Crafting the perfect email subject line is essential for getting your emails opened, read, and hopefully acted upon. This article will explain what a subject line is and why it is so important. then, we’ll go over some pointers for writing the perfect email subject line that entices recipients to open your emails.

What is a subject line in an email?

When subscribers receive an email from you, the subject line is the first single-line text they see after the sender’s name which hints at the contents of an email. This one line of text often determines whether a reader will open your email fully to read it or simply delete it.

Why is the subject line of an email so important?

No matter how well crafted your email message are, if your target audience does not open the email, they are useless. Email subject lines are arguably the most important aspect of your emails. A well-crafted subject line can pique their interest, entice them to click through and compel them to read the rest of the message.

Subject lines allow you to convey a little more information, increase open rates, and encourage people to click through.

Putting a little extra effort into your email subject lines will help you get more emails open, avoid emails going to your spam folder, and get your message in front of the right people.

Elements of  catchy subject lines for business emails

The following are some key elements of a catchy subject line.

01). Curiosity

The subject line should activate the recipients’ natural curiosity by compelling them to open the email to learn more.

02). Self-interest

Another element of a catchy subject line is it contains self-interest. Self-interested subject lines are usually direct and speak to a specific benefit your audience will receive by opening the email.

03). Urgency

A sense of urgency is an effective element that motivates people to act. A similar effect in your subject lines accomplishes the same thing by making people your subscribers feel pressed for time. 

04). Offers

People enjoy new things and new experiences, so your subject line should capitalize on this. It should provide recipients with something for free or at a significant discount. They’ll see the benefit of remaining on your email list.

05). Cool stories

Your email subject line should contain a compelling allusion to a story, that can only be read if opened or clicked. This is likely to make your audience intrigued, and want to learn more. However, the story should be relevant to your brand. 

06). Personalization

A catchy subject line should be personalized toward the individual.

Email subject line best practices

#1. Keep it short and sweet

With the right approach, pitching a winning email subject line should be a piece of cake. People are inundated with emails every day, so make sure your subject line stands out in their inboxes. Instead of risking name fatigue when sentences become too long, a shorter subject line can be a more effective way to quickly grab attention.

#2. Use concise language

People scan their inboxes, so the more clear and more concise your subject line is, the better. Unless you’re going for an elusive subject tone to entice your recipients, it’s usually better to be concise rather than complex and flowery language.

Consider how your email will benefit your recipients when creating a concise subject line. You should emphasize that benefit.

#3. Pose a compelling question

Questions are an excellent way to get your audience to consider how they would respond to a question. Furthermore, questions on them feel incomplete. Including it encourages readers to open the email in search of an answer.

#4. Use action-oriented language

Using action-oriented language is another technique for crafting the perfect email subject line. Action-oriented language is effective because it motivates people to act. Your subject line should evoke a sense of urgency or excitement in your recipients, compelling them to open your email right away.

In your subject lines, use strong action verbs such as “join,” “discover,” or “get”. These verbs create a sense of excitement and anticipation, making people want to learn more about what you have to offer. However, don’t overuse these words too frequently or they will lose their impact.

#5. Personalize your subject line

Personalization is crucial for connecting with your audience and making them feel as though you understand their needs and interests. For example, if possible, include the recipient’s name in the subject line to make it feel more personal and relevant to them.

Everyone enjoys the sound of their name. Indeed, studies have shown that emails with the recipient’s first name in the subject line had higher click-through rates than emails without.

Furthermore, if you have information on their previous interactions with your brand, use it to tailor the subject line to their interests or behaviors. If someone has previously purchased a product from your website, you could include their purchase history in the subject line, such as “New products based on your previous purchases”. This demonstrates that you appreciate their business and are providing them with something specifically tailored to their interests.

#6. Create a sense of exclusivity

People enjoy feeling like they are part of an exclusive club or have access to something that others do not. When people feel like they’re on the inside, it gives them a sense of belonging, which builds loyalty and compels them to convert to your emails.

With the right wording, you can make your recipients feel special and the effect can be magical. Here are some examples of phrasing: “Only for our cherished customers”, “A special offer for you”, or “This is my gift to you”

However, make certain that any promises made in your subject line are kept, as breaking trust can harm your brand’s reputation.

#7. Use numbers

Many businesses send emails with ambiguous subject lines, which is why using data and numbers is an excellent way to get your emails noticed, demonstrate a clear and straightforward message about your offer, and set the right expectations.

Using numbers in your subject line is an effective email marketing best practice, just like using numbers in blog titles. You could use numbers to refer to the title of your listicle, the page length of an offer, or the numerical benefit of a specific resource you’re providing. 

