Three Best Practices for Writing Effective Email Subject Lines
Reading Time: ~3 Mins | Written By: Juliana Bermudez
In today's fast-paced digital world, email continues to be a primary means of communication, both personally and professionally. With inboxes flooded with messages, capturing the attention of recipients and enticing them to open your email is no easy task. This is where the importance of crafting effective email subject lines comes into play.
To help you maximize the impact of your emails, this guide outlines three of the best practices for writing effective email subject lines. These practices are based on proven strategies that grab attention, generate interest, and communicate the essence of your message in a concise and compelling manner.
Tip #1: Keep it short, sweet & descriptive
For many email recipients (especially those viewing on their phones) short and punchy subject lines are often the catalyst for email opens.
As the Mailchimp team states in their guide to catchy subject lines, “A single word’s presence can dramatically alter the open rates of your emails. The content of your message is really what determines which words you use, but with so few words in a subject line, each one matters quite a lot.”
We recommend keeping your subject lines below 9 words - any more and you risk your subject line getting cut off.
Ensure you are properly promoting the content of your email and not just communicating snazzy hooks. It's better to get the point across when you have such a small amount of room and a short amount of attention to communicate what your email recipients need to know. Focus on promoting the specific deals, important CTAs or promotions your email encloses.
Here are a few examples of short, yet descriptive subject lines:
“Our Annual Sale Ends Tomorrow!”
“Exclusive New Products Just For You”
“Get 50% off When You Shop Online Today!”
“TODAY ONLY: Receive A Gift With Your Order”
Tip #2: Utilize personalization
Personalization is a really easy way to get your subscriber's attention using their names, locations, or business information to stand out in their inbox. Merge tags allow you to insert the recipient's information right into subject lines in most email marketing platforms.
You can learn more about merge tags using Mailchimp’s guide.
Here are examples of using personalization in a subject line:
“*|FNAME|*, Here Are Your Top Picks”
“Have You Seen Our Recent Deals, *|FNAME|*?”.
Tip #3: Use emojis sparingly
Try to only use one emoji in your subject line to help supplement your messaging and to be sure your point gets across. Too many emojis can look unprofessional and spammy. If you do use emojis, also be aware that certain operating systems (such as Android or Apple, and Accessibility Tools) interpret emojis differently so it might change the message from what you originally intended.
Here is an example of how you can use emojis: “Our Summer Drink Line Is Officially Here 🍾”
By incorporating these best practices into your email subject lines, you can enhance your communication skills, boost your email open rates, and ultimately increase the effectiveness of your email campaigns. Whether you are seeking to improve your professional networking, marketing efforts, or simply aiming for more efficient and engaging email exchanges, mastering the art of writing effective subject lines is a valuable skill that will set you apart in the digital landscape.
Interested in becoming an email marketing pro and learning more about email marketing strategies? Check out the Email Marketing Module as part of our Digital Marketing Bootcamp.
