Email subject lines are the gatekeepers of your email marketing campaigns. Good ones get opened, while bad ones get ignored or sent to the spam folder.
This article is all about how to write those good, attention-grabbing subject lines that will lead to more opens and clicks. We’ll show you 19 email subject line formulas that you can use immediately in your own marketing campaigns. Don’t worry if they sound a little familiar: we’ve adapted them from some of the most successful emails we see in our inboxes every day.
So grab a notepad and let’s get started on improving your open rates.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Crafting attention-grabbing email subject lines is crucial for improving open rates. |
| 2. Personalization and relevance in subject lines can pique readers’ curiosity. |
| 3. Using urgency or scarcity in subject lines can drive action and engagement. |
| 4. Experimenting with humor, questions, or intriguing statements can capture interest. |
| 5. A/B testing different subject lines helps identify the most effective approaches. |
| 6. Avoiding clickbait and misleading subject lines maintains trust with recipients. |
| 7. Emojis and symbols can add visual appeal and uniqueness to subject lines. |
| 8. Incorporating numbers and statistics can make subject lines more compelling. |
| 9. Tailoring subject lines to your audience’s preferences enhances relevance. |
| 10. Short and straightforward subject lines often perform better on mobile devices. |
1. “Sale Ending”
Nudge your readers to open your email and take action by creating a sense of urgency. You can do this by mentioning that your sale ends at a specific date and time or when supplies run out.
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2. “You’re Invited”
The more personal you can make your subject line the better, which is why “you” is so effective. Your reader will see “you’re invited” and feel special that they were chosen to be a part of something big. You can use this strategy to create FOMO (fear of missing out) for an event, broadcast, or meeting/webinar. A great email subject line should mirror the content of the email itself, so keep it short and sweet if you want people to open it!
3. “New Arrivals For You'”
Boldly proclaiming that you have something new for the reader is a good way to get them excited about opening your email.
4. “Live Now”
The subject line “Live Now” will help you add a sense of urgency to your marketing message. It’s effective if you’re doing some sort of special promotion or making an offer that’s valid for a limited time.
To make the best use of this strategy, be sure to have a live chat feature on your website so that when readers are prompted to take action immediately, they can get the information they need fast. This will not only help with conversions and sales but also create goodwill among those who may not be yet ready to buy anything.
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5. “Only 1 Day Left! 50% Off All Items!”
If you want to get customers hooked on impulse, give them a sense of urgency by telling them they only have one day left to save. Make sure you let them know how much they’ll be saving, too. A good deal is always enticing! This subject line also informs the reader that this offer is limited time only, so they’ll want to move fast before it expires.
6. “Exclusive Offer”
Offers work well because they suggest that a reader will receive something of value. Yet the challenge of offers is to make them valuable enough to be irresistible and scarce enough to feel pressing. Here are some general rules to make your offer more effective:
Make sure it’s something you can deliver on. If you’ve ever been lured into a “free” trial only to discover that there are hidden fees, you know how quickly an offer can turn into a letdown.
Create urgency. If your readers think they have time to redeem the offer, they might never get around to it or worse, forget about it completely.
Maintain scarcity by limiting the number of offers available or creating a sense of exclusivity by offering deals for certain groups or tiers of customers (e.g., “Exclusive Offer for Our Top 100 Customers”). You can also create scarcity by using words like “limited time,” “one day only,” or “while supplies last.”
7. “Your Order Is Waiting”
This subject line from Smitten Kitchen is so simple, yet effective. Everyone loves opening an email when they receive delivery or order confirmation, so this subject line piques the customer’s interest immediately.
It also creates a sense of urgency to get them to open your email quickly! Also, keep in mind that you can’t change your subject line after sending out your email, but you can use emojis if you want 🙂 If you want to personalize it even more by using the recipient’s name, go for it as long as you have their information on file!
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8. “‘name Of Recipient’, You Have A Package On The Way”
Have you ever opened an email, only to discover it was all about someone else? The pain! It’s like going to a party, seeing everyone having fun and talking with each other, but feeling left out because no one talks to you. You feel invisible.
