Your subject line is one of the first things a person sees when they receive your email and often determines whether they open and read your email or just hit delete. So your entire email campaign relies heavily on you having a strong and compelling subject line.
Here are some tips on how to write a killer email subject line.
Write the subject line first
Your subject line should never be an afterthought that is added just before you hit send. It is one of the most important parts of your email as it sets the tone for your email. By writing your subject line first, you ensure that your content relates and supports your email campaign.
Keep it short
Generally, the optimal length for a subject line is 41 characters so aim to get right to the point with about seven words. Keep in mind the devices your audience use to read your emails. If a large portion of your database is reading your emails on their mobile phones, then be sure to make your subject line short and sweet with about 25 – 30 characters.
Test your subject lines
Your subject line is one of the easiest parts of your email campaign to test. Send test emails and check your subject line on a number of different devices to see how it looks. This way you can make sure your subject line reads well on all devices.
If you are not too sure which subject line will perform best with your database then run an A/B test. This way you can test either length or different subject lines altogether and find out which subject line performed best.
Eliminate filler words
With such a short space available always try to avoid unnecessary words such as your company name (this is usually in the ‘from’ field of your email), hello and thank you. These words can easily be included in your email content and are not likely to grab the attention of your audience.
Use different subject lines
No one wants to see the same subject line over and over again. Make sure you use new and interesting subject lines to excite and entice your subscribers to keep opening your emails. It also shows your subscribers that you have new and interesting content to offer them.
Make it personal
Make your subject lines more personal by including your readers’ name. A personalised email subject line helps your email stand out and helps your audience to want to open and engage with your email.
74% of marketers say targeted personalization increases customer engagement. – eConsultancy
The subject line is one of your most powerful tools to ensure the success of your email campaign. So be sure to spend some time optimising it, your open rate and overall email engagement will thank you for it.
Should you need help with your email campaign, get in touch and let one of our account manager’s assist.