There are many ways to judge the success of an email campaign. One of the most common is to measure the Open Rate. Most people scroll through their inbox quickly. They read the subject line and decide, in a split second, whether to open the email, delete it, skip it and, maybe, read it later. To increase the chances that you will earn a good open rate, your subject line needs to grab the reader’s attention. That’s why we’ve created this list of eight email subject line tips.
In 2022 the average number of emails received per person per day was over 120, according to the Radicati Group Inc. Uninteresting email subject lines are unlikely to compel the subscriber to open and read the email. But don’t dismay. There is a lot you can do to achieve a good open rate.
Eight email subject line tips to help you improve your open rate
Subject Line Tips related to content
1. Reference location
If your list is segmented by location or if your business draws from a small geographic area, consider saying something like, “Big News For New York Residents.” Details such as this one can make the email feel more relevant to the receiver.
2. Ask a question
Subject lines posed in the form of a question are often among the most effective. In order to get the answer, the subscriber has to open the email.
3. Create mystery
Avoid giving away all the details. Make them curious. For example, if you’re promoting an event that doesn’t have huge name recognition, you may want to tease the reader. Instead of saying “Play X is at The Shadowbox Theater This Sunday,” you could say “New Musical Coming to Buffalo.” Then the receiver has to open the email to see exactly what musical will be performed.
4. Include a call to action
A call to action is a marketing term for any design to prompt an immediate response or encourage an immediate sale. “Buy Now” and “Download Now” are examples of CTA. Rather than simply reading the message and clicking away, a CTA can motivate an email recipient to take a specific action that you desire or to engage more deeply with your brand.
5. Personalize
Some email marketing programs allow you to insert the subscriber’s name in the subject line. According to MailChimp, open rates increase when the subscriber’s name is in the subject line.
6. Be honest
Don’t use tricks to get your subscribers to open the email. Don’t say Buy 1 Get 1 Free, if you aren’t really offering it.
7. Convey a sense of urgency
Of all the email subject line tips that we have listed, this is the one that we use most frequently. When a subject line conveys a sense of urgency, you give subscribers a compelling reason to open the email right away.
Subject line tips related to formatting of emails
8. Does size matter?
Yes. 50% of all emails are opened on mobile devices (Campaign Monitor) and mobile devices display fewer subject line characters than on a desktop computer will. For example, iPhones show about 35-38 characters in portrait mode, and Galaxy phones show roughly 33 characters in portrait mode. Best practice suggests subject lines that are 17-24 characters long are most likely to boost your email open rates. (Avada Commerce)
The open rate for Constant Contact customers in 2022 averaged 34%.
Therefore, on average, two out of three emails never get opened. Email subject line strength can be the difference between an email being read or being deleted. It pays to know key tactics to enhancing engagement.
If you’d like help creating or managing your email marketing program, contact us at (518) 392-0846 or email [email protected]. Learn more about our email marketing services by visiting the Email Marketing Services page of our website.