How to Write Email Subject Lines that Get Opened

People receive hundreds or even thousands of emails a day making it difficult to manage email effectively. Often, people search for the emails that interest them, and other emails rapidly get deleted to reduce inbox clutter. Learn how to write email subject lines that get opened.

What Kind of Email Subject Lines Get Opened?

When you are writing emails, keep in mind that not all subject lines will get opened. Your goal is to write eye-catching subject lines that entice people to open your emails. The way you do this is to create subject lines that stand out from the rest of the emails your readers receive. To ensure that your recipients always read your emails, follow the below seven tips email subject lines that get opened.

Use Words That Will Grab Your Reader’s Attention

The trick in email marketing is to increase your email open rates by using words that will grab your readers’ attention, pique their curiosity, and cause them to want to read the email. 

Email subject lines that get opened often use these words:

• Rare
• Premium
• Exclusive
• Insider
• Invitation
• Uncovered
• Unique
• Value
• Only
• Choice
• VIP
• members
• Classified
• Secret
• Private
• Confidential
• Urgent
• Last chance
• Imperative
• Essential
• Limited
• Alert
• Quick
• Instant
• Fast
• Soon
• Hurry
  

  Email Acceptable Use Procedure

When you look at this word list, you can see that these words capture attention by creating a sense of urgency or providing exclusivity. There are more words you can use in your email and they can be found through research. However, the words listed here will give you a good place to start. Be sure to Implement guidelines for email usage within your company E-Mail Policy.

Avoid Words That Activate Spam Filters

Another method to ensure your emails are read and your email drip campaigns are effective is to avoid words that activate spam filters.

Words that will flag your emails are marked as spam are:

• As seen on
• Order status
• Clearance
• Buy direct
• Meet singles
• Score with hot babes
• Be your own boss
• Earn extra cash
• Money making
• Opportunity
• Fast cash
• Incredible deal
• Save big money
• Financial freedom

The words listed here are those typically used by scammers, hence the reason spam filters are quick to flag emails containing them. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, however, these are examples of words you want to avoid so your emails are not sent to spam folders. You can find comprehensive lists of words to avoid using in your email subjects by conducting online research.

Include Numbers in Your Subject Lines

Subject lines that include numbers have a greater chance of enticing your readers to open your emails. Including numbers communicates a clear message about what you are offering and sets straightforward expectations for your readers.

Use Emojis in Your Subject Lines

Emojis are text-based pictograms, logograms, ideograms, and smileys that are used in electronic messages to fill in emotional clues that would otherwise be lacking from a textual discussion. Research shows that including emojis in your email subject lines increases the chances of your emails being opened by 56%.

Emojis give flare to your emails. Depending on which emojis you use, you can really grab your reader’s attention with this simple marketing tactic. If you are composing your emails on a Windows PC, you can open the emoji keyboard by pressing Windows Key+., the actual period sign. If you are composing your emails on a Mac computer, you can open the emoji keyboard by pressing Control+Command Key+Spacebar.

Keep Your Subject Lines Brief

Today, most people open their emails on smartphones and other mobile devices. On smartphones and mobile devices, screens are small. If your subject lines are too long, they will be cut off, and this will increase the chances of your emails not being read. It is advantageous to keep your subject lines to 24 characters or less.

Do Not Write Wordy Subject Lines

When writing subject lines, they mustn’t be too wordy. It is about getting the right message to the right people. If your subject lines are too wordy, you risk losing people’s attention. Your subject lines need to be brief and to the point. Email marketing experts recommend that you keep email subjects to five words or less to attract and retain customers with digital marketing.

Write Your Email Subjects in Title Case

When you write your email subjects, it is important to use title case. When you use title case, you grab your readers’ attention, and you give your emails a professional appearance. Never write your subject lines as a sentence or in all lowercase as this will cause you to appear unprofessional.

Some examples of subject lines with good title cases are:

• Are You Making Critical SEO Mistakes?
• Five SEO Pitfalls to Avoid
• What Can you Afford?

Writing Email Subject Lines that Get Opened

Following these seven recommendations for writing subject lines will guarantee your success. These tips will increase the likelihood of your emails and email campaigns being opened. Email are still an effective digital marketing strategy.