Why The Subject line Is The Most Important Part Of Your Email ~ Quick Tips Guide

If your subject line is uninteresting, sounds the least bit spammy, or violates email etiquette there is a good chance that your email will never get read.

So how can you structure your subject line in a way that excites your reader?

First think of your reader as an actual person who will be receiving your email. Research them to understand who they are, what motivates them, what their goals are, and aim to provide value.

The Do’s

Ask yourself, “Would this subject line make ME want to open this email?”. If you’re not excited to open your own email, they likely won’t be either.

Mentioning “next steps” increases your chance of open rate by 70%

Short subject lines are key. Do keep subject lines under 5 words to increase your open rate by 50%.

Do remove the words “invitation to join” this drops your open rate to 2%.

Do send your email at the right time by testing delivery times for your customers.

Do get creative and A/B test to see what works for your target market.

And Don’ts

Don’t say you’re “trying to connect” or ask “if they can chat” instead try saying something similar but less spammy like “checking in”.

Don’t say “I’m not sure if you’re the right person to speak to about this” or expect them to direct you to that person.

Don’t mention, the words “something of interest” to share. The chances of your email being opened drops to 1 in 10.

Don’t mention “follow-up” or say “you’re just following up”.

Don’t say “touching base” instead creatively state the reason you’re actually “touching base” for example: “saw your post on LinkedIn” or “thought of you”.

Example Email Subject Lines For Out-Bounding

“thought of you for this opportunity”

“thought of you”

“person X recommended you”

“loved X article” — referring to an article they wrote

“(insert company name) & (insert their name)”

By iterating, and testing you can continue to improve your open rates with each campaign.

What has worked well for you in the past?

Share your favorite strategies in the comments section below.

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