Email subject lines are the first thing your recipients see when they check their inbox. They can make or break your email marketing campaign. According to HubSpot Research, 65% of surveyed marketers say that subject lines have the greatest impact on open rates.
So, how do you craft email subject lines that are compelling enough to get people to click through? In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and best practices to help you write catchy email subject lines that boost open rates.
Why Email Subject Lines Matter
Email subject lines are more than just a summary of your email content. They are also a powerful tool to grab your audience’s attention and entice them to open your email. According to a study by Invesp, 47% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone.
Email subject lines also affect your email deliverability and reputation. If your subject lines are spammy, misleading, or irrelevant, your emails may end up in the spam folder or get marked as spam by your recipients. This can hurt your sender reputation and reduce your chances of reaching your audience’s inbox.
Therefore, it’s crucial to write email subject lines that are clear, concise, and captivating. Here are some effective techniques to help you do that.
How to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
Use Keywords Strategically
Keywords are the words and phrases that your audience uses to search for information online. They can help you optimize your email subject lines for search engines and increase your visibility in the inbox.
To find the best keywords for your email subject lines, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, or SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool. These tools can help you discover popular and relevant keywords for your niche and audience.
Once you have a list of keywords, you can use them strategically in your email subject lines. For example, you can use keywords that match your audience’s intent, such as “how to”, “tips”, “guide”, “best”, etc. You can also use keywords that trigger curiosity, urgency, or emotion, such as “secret”, “surprise”, “last chance”, “amazing”, etc.
However, don’t overuse keywords or stuff them in your subject lines. This can make your subject lines look spammy and unnatural. Instead, use keywords sparingly and naturally in your subject lines.
Here are some examples that use keywords strategically:
- How to Write a Killer Blog Post in 30 Minutes
- The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing for Beginners
- 10 Best Practices for Writing Catchy Email Subject Lines
- Surprise! You’ve Been Selected for a Free Gift
- Last Chance: Save 50% on Our Best-Selling Course
Keep It Short and Simple
According to a study by Return Path, the optimal length of an email subject line is between six and 10 words. This is because most email clients display only a limited number of characters in the inbox, and longer subject lines may get cut off.
Therefore, it’s important to keep your email subject lines short and simple. Avoid using unnecessary words or filler words that don’t add any value to your message. Instead, use clear and concise language that conveys the main benefit or value proposition of your email.
Here are some examples that keep it short and simple:
- New Arrivals: Shop Now
- You’re Invited: Free Webinar Tomorrow
- Your Feedback Matters: Take Our Survey
- Congratulations! You’ve Earned a Reward
- Happy Birthday! Here’s a Special Treat
Personalize Your Subject Lines
Personalization is one of the most effective ways to increase your email open rates. According to a study by Campaign Monitor, emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened than those without.
Personalization means tailoring to your audience’s preferences, interests, behavior, location, etc. You can use various data points to personalize your subject lines, such as:
- Name: Using your recipient’s name can make your subject line more friendly and human.
- Location: Using your recipient’s location can make your subject line more relevant and timely.
- Purchase history: Using your recipient’s purchase history can make your subject line more personalized and targeted.
- Segmentation: Using segmentation criteria such as age, gender, industry, etc., can make your subject line more specific and tailored.
Here are some examples that use personalization:
- Hi John, Here’s a Special Offer Just for You
- Sarah, You’ll Love These New Books from Your Favorite Authors
- Mark, How Did You Like Your Last Order?
- Lisa, Don’t Miss These Events Near You
- David, Check Out These Deals Based on Your Wishlist
Create a Sense of Urgency or Scarcity
Creating a sense of urgency or scarcity is another effective technique to boost your email open rates. This is because people are more likely to take action when they feel that they might miss out on something valuable or limited.
To create a sense of urgency or scarcity in your email subject lines, you can use words or phrases that indicate a deadline, a limited quantity, or an exclusive offer. For example, you can use words like “today”, “now”, “last chance”, “limited time”, “only X left”, etc.
However, don’t use false or exaggerated claims to create urgency or scarcity. This can damage your credibility and trust with your audience. Instead, use genuine and realistic offers that match your email content.
Here are some examples that create a sense of urgency or scarcity:
- Hurry! Only 3 Hours Left to Save 40%
- Last Chance: Claim Your Free Trial Today
- Don’t Miss This: 50% Off Everything Ends Tonight
- Only 10 Spots Left: Register Now for Our Live Workshop
- Exclusive: Get Early Access to Our New Collection
Test and Optimize Your Subject Lines
The last tip for writing catchy email subject lines is to test and optimize them. Testing your subject lines can help you find out what works best for your audience and improve your email performance.
One of the most common ways to test your subject lines is to use A/B testing. A/B testing is a method of comparing two versions of your subject line to see which one gets more opens, clicks, conversions, etc.
To run an A/B test, you can use tools like HubSpot Email Marketing, Mailchimp, or Constant Contact. These tools can help you create and send different versions of your subject line to a sample of your email list and measure the results.
Based on the data, you can choose the winning version of your subject line and send it to the rest of your list. You can also use the insights from your A/B tests to refine your subject line strategies and optimize them for future campaigns.
Here are some examples that you can test and optimize:
- How to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines vs. The Ultimate Guide to Writing Catchy Email Subject Lines
- You’re Invited: Free Webinar Tomorrow vs. Join Us for a Free Webinar Tomorrow
- Congratulations! You’ve Earned a Reward vs. You Did It! Here’s Your Reward
- Happy Birthday! Here’s a Special Treat vs. Celebrate Your Birthday with This Special Offer
- Exclusive: Get Early Access to Our New Collection vs. Sneak Peek: Our New Collection Is Here
Conclusion
Writing catchy email subject lines is not an easy task. It requires creativity, strategy, and testing. However, by following the tips and best practices we’ve shared in this blog post, you can write email subject lines that boost your open rates and achieve your email marketing goals.
Remember, the key to writing catchy email subject lines is to:
- Use keywords strategically
- Keep it short and simple
- Personalize your subject lines
- Create a sense of urgency or scarcity
- Test and optimize your subject lines
We hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you’re looking for more email marketing tips and resources, check out our website.
3 Helpful Resources to Learn More About Writing Catchy Email Subject Lines
The subject line of an email is the single line of text that people see when they receive your email. It can often determine whether they open your email or ignore it. Writing catchy email subject lines can help you increase your open rates, engagement, and conversions. If you want to learn more about writing catchy email subject lines and how to do it effectively, check out these three helpful resources:
- 20 Tips to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines [+ Examples]: This blog post from HubSpot offers 20 tips on how to write catchy email subject lines that grab the attention of your recipients. You’ll also find some examples of good and bad email subject lines and how to improve them.
- Best Practices for Email Subject Lines: This guide from Mailchimp provides some best practices and tips on how to write email subject lines that work. You’ll learn how to use personalization, segmentation, emojis, and other techniques to make your email subject lines stand out.
- 12 Tips for Creating the Best Email Subject Lines (with Examples): This blog post from Constant Contact provides 12 tips on how to create the best email subject lines for your audience and purpose. You’ll also find some examples of effective email subject lines for different types of emails and industries.
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