Do you ever find yourself stuck when it comes to writing an attention-grabbing email subject line?
I hear you.
I’ve been writing email subject lines for almost 15 years, and I still sometimes get writer’s block when staring at my cursor blinking in that black space where the email title should be.
Of course, I do other marketing things apart from just writing subject lines. Still, email marketing has always been (and continues to be) one of the best ways to convert your audience into customers and boost sales – so you must get it right.
Your open rates skyrocket when you include a good email subject line – trust me, I’ve seen it.
This is why I’ve put together this list of the BEST email subject lines that you can use.
You’re going to want to bookmark this page for later.
Take a look below.
Table of Contents
Top Email Subject Line Keywords
What better way to kick off this mega list of email subject lines than with some data.
Research by Alchemy Worx analyzed 21 BILLION emails sent by 2,500 brands and found the top five most effective subject line keywords that you should include.
The top email subject line keywords are:
Upgrade
Just
Content
Go
Wonderful
Good Email Subject Lines
Let’s start basic, shall we?
Have you heard about the K.I.S.S. method when it comes to marketing? It stands for ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid.’, and there’s a lot of sense to it.
Sometimes we don’t need to overthink things. In the words of the Interaction Design Foundation, “The simpler the explanation and the simpler the product, the more likely it is that the output will be useful to others.”
Here are some good quality lines for your next email:
Stop Wasting Time On [x] – There’s nothing more valuable than time, right? It’s something money can’t buy and an entity that we all wish we had more of! So, this straightforward email subject line speaks directly to your readers’ needs and is applicable for use in pretty much any industry.
Your Ultimate Guide for Everything – This is a good email subject line because you use it any way you need it All businesses can create a practical guide for their customers – whether it’s how to do your taxes, buy a first home, or travel the world on a budget; creating a ‘how to’ guide is evergreen content that will draw in customers for you.
Get More [x] by Doing [y] – An uncomplicated maths equation that resonates with your reader! This clear-cut title will catch your readers’ attention.
An Important Update You Need to Know About – This email subject line instills the concept that the content within your email will affect them. Heads up - you should only use this type of subject line when you genuinely have essential information that your customer needs to know.
[x number] of Ways To Upgrade Your [insert a pain point your customer experiences] – Listicles are great scannable content, and most audiences love them. Not only that, but this type of subject line helps solve your customers’ problems by addressing their pain points. Pro Tip Reminder: The word ‘upgrade’ is listed as one of the most effective keywords for email subject lines!
Catchy Email Subject Lines
Catchy email subject lines have huuuge potential to increase the open rates of your emails. However, you should exercise a degree of caution as line between ‘catchy' subject lines, and ‘clickbaity' subject lines is thin.
While you want your email subject line to be intriguing, you don’t want it to sound trashy or inauthentic. Remember that the holy grail of consumer relations is to build trust – and you won’t do that by luring them in with gimmicky copy. Take a look at these catchy email subject lines that strike the right balance:
What the Pandemic Taught the World About Travel – This is timely, relevant, and affects many people worldwide – for those reasons, this is an excellent example of a catchy email subject line.
Have You Got All of the Gear but No Idea? Open for Insider Tips – Here we have a prime example of a quippy email subject line that reads easily and speaks directly to your readers’ emotions.
You Don’t Want to Miss Out on This Wonderful Opportunity – There’s nothing like a bit of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) to catch your reader's attention. Be sure to follow this catchy email title by delivering actual value within your email – otherwise, your readers will hit that unsubscribe button faster than Twitter Execs accepting Elon’s money to buy the platform.
We Couldn’t Believe How Well This Worked – Can You? – Okay, this one is on the cusp of being classic clickbait. However, if you can provide a genuinely useful product, service or information, this catchy email title is worth trying.
Cold Email Subject Lines
The most vital part of sending a cold email is doing your research beforehand. Know who you are talking to, what their company does, and their pain points. Bonus points if you can personalize your email to them by including their name.
"A cold email is an email that’s sent without prior permission from or contact with the recipient. In many respects, a cold email is the same as a cold phone call – it’s just much less intrusive. This means it’s almost unanimously favored by both the sender and sendee.” – via WordStream.
