If you want to see improved email open rates, then spend time crafting an effective subject line. By working the subject line, you’ve overcome a third of the battle because 33% of email recipients open email based on subject line alone.
Check out these 7 easy tips for improving email open rates by writing a better subject line.
1. Don’t try for the vague approach
Most people will spend about 15 seconds reading your email. Give them what they want to know, not some vague trickery in the subject line to try to get them to open it.
Get to your point quickly and keep to one topic, and be sure to make it relevant to your email content.
2. Keep it short and sweet
Your subject line has room for only one subject and no more than 50 characters. You need to say a lot in a few words, making it descriptive and to the point.
Using fewer than 10 characters could mean an open rate of 58%, so keeping it short is a mean feat of concise success.
3. Avoid buzzwords
The last thing you want to do is trigger a spam filter in your recipient’s email system. These emails will never get read if they go straight to the trash.
Buzzwords to avoid include the word “free,” which is a big red flag, as well as the more innocuous words “help,” “percent off,” and “reminder.”
On the other hand, certain words boost open rates for B2B companies, such as “money,” “revenue,” and “profit.” (Adestra July 2012 Report)
4. The first-name basis approach
By personalizing the subject line with the recipient’s first name or something else pertinent, you’re establishing trust. It’s a reminder that they have given you a name and email as a way to communicate.
The personal approach is a way to break through the large amount of clutter your audience receives in their inbox and stand out from the crowd.
5. Give them something to act on
You can create a sense of urgency by offering an incentive for your recipient to open the email. But be careful here. Sounding too slick and salesy can backfire and turn people off. The best subject lines tell, not sell what’s inside.
It’s also not a good idea to put a date in your subject line in an attempt to build urgency. This will date your email for those who don’t check email often.
6. Add your newsletter or company name
This reminds recipients of the relationship you have, as well as making sure they are aware of the nature of the content. Sometimes on smartphones email providers only display the subject line and not the sender name, making it more important to include a company name.
7. Get the right “from” name and email
Speaking of the sender name, it’s important to get it right. Okay, so this isn’t in the subject line, but it’s located directly above it and should reflect your company name and image. Call it the subject line’s counterpart.
If possible, it should match the department that is relevant to the email, such as coming from “returns@company.name.”
The best way to know what is working is to test it! Check your open rates and compare this with your subject lines to find out how your audience and specific marketing situations respond to different attempts.