Top 50 Email Subject Lines to Boost Open Rates and increase CTR

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Did you know that 65% of emails are deleted without ever being opened? But what if you could crack the code to get your emails noticed? Boost your open rates by up to 30% with our customized subject line strategies! In this blog, we'll share 50 high-performing email subject line examples that will get your emails opened, read, and clicked.

Why Your Email Subject Line is So Important

Email subject lines serve several critical purposes. First, they tell subscribers what to expect in the email body. Second, they should entice subscribers to open and read your email, evoking emotions like anticipation, curiosity, or urgency. Think of the subject line as a pitch to your audience - you have limited time and text, so your message must be direct and convincing.

Third, subject lines are a form of content that requires attention to both what you write and how you write it. Even if subscribers don't open your email, they'll likely read the subject line. When scanning their inbox, subscribers quickly glance at the sender’s name, subject line, and preview text, which contributes to their perception of your business image.

To build and maintain a strong business image, ensure your subject line reflects your business's personality. If your business is friendly and approachable, use emojis and a conversational tone. If your business is more serious and exclusive, personalize your subject lines and spark curiosity.

Don't overlook the importance of email subject lines! Use this opportunity to make a great impression and entice audiences to engage with your content.

How Long Should an Email Subject Line Be?

We recommend that email subject lines be no longer than 60 characters, or 6-8 words. This is because different email clients have different display limits for subject lines, and we want to make sure that our subject lines are fully visible to all our subscribers.

Adding Emojis to Subject Lines

Adding emojis to your email subject line is easy to do. Try using Emojipedia to find the perfect emoji, copy it from their website, and then paste it into your email builder. To make sure that your email list sees the same version of the emoji as you do, it's a good idea to run a test. Send yourself and some colleagues a test email and see how your content looks on desktop, mobile devices, and tablets, as well as on different email clients.

Cold Email Subject Lines

We don't recommend cold emailing, as it can damage your sender reputation and email deliverability. Instead, we focus on email marketing best practices. Cold emailing and email marketing are two different things. Cold emailing campaigns are not opt-in, meaning that recipients didn't subscribe to your email list. This means that you run the risk of damaging your sender’s reputation. Email clients like Google, Apple, and Outlook use spam filters to block unsolicited content from reaching the inbox. They also flag the senders of this unsolicited content as unreliable or untrustworthy, meaning that it's less likely that your future messages will reach inboxes.

Email Subject Lines and Deliverability

Yes, a good email subject line can help with email deliverability. Email deliverability is a large topic, and there are many factors that affect it. Sender reputation, list hygiene, and soft/hard bounces all play a role in your overall email deliverability. Where email subject lines come into play is with spam filters. Email clients use spam filters to identify unsolicited content and block it from landing in the inbox. If your subject line reads like spam, it won't do any favors for your deliverability. To prevent your subject line from triggering spam filters, try avoiding extreme punctuation, multiple exclamation points and question marks, all caps, over-stylized fonts, and overly promotional language.

Improving Open Rates with Good Email Subject Lines

Your subject line plays the lead role in boosting your email open rate, even more than the body of the email itself. Many of the deliverability best practices we discussed above can help you get higher open rates. Be careful not to come across as overly promotional, spammy, or too good to be true. Instead, aim to fulfill the three purposes of email subject lines: tell subscribers what to expect in the email content, grab their attention without being over the top, and embody your brand's personality. A catchy email subject line will get people to open the email for more cool content.

Segmentation and Personalization in Subject Line

Segmenting your contacts into sub-lists helps you send more relevant and targeted content. Think about grouping contacts into lists based on attributes like geographical location, age, job position, content preferences, or how often they'd like to be contacted. Once you have defined segments of your email list, you can create different subject lines for each segment. The result is a more targeted message and, in theory, more email opens. Email personalization allows for even more targeted content. Including subscribers' first names in your subject lines is a great way to catch their attention and make your email stand out from the rest. Also, it helps your business come across as more personal and human than a generic marketing email would.

1

Welcome email subject lines

Welcome email subject lines are a crucial part of your email marketing strategy. They set the tone for your brand and help create a great first impression. Here are some ideas for welcome email subject lines that you can use to welcome new subscribers to your email list:

This subject line is short, fun, and sets a playful tone for the rest of the email. It's perfect for a brand that wants to come across as friendly and approachable.

This subject line is simple and to the point, expressing gratitude to the new subscriber for joining the email list. It's a great option for a brand that wants to show appreciation and start building a relationship with their audience.

This subject line is a bit more playful and celebratory, implying that the new subscriber has made an excellent choice by joining the email list. It's perfect for a brand that wants to create a sense of excitement and enthusiasm.

This subject line is personalized and friendly, addressing the new subscriber by name and creating a sense of warmth and connection. It's a great option for a brand that wants to build a personal relationship with their audience.

This subject line is short and sweet, emphasizing that the new subscriber is now part of a community or team. It's perfect for a brand that wants to create a sense of belonging and inclusivity.

This subject line is simple and heartfelt, expressing genuine happiness that the new subscriber has joined the email list. It's a great option for a brand that wants to come across as sincere and welcoming.

