Katarina Klem
Originally published June 2017; Updated May 2024.
Did you know that, every day throughout the world, over 306 billion emails are sent and received?? And by 2025, estimates increase that number to 376 billion emails. 🤯 So, how in the world do you make your email stand out in your prospect’s overflowing inbox? Enter: the email subject line.
Often treated as an afterthought, your email subject line is ripe with potential. Leverage it to your advantage and increase your open rates overnight!
How To Create a Powerful Email Subject Line
Here are 15 tips to consider when creating a powerful email subject line:
1. Incorporate “you, your, or you’re”
Keep your email subject lines customer-centric to draw in prospects immediately.
2. Imply a sense of urgency
(Ex. “Get yours in time for summer!”)
3. Create a sense of scarcity or of missing out
No one wants to miss a good opportunity! (Ex. “While supplies last…”)
4. Double-check spelling and grammar
Nothing will send your email to the trash can quicker than sloppy oversights.
5. Ask a question to pique curiosity
This is an effective approach because it sends your recipient into the email to search for the answer.
6. Use numbers in your subject line
We love lists and easy ways to categorize and digest information. (Ex. “3 easy steps…”)
7. Avoid communicating like a used-car salesperson
Refrain from typing words in all caps, use discretion when it comes to implementing exclamation marks, and avoid words that spam filters pick up on, or your email won’t even make it into your recipient’s inbox.
Tip: Take time to research spam filter trigger words!
8. Make it personal
This is the opposite of the used-car salesperson approach. You want to appeal to your email recipient on a personal level. You want them to know that you sought them out instead of blasting a generic email to a wide swath of prospects.
a. Top marketing expert Jay Schwedelson recommends placing your target audience in the subject line. (Ex. “Attention plumbers!” or “Hot tips for project managers!”)
If you mention the job function or the title of the audience that you’re actually marketing to, the open rate goes up exponentially.