#8. Get creative

Using puns and emojis in email subject lines allows you to be creative while also standing out from the crowd and capturing the recipient’s attention. Puns can add levity to your message and help you connect with the reader right away. 

A good pun is appreciated by the majority of people. It’s a great way to delight your recipients while also adding flavor to your emails.

Emojis are effective at conveying emotion and eliciting a response from the reader, as well as making your subject line stand out from other emails in their inbox.

However, consider small ways to incorporate puns into your emails when appropriate, just don’t overdo it.

#9. Include a deadline in the subject line

The deadline tactic instills a sense of urgency in readers, encouraging them to prioritize your email. A series of emails are likely to be part of a successful promotional strategy for an event or special offer. You can make an initial announcement informing people of an upcoming date. As the deadline approaches, send a “‘last chance” follow-up email to remind users of the promotion.

#10. Make an announcement right in the subject

If you have something new and exciting to say about your company or organization, put it in the subject line.

Although it can be difficult to craft personalized emails for a large marketing email list, sharing announcements with email subscribers is a great way to boost that sense of personalization, as readers will feel like they are among the first to learn about this offer.

#11. Don’t overuse exclamation points or ALL CAPS.

People dislike being yelled at. Using all caps and a lot of exclamation points in the subject line can irritate them. These tactics are not only annoying, but they also appear spammy. Instead of employing disruptive tactics like these to make your emails stand out in people’s inboxes, try personalizing them, establishing relevance, and employing catchy and delightful language.

#12. Use a listicle

A listicle subject line straddles the line between informative and intriguing as it promises a specific amount of information without revealing what the information is. 

An email subject line containing lists may be relevant and helpful to some, and others may not like it as it may cause confusion or frustration. For instance, you may get confused about why a company sending you case studies when you only recently joined its email list.

To make this relevant and useful, personalize the experience based on previous actions your customers have taken, such as which forms they have filled out, which industries they are in, and what their personal preferences are.

#13. Make them timely

You can plan and schedule your newsletters using your email marketing platform, so why not build your subject lines around the day of the week, or even the time of day, they are sent? For instance, send out a Friday deal with the word TGIF in the subject line. This will not go unnoticed.

#14. Ditch filler

Your subject line has a limited amount of space to make an impression. Don’t squander your few available characters on filler words and phrases like, “Hey there!”. Nobody wants to waste their time with words that don’t convey the purpose of your email.

#15. Test and optimize

The final technique for creating the ideal email subject line is to test and optimize it regularly. When it comes to subject lines, there is no one size fits all solution because what works for one client may not work for another.

While knowing your target audience is a good place to start, the only way to make confident decisions about which words and phrases will work best for that customer is to test them out.

A/B testing tools or sending different versions of an email to different segments of your list can be used to test different subject line variations. Analyze the results and make adjustments based on what resonates best with your target audience.

Related: How to Make Your Email Stand Out From the Crowd

How to write the perfect email subject line

Knowing the best practices for writing a catchy subject line is one thing, but knowing how to write a perfect subject line is quite another. Now that we’ve covered the elements of a good subject line and best practices, here are the steps you can take to craft the perfect email subject line that gets opened.

Step 1: Identify the purpose of the email

When brainstorming subject line ideas, it is critical to first identify the purpose of the email to be sent. You can then use that as the foundation to come up with a great subject line.

Step 2: Who is the target audience

Knowing your intended audience is also essential when crafting a subject line. This will assist you in determining the appropriate phrases that will make them open an email.

Step 3: Determine the call to action

When writing the subject line, consider what will entice the user to open the email. Is there a discount? Something free? Or is it important information that they can’t resist? This will help you to write a subject line that will entice them enough to want to see or learn more about your offer hence ending up opening the email.

Step 4: Draft multiple subject lines

You must write several subject lines with similar words and tones. You want to have a few ideas to choose from rather than spend too much time stewing over the same sentence.

After brainstorming several subject lines, getting a second opinion can help you see it from a different angle.

Step 5: Test your subject line

Finally, run an A/B test to see which subject line performs the best. After you’ve completed the test, use the most effective email subject line in your next email marketing campaign.

Related: How To Create A Professional Email Signature

Conclusion.

Crafting a catchy email subject line necessitates creativity, strategy, and experimentation.

A catchy email subject line will make your email open and not tossed in the trash.

With these pointers in mind, you’ll be able to craft effective email subject lines that get your messages the attention they deserve. In addition, following the tips above will increase the likelihood of your email being opened and read.