Small differences in your email subject lines can have a significant impact on click-through rates. For example, using a word like “free” might seem like a good idea, but it can scare subscribers away due to the connotations with spam.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we’re going to dive into eight data-backed methods to create the best email subject titles you can. Let’s talk numbers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight tips to write the best email subject lines for your subscribers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most people get dozens of emails every day, and there’s usually a split-second decision involved along the lines of, Do I read this or ignore it?<\/em> The email subject line you choose is a key part in the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we’ll focus on some data-backed ways to improve your email open rate. Each one is backed by data, although your mileage may vary depending on your audience. Of course, there’s no harm in trying them all and see what your subscribers respond the best to. Let’s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most industries have email open rates of about 35 percent<\/a>. This is a global generalization, but is a great rule of thumb. However, one type of email that stands out when it comes to open rates are those related to hobbies and interests. Mentioning hobbies within your email subject lines can be a quick way to boost your open rates, given that the 50 percent open rate is one of the highest recorded (alongside religion, non-profits, government, and the arts.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re unsure what we’re talking about here, take a look at some examples<\/a> of the approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three subject lines here are inspired by real-life examples offering some fantastic open rates. The takeaway is that because the headlines work in a hobby or fun activity relevant to the reader (and promises suitable content), the temptation to click through is high. By tying in your reader’s interests with your own goals, you’ll ultimately connect the two and reap the rewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It might surprise you that the simple element of adding an emoji to your email titles can boost open rates by up to 56 percent<\/a>, which is staggering. Even so, only about 6.9% of email titles include emojis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of this approach in action include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact emojis can have on your email open rates is hard to explain. In our experience, most marketers use them to drive attention to messages containing offers. This makes sense, as they’ll be some of your most valuable messages. In this writer’s experience, emojis can help offer visual clues to the content \u2013 helping skimmers ‘grok’ your message through emojis can implicitly help them gauge your content’s value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, you shouldn’t abuse the power of emojis when it comes to email. If you’re going to use them, stick to a maximum of two for each title, and temper their use in every headline. Otherwise, subscribers might soon stop paying attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Pro tip:<\/strong> Always test how your emojis display on different devices and clients. Rendering can vary between platforms, so preview before sending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, we’re all aware that a vast number of people are receiving the same email we’re reading. Even so, it feels nice when marketers make a bit of effort for emails to feel more personal, and if the content inside is well-written, even offers a touch of ambiguity into whether the email is even part of a campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One study found that emails that used a recipient’s first name in the subject line had around a 15% higher open rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to email subject lines, there are several options for personalization, such as including subscriber names and even mentioning specific events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most modern email marketing services<\/a> enable you to implement personalization in your campaigns, so this one should be a no-brainer to include. In short, if you’re not using the technique yet, you could stand to squeeze a little more out of your email list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Pro tip:<\/strong> Personalization goes beyond names. Mentioning a user\u2019s past actions or interests (\u201cStill thinking about those sneakers?\u201d) can make your emails feel even more relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re currently past a tipping point \u2013 most people now browse (and therefore check their emails) from their mobile devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is excellent for email marketing because you can reach your subscribers directly and immediately whenever you like. However, mobile devices mean smaller screens \u2013 which can make reading long email subject lines a pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s how a regular Gmail inbox looks from an average-sized mobile device:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n You’ll notice most titles cut off around after the fifth or sixth word. Of course, longer titles can therefore lose their full impact. The solution here is to employ some old-fashioned copywriting techniques. Try nailing these simple elements to make your email subject lines more clickable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This should get you in the right ballpark. From there, you can refine as necessary, safe in the knowledge you’ve ticked off the basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Pro tip:<\/strong> Don’t forget the preview text – the small line of text that follows the subject. Use it to add context or curiosity. It can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned before, using the word “free” can impact your email open rates<\/a> negatively. The same effect extends to other words that sound too ‘spammy,’ such as ‘help’ and ‘reminder’. In our experience, if the title reads too much like it was automatically generated \u2013 or it’s too salesy \u2013 your CTRs will be affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s where your creativity comes into play. Good writing dictates that there are a lot of ways to convey the same message, while avoiding undesirable words. Here are two quick examples inspired by real-world email subject lines, including one we’re re-using because it’s just that<\/em> good:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of psychologic tricks you can use when offering discounts<\/a> and free offers to make them more attractive. In many cases, you don’t even have to use the word ‘free’ for people to get the idea, so there’s no need to spam it in your titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you take a look at your inbox, we’re willing to bet a lot of the email subject lines mention deals and offers that expire soon. Creating a sense of urgency<\/a> is a marketing trick as old as time, so employing the technique is almost guaranteed to boost your CTRs and open rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some outstanding examples of this approach for email marketing include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of marketers use incredibly aggressive language within their campaigns. This can work in many cases, but the understated approach can also work wonders if your writing is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The examples we offered here imply time-limits, but they also involve promises. You can have fun drinking a few beers, get the perfect jeans, or find out how to make a lot of money. In all three cases, you’re alluding to earning instant joy for very little work (in this case a finger-press), and human beings are drawn to these types of deals constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Pro tip: <\/strong>Urgency doesn\u2019t always mean aggressive wording. Subtle time hints or limited offers can work just as well. Combine urgency with clear value to avoid sounding like clickbait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email privacy updates (like Apple\u2019s Mail Privacy Protection) make open rates less reliable today. Instead, track clicks, replies, and conversions for more accurate insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most email tools let you A\/B test subject lines, so take advantage of that. Let data, not guesses, tell you what works best for your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many email marketing platforms now include AI-powered subject line assistants. These tools can help generate or optimize headlines based on your past performance. They\u2019re not a replacement for your creativity, but they can save time and spark ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email subject lines are marketing elements you may not consciously realize you’re being influenced by. However, if your headlines don’t catch the attention of your subscribers, chances are they won’t even bother opening your emails<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that even small changes can have a significant impact on your email open rates. For example, using personalization has been shown to increase clicks, as does using emojis. Our recommendation is to try all the techniques we mentioned above and check what works best with your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most email marketing services let you test different subject lines against one another, so you can experiment with these tactics and use cold hard data to find which tactics work best for your subscribers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, if you’re not sure what types of emails you should be sending with your newfound subject writing skills, check out 10 types of email marketing campaigns<\/a> you can start sending today. And if you need a tool to help you send your emails, we’ve collected the best free email marketing services<\/a> and cheap email marketing services<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1. Use hobby-related email subject lines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2. Add emojis to your headlines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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3. Use personalized subject lines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Optimize your title lengths for mobile devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5. Avoid using words such as “free,” “help,” and “reminder”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6. Convey a sense of urgency through your headline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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7. Test and track beyond open rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Try AI tools for brainstorming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n