When people see their name in your subject line, they’re far more likely to open your email. Personalization is powerful and it works especially well when customers are waiting for something from your brand. People who are expecting a delivery will be happy to see your message.
If you’re sending an important note that needs immediate attention, use capital letters sparingly throughout the subject line. Don’t go overboard with them: too many will make the reader think they’ve done something wrong or that there’s a problem in need of fixing.
9. Get ‘company Name’ For Free For 30-Days. No Obligation. No Credit Card Required
If you’re not offering a free trial, then you can use the word “free” in your subject line. As long as it’s free, people will want to know more. Just don’t overdo it.
A few ideas:
Get (Name of your company) for free for 30-days. No obligation. No credit card is required.
Free webinar alert: (Enter topic).
‘I’ll take the steak knives.’ – Gift with every purchase today.
10. “Love It Or Leave It Free Shipping And Returns On All Orders”
Free shipping is a strong incentive to get people to spend money, but you have to tell them about it first. Use the subject line, “Love it or Leave it Free Shipping and Returns on All Orders,” so they know they can shop with confidence. If they don’t like what they buy, they can return it for free and get their cashback. This subject line is straightforward and comes right out with the offer. It’s not tricky or misleading like some other offers might be, so readers will trust what you’re saying.
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11. [Name Of Recipient], Your Special Offer Is Waiting Inside
Emphasize exclusivity. The word “exclusive” is one of the most powerful words in marketing. It’s a term that indicates that it’s not available to anyone but you, and therefore should be treated as special. People will naturally want what they can’t have – so use it to your advantage! It also brings out the competitive spirit, making people more likely to click on your email just so they don’t miss out!
Tell them it’s waiting inside. If something is exclusive to me, I want access immediately! Encourage your readers to click on the link by telling them something is waiting for them inside their inbox – something they can take advantage of right now if they act fast enough.
12. Reminder – Your Cart Is Still Active! Complete Your Purchase Today
Who it works for: This email is a good option for eCommerce companies that are sending transactional emails to customers who have previously made purchases.
Why it works: Don’t be afraid to remind your subscribers when they have items in their cart. It could be the motivation they need to complete their purchase and hit send!
13. It’s Not Too Late To Order [Product Name] With No Shipping Fees! Hurry, This Offer Expires Soon
Using a subject line like “It’s Not Too Late to Order [Product Name] with No Shipping Fees! Hurry, This Offer Expires Soon!” is sure to grab the reader’s attention and it probably will. However, you don’t want to grab your reader’s attention for all the wrong reasons.
This is a classic case of too much information when it comes to email subject lines. You’ve got product names, shipping fees and expiration dates all in one sentence (or two, depending on how you break it up). The best email subject lines are short and sweet — no more than 50 characters. So your customer will have time to read all that you’ve included in the subject line before he deletes the email as spam.
14. Josh, We Need To Talk About This Discount.
Use your reader’s name in the subject line. Using their name will help them recognize that the email is for them, and also makes them feel important. If you have their first name, use it (e.g., “Josh,”). If not, use a title (“Mr.” or “Ms.” or “Professor”).
Put a question mark at the end of your subject line. This helps it stand out to your reader and works especially well with open-ended questions like “Can I ask you a quick question?” or “Do you have one minute?”. You should be wary of using the word “free” in your subject line, as some spam filters may detect that word and flag your email as junk mail rather than sending it to someone’s inbox.
Make sure the text before your link matches what’s on the landing page. The preview text is everything after “Thanks for signing up!” until the next link—right before “For more information about…” It provides more context for people who are already interested in learning about how to get started with artificial intelligence, so make sure it matches what they’ll see when they click through to your website.
15. Time is Running Out to Claim Your Discount! Ends Tonight at Midnight. Click Here to Shop Now
This one is great for when you want to create a sense of urgency. You don’t have to use it only in emails with limited-time offers – it can also be used in other email marketing campaigns if you want your audience to take action as soon as possible.
You can use this subject line when your offer expires soon or when there’s a product that has limited supply or will go out of style fast (like fashion products).
