How To Write Killer Email Subject Lines

Name: How To Write Killer Email Subject Lines
Uploaded: 2019-08-07T17:00:07.000Z
Duration: 22 min 53 s

5 Tips for Writing Compelling Email Subject Lines

In this video, Alex shares his top 5 tips for writing compelling email subject lines that will get subscribers to open and read your emails.

The Importance of Subject Lines

Your subject line is the headline of your email marketing.

A great subject line needs to communicate the promise of value, build trust, and do it all in just a few short words.

Your subject line is the single most important element of your email and should never be an afterthought.

Tip #1: Create Urgency

Creating urgency is an undeniable way to compel customers to take action.

Urgency implies that there is a short-window of time for someone to act – increasing the likelihood that they will.

Apply urgency in a creative and authentic way that truly provides value to your subscribers.

Tip #2: Use Numbers or Statistics

Using numbers or statistics in your subject lines can grab attention and make your message more tangible.

Numbers provide specificity and help set expectations for what’s inside the email.

Tip #3: Ask Questions

Asking questions in your subject lines can pique curiosity and encourage engagement.

Questions can also help you segment your audience by identifying those who are interested in specific topics.

Tip #4: Personalize Your Subject Line

Personalizing your subject line with the recipient's name or other relevant information can increase open rates.

Personalization shows that you care about them as an individual, not just another subscriber on your list.

Tip #5: Keep It Short and Sweet

Keep your subject lines short (around 6 - 10 words) so they don't get cut off on mobile devices or crowded out by other emails in their inbox.

Use clear language that conveys the benefit or value proposition of opening the email.

Overall, writing compelling email subject lines is critical to the success of your email marketing campaigns. By following these tips, you can increase open rates and build long-term trust with your subscribers.

Using Mystery in Your Subject Line

In this section, the speaker discusses how using mystery in your subject line can create an open loop that triggers a strong urge in your subscribers' minds to fill that gap of missing information.

Cliffhangers

A great way to use mystery is to use cliffhangers.

Asking Questions or Promising Something Interesting

Another creative way to pique curiosity is to ask your subscribers a question or promise them something interesting inside.

Don’t be afraid to sound a little bit strange or unusual.

Avoid Being Too Mysterious

One thing to keep in mind is not being too mysterious to the point of obscurity!

Make sure that your email does provide information and closure, or else your subscribers will feel betrayed and you’ll lose their trust.

Be Bold with Controversy

In this section, the speaker talks about how brands can use controversy as a powerful tool for email marketing.

Polarizing Your Audience

If your brand has a personality that isn’t afraid to push the envelope, or question the norm — by all means, be bold!

Today’s audiences are expecting more authenticity and personality from brands they subscribe to.

Sometimes it actually helps to use controversy

to polarize your audience.

LinkedIn's Thanksgiving Email Example

LinkedIn used a highly relevant subject line over Thanksgiving which was polarizing but worked well because it led readers into an article with the same title which had consistency and credibility backing it up.

Honoring Brand Voice

While controversy is indeed a powerful weapon, it all depends on the audience you’re speaking to.

Don’t be afraid to ruffle some feathers, but do be mindful and make sure you’re still honoring the brand voice.

Emotional Resonance in Your Language

In this section, the speaker discusses how connecting with subscribers emotionally is one of the best ways to engage them.

Personalization

One of the easiest ways to connect with subscribers emotionally is through personalization, such as adding the reader’s first name to a subject line.

Addressing subscribers by their first names in the subject line can boost open rates by 10-14%.

Eliciting Emotional Resonance

Eliciting emotional resonance in your language, even in the simplest of ways, is incredibly powerful.

Future of Effective Email Marketing

The future of effective email marketing will be sending behavior-based emails in real-time to your subscribers based on their specific actions, interests and engagement habits.

Use a subject line that creates a link between your email content and the activity or situation that your subscriber is most likely in and can identify with immediately.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using mystery, controversy and emotional resonance are great ways to create engaging subject lines for email marketing. It's important not to be too mysterious or controversial at the expense of losing trust from your subscribers. Personalization is becoming more expected in marketing and brands should aim towards sending behavior-based emails in real-time for effective email marketing.

Tips for Writing Compelling Email Subject Lines

In this section, Alex shares five tips for writing compelling email subject lines that will increase the chances of your emails being read by subscribers.

Keep it Simple and Straightforward

Use simple and straightforward language to cut to the chase and give readers the what, who, how, and where right off the bat. This is especially important if you're sending essential information or products.

Avoid using clickbaity subject lines as they may boost open rates in the short term but hurt conversions long term.

Use Numbers and Lists

Using numbers and lists in your subject line can help grab attention and make it easier for readers to understand what your email is about.

Examples include "5 Ways to Boost Your Productivity" or "10 Tips for Better Sleep."

Create a Sense of Urgency

Creating a sense of urgency in your subject line can encourage readers to take action quickly.

Examples include "Limited Time Offer: 50% Off All Products Today Only" or "Last Chance to Register for Our Webinar Tomorrow."

Ask Questions

Asking questions in your subject line can pique readers' curiosity and encourage them to open your email.

Examples include "Are You Making These Common Mistakes?" or "Want to Know How We Increased Sales by 50%?"

Future Pacing

Future pacing involves helping your audience visualize what could be possible for them in the near future with just a few words.

Example: "Imagine Achieving Your Dream Body in Just 30 Days - Here's How"

Conclusion

When writing compelling email subject lines, focus on adding value first. Choose the method that works best for the type of email you're sending and use a mix of these different tactics throughout your marketing campaigns and newsletters.