Catch More Clicks with Catchy Subject Lines

Are you struggling to come up with the perfect email subject line? You're not alone. Crafting a subject line that grabs attention and entices subscribers to open your email is no easy feat. But fear not, we've compiled the ultimate guide to help you write catchy subject lines that increase your open rates and drive engagement.

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What Makes a Good Email Subject Line?

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1. Urgency

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Creating a sense of urgency is a powerful way to motivate your subscribers to act quickly. Use phrases like 'limited time offer' or 'don't miss out' to create a sense of urgency and scarcity.

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2. Curiosity

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Humans are naturally curious creatures. Capitalize on that by crafting subject lines that pique your subscriber's curiosity. Use a cliffhanger or a hint of mystery to encourage opens.

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3. Offers

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Everybody loves a good deal. Make sure your subject line clearly communicates the benefit of opening your email. Use phrases like 'save' or 'discount' in your subject line to entice subscribers.

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4. Personalization

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Personalizing your subject line can increase open rates by up to 50%. Use your subscriber's name or location in your subject line to make it feel more personalized.

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5. Relevance and Timeliness

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Make sure your subject line is timely and relevant to your subscribers. Use current events or holidays to create a sense of urgency and relevance.

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6. Name Recognition

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If your brand is well-known, make sure to include it in your subject line. This creates instant name recognition and can increase open rates.

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7. Cool Stories

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Everyone loves a good story. Use your subject line to tease a story or highlight a customer success story to increase opens.

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Email Subject Line Best Practices

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1. Learn from successful email subject line examples.

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  • Use tools like Mailchimp's Subject Line Researcher or Hubspot's Email Subject Line Tester to analyze successful subject lines in your industry.
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2. Keep it short and sweet.

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  • Most email clients display 50-60 characters in the subject line, so keep it short and to the point.
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3. Use a familiar sender name.

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  • Make sure your sender name is recognizable and trustworthy. Avoid using a 'no-reply' sender name as it can come across as impersonal and uncaring.
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4. Use personalization tokens.

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  • Personalization tokens like {first_name} can make your email feel more personal and increase open rates.
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5. Segment your lists.

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  • Segmenting your email list and customizing your subject lines for each segment can increase open rates and engagement.
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6. Don't make false promises.

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  • Avoid using subject lines that make false promises or mislead your subscribers.
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7. Do tell them what's inside.

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  • Make sure your subject line accurately reflects the content of your email. Your subscribers should know what to expect when they open your email.
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9. Time it right.

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  • Sending your email at the right time can make a big difference in open rates. Test different send times and see what works best for your audience.
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10. Use concise language.

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  • Avoid using filler words or unnecessary phrases. Use clear and concise language to make your subject line easy to understand.
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11. Start with action-oriented verbs.

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  • Using action-oriented verbs can create a sense of urgency and motivate subscribers to take action.
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12. Make people feel special.

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  • Using phrases like 'exclusive' or 'members-only' can make subscribers feel special and increase open rates.
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13. Create a sense of importance.

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  • Use phrases like 'important update' or 'breaking news' to create a sense of importance and urgency.
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14. Use numbers.

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  • Using numbers can make your subject line more eye-catching and memorable.
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15. Pose a compelling question.

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  • Asking a thought-provoking question can encourage opens and engagement.
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16. Don't be afraid to get punny.

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  • A clever pun or joke can make your subject line more memorable and enjoyable.
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17. DON'T USE ALL CAPS or overuse exclamation points!!!

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  • Caps and exclamation points can come across as spammy and unprofessional. Use them sparingly.
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18. Don't include a question and exclamation in the same subject line.

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  • This can create confusion and may turn off subscribers.
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19. Use engaging preview text.

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  • Your preview text is the first thing your subscriber sees after your subject line. Use it to provide additional context or enticement.
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20. A/B test your subject lines.

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  • Test different subject lines to see which ones perform best with your audience.
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How to Write Good Email Subject Lines

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Step 1: Identify the purpose of the email.

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  • Are you promoting a sale? Announcing a new product? Make sure your subject line accurately reflects the purpose of your email.
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Step 2: Determine the call to action.

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  • What action do you want your subscriber to take after reading your email? Make sure your subject line motivates them to take that action.
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Step 3: Draft multiple subject lines.

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  • Brainstorm a variety of subject lines that reflect the purpose and call to action of your email.
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Step 4: Get feedback.

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  • Ask a colleague or friend to review your subject lines and offer feedback on which one stands out the most.
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Step 5: Test your subject line.

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  • Test your subject line with a small segment of your audience to see which one performs best before sending it to your entire list.
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Examples of Catchy Email Subject Lines

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EF Tours: “👻 Trip or Treat!”

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Chanel: “Smoldering Red Lipstick”

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Wish: “Electrify your night out.”

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Drizly: “...here’s $5 to stay in.”

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Shutterfly: “Claim your UNLIMITED free photo book”

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Mediabistro: “Generous PTO and Summer Fridays”

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Use these creative examples to inspire your next email marketing campaign and increase your open rates!

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