Master the Art of Click-Worthy Email Subject Lines + Examples

Oren Todoros
By Oren Todoros, Updated on March 27, 2024, 6 min read

Despite social media usage and apps like iMessage, email remains the best channel for reaching customers directly. Unlike social media platforms, which are governed by ever-changing algorithms and corporate policies, email communication is not controlled by any single company.

 

Email newsletters allow for a stable and consistent way to connect with your audiences, making email subject lines a crucial element of marketing strategy. The ability to write and deliver compelling subject lines that stand out in a crowded inbox can significantly enhance open rates and, by extension, the success of email marketing campaigns. By leveraging email’s direct and personal nature, marketers can effectively engage their audience, bypassing the limitations imposed by third-party social media platforms platforms.

 

 

What Is an Email Subject Line?

An email subject line acts as the headline of an email, designed to capture the recipient’s attention and get them to open the message. It is critical in email marketing effectiveness, serving as the first engagement point. In a world where inboxes are inundated with messages, newsletters, alerts, etc., a compelling subject line can be the difference between an email being opened or overlooked and archived. It’s a crowded field, as 22.61% of all emails are opened.

 

Writing a compelling subject line involves balancing conciseness and curiosity, ensuring it is engaging enough to stand out among many emails. Given the variety of email platforms, each has constraints on subject line length, generally ranging from 30 to 60 characters, to ensure the message is conveyed effectively without being cut off. When in doubt, go shorter!

 

 

9 Tips for Creating Click-Worthy Email Subject Lines

Here are some tips for creating click-worthy email subject lines that should help you connect further with your customers and prospects.

 

 

1. Be Precise

Conciseness in your email subject line is essential. Aim to communicate the core message or offer of your email upfront. This approach respects the recipient’s time and clarifies the value they’ll gain from opening the email.

 

 

2. Make It Unique

Differentiation is crucial in a crowded email inbox with limited attention. Crafting a subject line that stands out because of its uniqueness or creativity can significantly increase your email’s chances of being noticed and opened – which can help send signals to Google and other email providers about the benefits of your content. Using specific personal names instead of generic company names as the sender can boost open rates by up to 35% as well.

 

 

3. Include a Teaser In the Subject

A well-thought-out teaser in the subject line can intrigue your customers or prospects, prompting curiosity and compelling them to open the email to uncover the full message. This strategy works well for promotional content or exclusive offers to existing customers.

 

 

4. Ask a Question

Asking a question in your subject line is a tactic that often leads to higher open rates due to the interactive nature of a question. It can make it feel more personal as well.

 

 

5. Avoid Sounding Spammy

Emails with subject lines that sound too promotional or spam-like are often ignored or directed to the spam folder. Avoid excessive exclamation points, all caps, or overly “salesy” language to maintain trust and open rates. Your audience is getting hundreds of emails a day that sound like this, and they are not getting opened.

 

 

6. Experiment with A/B Testing

A/B testing involves sending two versions of your email with different subject lines to a small audience segment to see which performs better. This method allows you to refine your approach based on real data.

 

 

7. Use Numbers

Incorporating numbers into your subject line, such as “5 Products You Need to Own This Summer To Stay Cool,” can grab attention by promising simple but valuable content. Lists and statistics offer a clear expectation of what’s inside the email.

 

 

8. Wordplay

Clever puns, jokes, emojis, or playful language can make your email memorable and get noticed. This creative approach can delight recipients and foster a positive association with your brand.

 

 

9. Use Actionable Language

Starting your subject line with action verbs can motivate recipients to engage. Phrases like “Discover Your Next Adventure” or “Claim Your Free Gift” encourage immediate action.

 

By applying these strategies, you can craft email subject lines that not only capture attention but also encourage higher open rates, ultimately contributing to the success of your email marketing efforts.

 

 

Email Subject Line Examples

Creating compelling email subject lines is crucial for different types of email communications. Here are examples of various scenarios:

 

 

Cold Email Marketing

 

  • “Unlock New Opportunities Today”
  • “Need Help Filling Your Pipeline?”
  • “Exclusive Insights for Your Business Growth”
  • “[First Name], Your Offer is Ready”

 

 

Follow-up/Remarketing

 

  • “Still Thinking About It? Limited Time Offer Just for You”
  • “Miss Us? Your Next Favorite Deal Is Here”
  • “Last Chance: Grab Your 20% Savings Before It’s Gone”

 

 

Professional Correspondence

 

  • “Next Steps for Our Partnership”
  • “Collab Opportunity: Your Expertise Required”
  • “Meeting Recap & Nexy Action Items”

 

Sales

 

  • “Exclusive Offer: 20% Off Your Favorite Picks”
  • “Your Private Access to Premium Deals Ends Soon”
  • “Flash Sale: Don’t Miss These Must-Have Deals”

 

 

Newsletters

 

  • “This Week’s Insights: Trends You Can’t-Miss”
  • “Your Monthly Dose of Inspiration & Innovation”
  • “Latest Updates & News You Need to Know”

 

 

Feedback Requests

 

  • “We Value Your Opinion – Help Us Get Better”
  • “Can We Hear Your Feedback?”
  • “Your Feedback Matters: Help Shape Our Products”

 

These examples are crafted to serve specific purposes, from initiating contact with potential clients to nurturing existing relationships and encouraging actions, demonstrating the versatility and impact of well-conceived email subject lines.

 

 

Wrap-Up

Mastering the art of crafting click-worthy email subject lines is essential for enhancing open rates and engaging your audience. By employing strategies such as precision, uniqueness, and personalization and leveraging the examples listed above to various email types, marketers can significantly improve their email marketing efforts.

 

Spike’s team communication software introduces a novel, streamlined approach to managing email threads, transforming them into conversational emails. This innovation facilitates more natural and efficient communication, enhancing the email experience for both senders and recipients. Spike Teamspace is focused on bringing the human element back to your communication, and your best customers are the ones you have a personal connection with!

FAQs

An effective email subject line is clear, engaging, and concise. It accurately reflects the email’s content while enticing the reader to open it.  

Aim for 30-50 characters to ensure it’s fully visible on most devices and email platforms, capturing attention without being cut off. 

Personalizing subject lines with the recipient’s name or relevant details can significantly increase open rates by making emails feel more tailored and relevant. 

A/B testing different subject lines on segments of your audience can provide valuable insights into what resonates best, allowing you to optimize future campaigns for higher engagement and open rates. 

Oren Todoros
Oren Todoros Oren is a strategic thinker with over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry and is the current Head of Content Strategy at Spike. He's also the proud father of 3 beautiful daughters and a dog named Milo.

Gain Communication Clarity with Spike

You may also like

10 Tips for Effective Email Writing

Writing effective emails is an essential skill in any modern workplace, and like other skills, with practice (and some valuable tips), it can be mastered by anyone. Here’s where to start…

Read More