What Are Your Thoughts On This? – There’s only one thing people love more than being asked for their opinion, and that’s giving it! So this cold email subject line is a gooder for grabbing your readers’ attention from the get-go.
Well Done On [mention a specific achievement they just received] – This is a perfect subject line for a cold email as it shows you’ve taken the time to learn who your recipient is, vs. sending what is obviously a blanket email to multiple people.
Hey [insert their name], I’ve Designed a Free Strategy/Plan/Creative for [insert their business name] – I am a big fan of showcasing real-life examples of my services to potential clients. When you show up in their inbox with a tangible example of the incredible work you can do for them, how could they turn you down! Take a reasonable amount of time (this is variable depending on the value of your potential new client or customer) and piece together a brief of what you offer, then hit them with this awesome email subject line!
[Insert Name], Quick Question – Short and to the point, this cold email subject is a bonified scroll stopper.
[Insert The Name of a Mutual Connection] – As long as you have the permission to do so, make a tasteful name drop in the email subject line to boost your open rates.
Subject Lines for Offers
There’s something imperative you need to know about subject lines for offers! If your words are deemed ‘spammy’ by your email host bots, then your email with go straight into the spam folder *cold sweats*
That’s right! When informing your email database about your offers, you need to strike a healthy balance between helpful sales updates and gimmicky sales copy.
Here are some subject lines for sales and offers:
I Just Thought You’d Want to See These – A casual piece of copy that also strikes a friendly tone.
Go On, Treat Yourself – Remember that research we mentioned at the beginning of this article? How the word ‘go’ is one of the most effective keywords for email subject lines? Well, here it is in action!
Limited Time Offer – The triple-whammy wording of this email subject line is a high performer for many clients. ‘Limited Time’ ensures your reader knows they must act quickly, and ‘Offer’ sets alarm bells ringing for most people. So when combined, it proves very successful.
Subject Lines for Sharing Content
Despite the inevitability of ever-shifting industry trends, one thing remains; the clout of content marketing.
“When it comes to Return on Investment (ROI), did you know that data from the Content Marketing Institute found that 72% of marketers say content marketing increases engagement. In addition, 72% say it has increased the number of leads.” - Opt. In Monster.
True story. Content marketing helps build trust between your brand and customers. It’s also easier to do than you think as it can be as simple as a blog post. Once you have some quality content to share, use these subject lines:
Do You Want a Free Sample? – The power of ‘free’ is vast. Studies have shown when you receive something free, you place a higher perceived value on the item. Send your audience the opportunity to get a free sample or deliver some quality digital content straight into their inbox.
Join [insert an impressive number of other people who have subscribed] others on our list – Build social authority by letting new customers know that there are already many others who believe in your brand; put a number to it and show that you have value to others, and you can do the same for them too.
Steal Our Ideas – This subject line works similarly to ‘free’. If something’s worth stealing, it must be good, right? Offering your audience the opportunity to steal something is another way of giving it to them for free.
Psst. Here’s Your Cheat Sheet for [X] – Colloquial copy paired with the cheeky offer of a cheat sheet will grab the attention of anyone when viewed in an inbox (or anywhere else, really!).
Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines
Let’s finish with a few attention-grabbing email subject lines that you can use to increase your open rates.
Oh No – Sometimes, less is (a lot) more. Try 1 or 2 worded email subject lines, and you might be in-awe in how well they perform! White space is very effective at grabbing the attention of a reader – this is why you see blog posts *ahem, like this one* use a lot of spacing.
Yikes, I Made a Mistake – This is a compelling email subject line because it can be followed by an honest storytelling journey within the email.
Are You Free at 10am? – This unorthodox attention-grabbing email subject line gives the air of familiarity between the sender and recipient.
Yes, this is a Sales Email – When you’re honest with your customers, you build trust. Call your email exactly what it is to boost your open rates, as it’s unlikely the other companies in their inbox with whom you’re competing for space in there are doing something similar.
Did you enjoy this blog post? Because there’s more where this came from – check out the Birdsong Blog or follow @birdsongmarketing on Instagram for more free marketing tips.
About: Founded in Canada and now based in Canberra, Australia, Birdsong Marketing provides marketing services for companies of all sizes. From strategic planning to social media management, copywriting, and content creation, we work with you to understand the marketing goals and objectives of your business. Learn More >
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