The topic of “Email Subject Lines” is currently quite popular because email marketing is one of the most efficient methods for businesses and organizations to engage with their target audiences.
According to a report by Statista, the number of worldwide email users is expected to reach 4.48 billion by 2024. This massive audience presents a significant opportunity for businesses to reach and engage with potential and existing customers through email marketing.
Furthermore, email marketing has an impressive return on investment (ROI) of $45 for every $1 spent. This makes email marketing one of the most cost-effective marketing channels available. Additionally, email allows for personalized and targeted messaging, making it a powerful tool for building customer relationships and increasing brand loyalty.
Why Email Subject Lines Matter
The subject line is the first thing recipients see when they receive an email. It can be the deciding factor in whether or not they open the email.
64% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone.
More than 340 billion emails are sent and received each day across the globe but the average open rate of emails across all industries is only 21.33%.
Best Practices for Email Subject Lines
Creating an effective email subject line is more of an art than a science, with no universal formula guaranteeing success. However, certain components can significantly enhance the appeal of a subject line.
Clarity
The subject line should be clear and concise, letting the recipient know what the email is about. Emails with a clear subject line generate 541% more clicks than those with a vague subject line.
Examples
- Your Invoice for the Month of May
- Welcome to Our Community! Here’s What You Need to Know
- The Results of Our Survey Are In!
- A Quick Update on Your Order Status
- Our Response to Your Support Request
Personalization
Personalized subject lines have a higher open rate than generic ones. Use the recipient’s name or refer to a recent interaction.
Personalized promotional mailings have 29% higher unique open rates and 41% higher unique click rates than non-personalized mailings.
Examples
- We Think You’ll Love These Products, Sarah!
- We Have a Special Offer Just for You, Alex
- Congratulations, Rachel! You Made It to the Next Level
- Thanks for Being a Loyal Customer, Michael
- Welcome Back, Emily! Here’s Something Just for You
Urgency
Creating a sense of urgency in the subject line can encourage recipients to open the email promptly. Urgent subject lines increase the open rate by an average of 22%.
Examples
- Only a Few Hours Left to Register for Our Webinar
- Last Chance to Claim Your Exclusive Offer
- Don’t Wait! Our Summer Sale Ends Tomorrow
- Don’t Miss Out on Our Limited-Time Discount
- Our Best-Selling Product is Almost Sold Out!
Curiosity
A subject line that piques the recipient’s curiosity can entice them to open the email to find out more. Subject lines that create curiosity have a 22% higher open rate.
Also, 10% higher open rates are received for emails that have a question in their subject lines.
Examples
- You Won’t Believe What Our CEO Has to Say
- The Secret to Our Customers’ Success Revealed
- Our Latest Innovation is a Game-Changer
- Behind the Scenes of Our Latest Project
- The Future of Our Industry: A Bold Prediction
Value (Offer)
If the subject line offers value to the recipient, such as a discount or exclusive content, they are more likely to open the email.
Examples
- Get 50% Off Your First Purchase When You Sign Up
- Download Our Free Guide: 10 Tips for Better Sleep
- Our Exclusive Loyalty Program Rewards You for Shopping
- Your Opinion Matters! Take Our Survey and Get a Discount
- Upgrade Your Home Office with Our Affordable Bundles
Emoji
You can use emojis in your email subject lines, but be careful when doing so. It is not recommended to use more than one emoji in the subject line. (Emoji-rich email are 8% more likely to open it than those without any special formatting at all.)
Examples
- Our Gift to You: Free Shipping on All Orders 🚚
- 🤑 Save Big on Our Best-Selling Products
- 🌈 Our New Collection is Here!
- 🔥 Get Your Hands on the Hottest Deals of the Summer
- 🚀 Our Launch Event is Happening Now!
Further Insights for Crafting Impactful Email Subject Lines
- Keep it Short and Sweet: Most email clients truncate subject lines that are too long, so keep it short and to the point. 82% of marketers ensure that their marketing emails have subject lines with a character limit of 60.
- Use Action-Oriented Language: Use language that encourages the recipient to take action, such as “Join us,” “Save now,” or “Get started.”
- Test and Analyze: A/B testing subject lines can help you determine what works best for your audience. Analyze your email open rates to see which subject lines perform better.
- Avoid Spammy Words: Using words like “free,” “guaranteed,” or “urgent” can trigger spam filters and land your email in the spam folder.