The subject line is critical because it's your first impression of your email. The quality of your subject line can determine whether or not the email gets opened or immediately trashed. It can influence whether your email is marked as spam or important. The subject line is essentially the 'headline' of your email. It's your chance to grab the reader's attention and persuade them to engage further with your message.
In the following lines, we will expand on the best practices for writing good subject lines and provide examples of the most common emails.
The subject line of an email is a short summary of the email's content. It's the first thing people see when they receive your email, and it often determines whether the recipient opens the email or not.
However, when you want to write an important email and are stuck with no idea what a good subject line would be. What do you do? Well, we have some suggestions. We do have creative, typical, and unconventional examples you can emulate. You will see that the subject line can be the title of a letter, note, or memo. Let's see the top 10 tips now:
Email subject lines will get cut off if they're too long, especially on mobile devices. Stick to under 50 characters.
Examples:
Include names or personal topics. Personalization boosts open rates. If you know your client's name or the colleague you're writing to, mention them in your subject line.
Examples:
Making people feel like they're about to miss out can encourage them to take action. A deadline, a specific milestone, a clear date, or number will encourage the people interested about the topic to act.
Examples:
Start with verbs to make your subject line sound more imperative and engaging.
Examples:
The subject line will be the first thing your reader sees with emails. What will your recipients gain from opening your email?
Examples:
What works best can vary between different audiences and types of emails. Practically you have two variations of the same message. However, if you will send them to, let's say, 100 subscribers, send to 50 version A and the other 50 version B, then compare the one that converted better and use it for the set of clients since you know which one works better.
Examples:
Numbers and lists are eye-catching and easy to understand. We like to read things diagonally. We want to see the best of our key takeaways, not bulky texts.
These such examples just work:
Questions can pique curiosity and prompt opens. Even we have started this section with a question. Questions can spark interest in the reader's mind, and if the subject is of interest to him, then you have more chances to have an email with a high open rate.
Examples
They can add a nice touch but don't overdo it, and ensure they're appropriate for your audience. Especially with younger generations and for the mobile-first type of users, such use cases can be more engaging and bring some sparkle to the message.
Examples:
Who doesn't hate spam? Words like "free," "help," "reminder," etc. can trigger spam filters. Spammy messages get immediately deleted, so what can we do about this? The answer is simple. Use an alternative.
Examples:
If above we've discussed tips and best practices, in this section, we will provide a concrete list of subject lines that you can use for various occasions:
Event email
Event emails are dispatched when organizing an event such as a corporate conference, product launch, or a company-wide meeting. It's crucial to send these emails well in advance to provide your recipients ample time to schedule their participation.
Related resource: For templates of invitation emails, check our guide covering the format, the best practices, 12 examples a template and frequency asked questions.
Follow-up email
A follow-up email is a subsequent message sent after an initial communication or meeting. It serves as a reminder, provides additional information, or prompts a response from the recipient. It ensures continuity in the communication process and helps maintain engagement.
Recommended reading: How to optimize the way you write follow-up emails.
Holiday email
Holiday emails are an excellent way to express appreciation and goodwill to employees, customers, and business partners. They enhance the sense of community, boost morale, and strengthen business relationships.
Tip: We do provide public holidays from more than 100 countries and states.
Introduction email
Introduction emails are written when a new member is joining the team or when you're introducing a new initiative, product, or service. They can also be used when connecting with a new business partner or client.
Reminder email
Reminder emails function as a tool to ensure important tasks, deadlines, or events do not get overlooked in busy schedules. They aid in time management and contribute to the general productivity and efficiency of the business.
Tip: Interested in writing reminder emails like a pro? We give you the formula.
Survey email
When you want to get the pulse of your organization, or learn more about what your customers think about the products/services you're offering, you need to send them a survey. Still, the way that a survey reaches the eyes of your employees or customers is via one email. Find below some examples of email subject linees for surveys.
Thank you email
Thank you emails are sent to express gratitude. This could be in response to a completed project, a successful meeting, or simply to acknowledge the consistent hard work of your team. They foster positive relationships and contribute to a healthy work culture.
Welcome email
A welcome email to new hires is essential as it sets a positive tone for their experience and facilitates their integration into the team. It demonstrates that you value their contribution, which can boost their engagement and productivity.
Fundraising email
When sending a fundraising email, it's important to be concise, clear, and passionate about your cause. Highlight the importance of the initiative, the impact of their contribution, and express gratitude for their support, regardless of their decision to contribute.
Leave request email
Leave request emails should be sent whenever you need to take time off. It's generally best to send these as far in advance as possible, specifying the dates and reason for your absence, to ensure seamless workflow management in your absence.
Tip: LeaveBoard HR and Leave management software helps to streamline leave request emails so that your employees can focus on the important elements of the business and forget about repetitive tasks.
Confirmation email
A confirmation email should succinctly include all the critical details agreed upon in a prior conversation or meeting. This helps ensure clarity, prevents misunderstandings, and serves as a record of the agreement.
Continue reading: Essential Confirmation Email Templates.
Performance review meeting invitation email
Performance reviews offer a structured platform for feedback, enabling employees to understand their strengths and areas for improvement. They facilitate open communication, align individual and organizational goals, and inform decisions related to professional development and promotions.
Related: How to evaluate employees? An in-depth 10-step guide.
Training invitation email
Training investments enhance skills, increase productivity, and boost employee morale. They also help attract and retain top talent, maintain a competitive edge, and adapt to industry changes and advancements.
Key Takeaways
1. Be Concise: Keep your subject line short and to the point. Aim for about 6 to 10 words.
2. Create Urgency: If applicable, create a sense of urgency to prompt the reader to open the email.
3. Personalize: Use the recipient's name or relevant details to make the email feel personalized.
4. Value Proposition: Clearly state the benefit or value the recipient will gain from opening the email.
5. Avoid Spam Triggers: Certain words or phrases can trigger spam filters. Research these and avoid them to ensure your email gets to the inbox.
Remember, the subject line often determines whether an email gets opened, so it's worth spending time to get it right.
Automate your Human Resources management with the easy to use leave management system.
Easy set-up ● No contracts required ● No credit cards