Writing a good email subject line

Email subject lines are crucial to the success of your email marketing efforts. Not only do they determine whether your email will be opened or not, but they also set the tone for the rest of your message. A well-crafted subject line can make all the difference between a recipient clicking the delete button or opening your email.

Tips for writing good subject lines

Here are some tips for writing good subject lines for your emails.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Subject lines are usually truncated if they are too long, so make sure your subject line is short and to the point. Aim for no more than 50 characters, and make each one count. You want your subject line to be concise and clear, so the recipient knows what to expect from the email.

Be Descriptive

Your subject line should accurately describe the content of your email. Avoid vague or misleading subject lines, as these could cause the recipient to delete your email without opening it. Instead, try to be as specific as possible, so the recipient knows what to expect from the email.

Use Action Words

Incorporating action words into your subject line can be a great way to grab the recipient’s attention. Action words, such as “act now,” “limited time offer,” or “important announcement,” can create a sense of urgency and entice the recipient to open the email.

Make It Personal

Personalizing your subject line can be a great way to increase open rates. Try using the recipient’s name, location, or other personal information to make the email feel more relevant and important. For example, “[Name], don’t miss out on our exclusive sale!”

Ask A Question

Asking a question in your subject line can be a great way to engage the recipient and get them to open the email. For example, “Are you ready for our big sale?” or “Do you need help with [topic]?”

Offer A Benefit

Your subject line should also offer a benefit to the recipient. This could be a discount, a free trial, or some other incentive to open the email. For example, “Get 20% off your next purchase” or “Free trial for [product/service].”

Test And Refine

Finally, it’s important to test and refine your subject lines to see what works best. You can test different subject lines on a small group of recipients, and then use the results to refine your approach. This can help you find the best subject lines for your audience and increase your open rates over time.

Writing good subject lines for your emails is a critical part of any email marketing campaign. By following these tips, you can create titles that grab the recipient’s attention, accurately describe the content of your email, and encourage the recipient to open and read your message. So, take the time to craft your subject lines carefully, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful email marketing campaign.

Study of the Best/Worst Open Rates

People who are new to email marketing often ask, “How should I write my subject lines so that more recipients will open my emails?”. The following below should give you a good base as to what should and should not be used as far as subject lines are concerned.

Best Open Rates (60-87 Percent)

1. [COMPANYNAME] Sales & Marketing Newsletter
2. Eye on the [COMPANYNAME] Update (Oct 31 – Nov 4)
3. [COMPANYNAME] Staff Shirts & Photos
4. [COMPANYNAME] May 2015 News Bulletin!
5. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter – February 2016
6. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter – January 2016 [ *|FNAME|* *|LNAME|* ]
7. [COMPANYNAME] and [COMPANYNAME] Invites You!
8. Happy Holidays from [COMPANYNAME]
9. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] Staff!
10. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] West Staff!!
11. Invitation from [COMPANYNAME]
12. [COMPANYNAME] Jan/Feb 2016 Newsletter
13. Website news – Issue 3
14. Upcoming Events at [COMPANYNAME]
15. [COMPANYNAME] Councils: Letter of Interest
16. [COMPANYNAME] Coffee Exchange – Post-Katrina Update
17. We’re Throwing a Party
18. October 2015 Newsletter
19. [COMPANYNAME]: 02.10.06
20. [COMPANYNAME] Racing Newsletter

Worst Open Rates (1-14 Percent)

1. Last Minute Gift – We Have The Answer
2. Valentines – Shop Early & Save 10%
3. Give a Gift Certificate this Holiday
4. Valentine’s Day Salon and Spa Specials!
5. Gift Certificates – Easy & Elegant Giving – Let Them Choose
6. Need More Advertising Value From Your Marketing Partner?
7. [COMPANYNAME] Pioneers in Banana Technology
8. [COMPANYNAME] Moves You Home for the Holidays
9. Renewal
10. Technology Company Works with [COMPANYNAME] on Bananas Efforts
11. [COMPANYNAME] Update – A Summary of Security and Emergency Preparedness News
12. Now Offering Banana Services!
13. It’s still summer in Tahoe!
14. [COMPANYNAME] endorses [COMPANYNAME] as successor
15. [COMPANYNAME] Holiday Sales Event
16. The Future of International Trade
17. [COMPANYNAME] for your next dream home.
18. True automation of your Banana Research
19. [COMPANYNAME] Resort – Spring into May Savings
20. You Asked For More…

Good Subject Lines The Secret Formula

So what’s our advice for good subject lines? This is going to sound “stupid simple” to a lot of people, but here goes: Your subject line should (drum roll please): Describe the subject of your email. Yep, that’s it.

Always set your subscribers’ expectations during the opt-in process about what kinds of emails they’ll be receiving. Don’t confuse newsletters with promotions. If your email is a newsletter, put the name and issue of the newsletter in your subject line. Because that’s what’s inside. If your email is a special promotion, tell them what’s inside. Either way, just don’t write your subject lines like advertisements.

When it comes to email marketing, the best subject lines tell what’s inside, and the worst subject lines sell what’s inside.

For more information on email marketing and crafting effective subject lines, check out HubSpot’s blog post on “Email Subject Lines We’ve Ever Seen.“