2

Fear of missing out subject lines

Fear of missing out (FOMO) subject lines create a sense of urgency and encourage subscribers to take action. Here are some examples of FOMO subject lines:

Here are some FOMO subject lines examples:

This subject line creates a sense of urgency by implying that the subscriber needs to act fast to secure a limited spot in the free trial.

This subject line creates a sense of scarcity by implying that the subscriber will miss out on premium features if they don't act before the trial ends.

This subject line creates a sense of FOMO by implying that the subscriber will miss out on the opportunity to try the service for free if they don't sign up immediately.

This subject line creates a sense of exclusivity by implying that the subscriber will get access to a premium plan (Pro plan) for a limited time.

This subject line creates a sense of urgency by implying that the subscriber needs to act fast to start their trial, which is only available for a limited time.

3

Personalized Subject Lines

Personalized subject lines address the subscriber by name and create a sense of warmth and connection. Here are some examples of personalized subject lines:

This subject line is short and informal, creating a sense of friendliness and inviting the subscriber to an event or opportunity.

This subject line is enthusiastic and encouraging, emphasizing the personalized approach and inviting the subscriber to act.

This subject line is helpful and supportive, and makes the subscriber feel like they're not alone in their challenges.

This subject line is personalized and helpful, offering assistance and expertise to improve the subscriber's email marketing efforts.

This subject line is personalized and empathetic, acknowledging a common pain point and offering a solution to help the subscriber overcome it.

4

Sense of Urgency Subject lines

Sense of urgency subject lines create a sense of excitement and encourage subscribers to act quickly. Here are some examples of sense of urgency subject lines:

Time is running out to boost your productivity
Final call to lock in your exclusive discount
Just Released: New features to streamline your workflows
Our limited-time offer ends soon - don't miss out
Hurry, secure your spot in our expert-led webinar

5

Pain Point Subject Lines: Speak Directly to Your Readers' Needs

Want to connect with your audience and show them you care? Address their pain points directly in your subject lines! By acknowledging their struggles and offering solutions, you'll send a strong and friendly message that resonates deeply.

Think about how your business can make your subscribers' lives easier. What are their biggest challenges? What keeps them up at night? By understanding their pain points, you can create targeted subject lines that speak directly to their needs.

Plus, pain point subject lines are perfect for segmentation. Different groups within your email list likely have unique pain points, so tailor your subject lines to each group's specific needs.

Examples of pain point subject lines:

Where do all these toys go? - IKEA
Since we can’t all win the lottery… - Uber
Beautiful brochures made faster - Adobe Stock
Engaging your prospects can be hard. Video makes it easy. - Vidyard
Learn a language with only 5 minutes per day – Duolingo
Email That Delivers - Marketing Crows
Fast-Track Your Email Campaigns - Marketing Crows
Grow your email list with just 5 minutes of effort per day - we'll show you how - Marketing Crows
Get Your Email Inbox Under Control - Marketing Crows
Reaching your prospects can be hard. Email marketing makes it easy - Marketing Crows

6

Question Subject Lines

Question subject lines are like ones that inspire curiosity. They work well because subscribers want to know the answer to a question, whether it's in the email or on your website. Here are some examples:

Where do all these emails go - Marketing Crows
Are You Making These Email Marketing Mistakes - Marketing Crows
Can You Really Grow Your Email List by 50% in 1 Month - Marketing Crows
Do You Know What's Holding Your Email Campaigns Back - Marketing Crows
Are You Using the Most Effective Email Subject Lines - Marketing Crows
Can We Help You Boost Your Email Open Rates by 80% - Marketing Crows

These question subject lines encourage subscribers to open the email to find out the answer, making them more engaging and effective. Try using them in your email marketing campaigns to spark curiosity and drive opens.

7

Holiday Subject Lines

Holidays are a great time to showcase another side of your brand by embracing a celebratory spirit. Also, holidays tend to be popular shopping times, meaning your email marketing strategy should lean into the festivities. Here are some examples of holiday subject lines that capture the spirit:

These holiday subject lines add a touch of festive cheer to your email marketing campaigns, making them more engaging and fun for your subscribers. Don't be afraid to get creative and show your brand's personality during the holiday season

8

Re-Engagement Email Subject

Re-engaging inactive contacts is crucial to maintaining a healthy email list and saving costs. Here are some good re-engagement email subject line examples to inspire you:

9

Customized Your Own Best Email Subject Lines: Best Practices

Want to write email subject lines that drive opens and conversions? Follow these best practices:

Use a tone that's consistent with your brand's personality and resonates with your audience.

Experiment with different subject lines to see what works best for your audience.

Pique curiosity while making subscribers feel comfortable opening your email.

Ensure your sender’s name is recognizable and trustworthy.

Create a cohesive and compelling combo that grabs attention.

Ensure your subject lines look great and work well across different platforms.

Conclusion:

By understanding the importance of subject lines, keeping them concise, and using techniques like personalization, urgency, and curiosity, you can boost your open rates and drive more engagement with your audience. Remember to segment your email list and customize your subject lines to each group's specific needs, and don't be afraid to get creative and show your business personality. With these tips and examples, you'll be well on your way to writing email subject lines that gets response, inspire action, and ultimately drive results for your business. Happy emailing!

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