Creating the perfect subject lines for your emails

Jeffrey Overmeer

Nov 10, 2022

Effective email subject lines: A step-by-step guide

Crafting the perfect subject line for your emails is crucial to ensuring that your message is opened and read. A compelling subject line can make the difference between a recipient clicking through to your email or simply deleting it.

According to a study by Campaign Monitor, 35% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone (source: Campaign Monitor). Therefore, it is important to put effort into crafting effective subject lines.

Here are some tips for creating effective subject lines:

1. Keep it short and sweet. Subject lines should be no more than 50 characters, as longer ones may get cut off in the recipient’s inbox. For example, Amazon’s subject line “Last chance to save on holiday gifts” is short and to the point, while also creating a sense of urgency with the phrase “last chance.”
2. Make it specific and relevant. The subject line should clearly communicate the content of the email and why it is important to the recipient. For example, Eventbrite’s subject line “Don’t miss out on our upcoming workshop on social media marketing” is specific and relevant to the content of the email, letting the recipient know exactly what they can expect from the email.
3. Use action words. Words like “limited time,” “exclusive,” and “act now” can create a sense of urgency and encourage the recipient to open the email. For example, Salesforce’s subject line “Get a free consultation with our experts” uses the action word “get” to encourage the recipient to take action and request a consultation.
4. Personalize it. Adding the recipient’s name or location in the subject line can make the email feel more personalized and increase the chances of it being opened. According to a study by Experian, personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened (source: Experian). For example, The New York Times’ subject line “Get the latest news from [Name]” uses the recipient’s name to make the email feel more personalized.
5. Test different subject lines. Try A/B testing different subject lines to see which ones perform the best. This can give you valuable insights into what resonates with your audience. For example, a study by Mailchimp found that subject lines with emojis had a higher open rate than those without (source: Mailchimp).

Here are some examples of subject lines from different email campaigns:

• Ecommerce: “Last chance to save on holiday gifts” (source: Amazon)
• Event promotion: “Don’t miss out on our upcoming workshop on social media marketing” (source: Eventbrite)
• Lead generation: “Get a free consultation with our experts” (source: Salesforce)
• Newsletter: “This week’s top stories: [Subject]” (source: The New York Times)

By following these tips and testing different subject lines, you can increase the chances of your emails being opened and read by your audience. Happy emailing!