3 Tips for Better Email Subject Lines

Email subject lines can be tricky. If your subject lines are too impersonal, too short or too demanding, you run the risk of driving potential readers away.

Here, we’ll discuss a three quick data-driven steps you can take to ensure that your email subject lines are well written and well received.

Get Personal

Perhaps because today’s digital world is so oversaturated with content, personalization is more important than ever.

In a 2015 report, Experian Marketing Services discovered that personalized subject lines boosted open rates by a whopping 29.3 percent on average.

When you’re writing emails for your campaign, be sure to include subtle personalized touches—for example, put the recipient’s name in the subject line, or address them by name in the email’s body.

Choose Your Words Carefully

In marketing emails, particularly subject lines, words can make or break your campaign’s success.

A study released by MailChimp in 2013 revealed that words that imply time sensitivity can convince readers to open your emails.

By contrast, certain words—such as those associated with charity—are seriously off-putting to readers.

Other unpopular words and phrases include “sign up,” “last chance,” “reminder” and “cancelled.”

Length Matters

When you’re crafting your campaign’s subject lines, just remember to include at least 28 characters: statistics say that subject lines with 28-39 characters generate the highest open rates, while those with 51 characters or more are most likely to increase click rates.

That’s not to say that short and sweet subject lines are useless—after all, they do generate an average open rate of 13.1 percent. Just remember that, especially when it comes to click rates, longer subject lines are valuable, too.

Do you have any additional advice for improving email subject lines? Let me know!