are crafting an email that is informational in nature, you’ll want your subject line to follow suit. Consider pulling out your most important piece of information and putting it in your subject line.

Examples:

Sales Email Webinar: January 5th
Our Newest Product Is Here!
Join us in Ohio on May 20th

Get Personal

When an email is personalized to the recipient, they are more likely to actually read and retain the content. Using email personalization tools that insert the contact’s name, company, or location is a great way to make your subject line pop.

Examples:

John, Let’s Schedule a Time to Chat
Nice to Meet You and the MFH Properties Team!
See You in Richmond, Kate

Create Urgency

Creating a sense of urgency is a proven sales tactic that can be applied to emails. You can create an illusion of loss by providing a sense of urgency in the subject line to compel the reader to action.

Examples:

This Week Only: 50% Off Your Total Purchase
Don’t Miss Out on This Deal
5 Days Left to Enroll

Make a Joke or Pun

If you are sending a more casual email, a great way for your subject line to stand out is with a joke or a pun. These subject lines can break up the monotony of formal emails and make your message more desirable to read.

Examples:

Baby Got Feedback, Let Us Know How We’re Doing
Trick or Treat? Let’s Find Out!
Let’s Get Married... or Something?

Keep It Short

Remember, your subject lines shouldn’t be long and cumbersome. Sometimes, a two- or three-word subject line will do the trick in grabbing your readers’ attention.

Examples:

We’ve Missed You!
Checking In
Let’s Connect

Ask a Question

Asking a question in your subject line is a great way to get the recipient involved in your email before they’ve even opened it. They will subconsciously formulate an answer – which will keep your company top of mind for the recipient, even if they don’t read the body of the message.

Examples:

Are You Maximizing Your Email Marketing’s Potential?
Have You Heard of SalesMail?
Do You Use Video in Your Marketing Emails?

Be Trendy

You can pull a recipient’s attention to your email by referencing a cultural phenomenon that they are familiar with. By paying attention to trending videos, movements, and phrases, and using those trends in your email subject lines, you can connect to your recipients in a timely and relevant manner that extends beyond your business.

Examples:

Swipe Right on Us!
You Can’t Get This on Amazon
It’s a Bones Day – Treat Yourself

Use Buzz Words

If you are in a specific industry, paying attention to buzz words can make or break the successes of your email subject lines. By familiarizing yourself with certain terminologies, you can appeal directly to that market and highlight how you are satisfying their needs.

Examples:

Speed Up Lead-to-Lease with This App!
We Can Help with Complex CC&Rs
Assisted Living or Independent Living? We’ve Got You Covered!

Try Out Statistics

Using statistics from credible sources is a great way to provide your reader with cool, objective facts related to your message. Using statistics in your subject line can create a sense of intrigue and increase the desire to read more.

Examples:

91% of People Access Their Emails Once per Day
Increase Email Clickthrough Rates by 200% with Video
5,000 Members Strong – Join Our Community

Provide an Offer

People are always looking for something discounted or free. If you have the capacity to offer a deal of some kind to your recipient, you should. By providing your offer up front in the subject line, they will be pulled in by the potential for that discount.

Examples:

Get Your 30-Day Free Trial
Win a 4k TV!
Download Your Free Guide Today

In Summary

Creating engaging subject lines shouldn’t be a daunting task – but it should not be an afterthought either. You should use some of these suggestions, or combinations of a few, to breathe new life into your email subject lines.

For more email marketing tips, check out some of our other articles down below!

Video for Sales Emails: How Using Video Will Score More Prospects

Seven Best Practices for Creating Compelling Call-To-Action Buttons

Dive Deeper into the Digital Age: Video Mail for Multifamily Housing

Email is Not Dead! How to Use Video in Your Email Marketing