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16. 3 Hours Left To Save An Extra 20% On Your Order! Use Code [Code Name]
Make sure the offer is relevant to your audience. Create a sense of urgency with scarcity (“Today only!”) or time limit (“Three hours left to save an extra 20%!”). Don’t use these tactics unless you have a good reason, though it’s easy to annoy people if they’re not convinced that there’s some actual urgency.
Add your customer’s name in the subject line. Doing so makes your message more engaging since it feels like it was written specifically for them. Try adding a catchy line after their name but before the rest of the subject line; this works especially well with names that can be made into puns or rhymes, such as “Francesca: Last chance for today-only savings!” Keep the whole thing short enough to fit on a mobile device without scrolling about 60 characters or less.
Final Thoughts
It’s about testing and getting feedback from your audience as you feel out the best way to connect with them. While reading blogs, books and articles like this one can help you get ideas on where to start, only testing can tell you which email subject lines will get results for your own business. So if you want better open rates, don’t be afraid to try out new things in your email copy just remember to test and track each approach you take so you know what works best for your customers.
As you can see, experimenting with different email subject lines is critical when it comes to a successful email marketing campaign. The best way to test which subject line works for your readers is to A/B test the options, so you can see what’s resonating and what’s falling flat.
Further Reading
Explore more resources on crafting effective email subject lines:
The Science of People – Email Subject Lines: How to Write Brilliant and Eye-Catching: Discover the art and science behind creating attention-grabbing email subject lines that captivate your audience’s interest.
LoginRadius Blog – Email Subject Lines to Catch Customers’ Eyes: Learn practical strategies for crafting email subject lines that stand out and compel recipients to open your emails.
HubSpot Marketing Blog – The Best Email Subject Lines: 87+ Subject Line Ideas for Your Email Campaigns: Dive into a comprehensive list of email subject line ideas to inspire your email marketing efforts.
People Also Ask
How Do You Write An Email Subject Line?
You should write a subject line that accurately describes what you’re trying to convey in your message and includes a call to action. If you can, use personalization (such as “John, are you available Tuesday at 10 AM?”). You should also avoid using all caps or symbols because these make it harder for recipients to read your email on their phones.
What Is The Best Email Subject Line?
The best email subject lines are short and personalized. This means they tell readers why they need to care about this specific message and they do it without unnecessary filler words like “hello!” or “hi!” Remember: recipients see the first few words of your message in their inboxes, so be sure to pick those carefully!
What Is A Catchy Subject Line?
A catchy subject line catches people’s attention in just a few seconds. It should be short and sweet but still informative about what’s inside including some sort of urgency if possible (such as “50% off today only!”). Be sure not to be too wordy with these types of messages; keep them concise and direct for maximum impact!
What Is A Subject Line Example?
A good example of an effective email marketing campaign would be sending out promotional offers from time so people will stay subscribed longer than usual. For example: “25% off everything in our store today only!”
What Are Some Great Email Subject Lines?
We have a list of 19 great email subject lines that will grab your reader’s attention!
What’s A Good Email Subject Line?
A good email subject line grabs your readers’ attention, while also being something they want to read. For example, you might use a question or an intriguing statement that prompts the reader to read more.
What Is A Good Email Subject Line?
A good email subject line grabs your readers’ attention, while also being something they want to read. For example, you might use a question or an intriguing statement that prompts the reader to read more.
What Are Some Examples Of Email Subject Lines?
The following examples of great email subject lines can apply across numerous industries and contexts: “Here’s How You Can Save Money on Groceries,” “The Best Way to Make an In-person Connection Online,” and “Can I Get Your Feedback?” With these types of questions and statements as hooks in your emails, readers will be more inclined to click through or open them up right away.
What Is A Catchy Subject Line?
A catchy subject line can pull the reader in without giving too much away at first glance. For example: “Let me tell you why this new product and its price tag is worth it!” The reader isn’t sure what it’s getting into here until they open up the message; their curiosity will compel them forward.
How Do You Write A Catchy Subject Line?
Writing an effective and/or catchy headline for an article is as easy as having something interesting going on in your content! If there’s already an interesting hook within what you’re writing about–like how this new product can save people money then use it as inspiration for drafting out different versions of headlines until landing on just one with maximum impact.
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!