Be honest, how many unread emails are just sitting in your inbox? Because I have a thousand too many. 

More than a hundred billion emails are sent each day, but only a few are ever opened. Imagine crafting the best email in the whole world only for it to sit in someone’s inbox unopened. Well, that’s why the subject line matters. They’re your first impression, your key to success, and your connection to your audience. 

So don’t leave your subject lines to chance. Follow these best practices for effective email marketing. At the end of this article, you’ll be able to write subject lines that give readers a reason to click on your message! 

What makes a great subject line?

That’s easy! A great subject line is:

1. Simple

People are too busy to scroll through their inbox for hours on end. Make it easy for them to find your message with a clear, concise subject line that highlights important information. Avoid generic slogans and opt for attention-grabbing hooks instead. 

Hint: Keep it under 9 words.

Some examples:

• Marketing Workshop: August 10
• Big News: Auto Shop opening near you
• New event is coming soon!

2. Personal

Personalization and targeted automation is a well-known and well-liked email marketing strategy. When you get birthday deals and follow-ups after a purchase, don’t you open the email? 

Some examples:

• Happy birthday, Flo.
• Thanks for stopping by at Red today.
• Kat, be the first to try our new app.

3. Urgent

Everyone has fears of missing out, so when you convey scarcity and urgency (like grab them while they last!) your message will get more clicks. The key is to motivate readers to take action, and compelling them with limited-time offers does exactly that.

Some examples:

• 3 days left for our sale!
• TOMORROW: Get 70% off swimwear
• TODAY ONLY: Get a FREE drink 

4. Playful

Emojis 😄 and Punctuation! Add emojis and punctuation to create a visual style for your subject line. This will help support your main message and garner more open and response rates. Just… not too much. The recipe for a perfect subject line includes no more than one emoji or 3 punctuation marks. 

Some examples:

• Get ready for our summer sales event!
• Blog: 5 marketing strategies we ❤️
• 📌 Reminder: Your Marketing Webinar starts in an hour!

5. Teasing

Subject lines need to include the right amount of information to attract readers - too little, and you won’t be able to convey the valuable message you want to. Too much, and you’ll look like another spam. You want to give email recipients a taste of special offers and exclusives they can’t refuse with a subject line that teases. 

Some examples:

• Be the first to watch our new movie
• Exclusive deals this summer
• Behind-the-scenes of digital marketing

Now that you’re an expert at writing email subject lines, let’s show your customers what you got! Practice implementing our best practices and test your success with A/B and Multivariate tests. Be sure to measure your impact performance and adjust your writing styles accordingly. In doing so, you’ll learn how to reach your audience and what works (or doesn’t work) for them. 

Need help with your email marketing? Want to measure your impact performance? Let Quantifi Media take care of all of your digital marketing needs! Contact us today for a FREE consultation.