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I’m willing to bet that you get a ton of emails firing into your inbox every single day. In the modern era we’re bombarded with newsletters, offers, password resets or a prince in a far off land needing our bank details for some inexplicable reason. No matter who you are, we always have a lot of emails to sift through, never mind actually open and read.

So what actually makes you take that extra step and actually open an email? More often than not, it’s the subject line – your first impression of the email and from which, you’ll do your best to judge the content within it. But how do we write a gripping subject line? Here’s some top tips for you to think about.

Curiosity

“”DO NOT Commit These Facebook Atrocities”

A great subject line should pique the recipients interest. One of the most important things when it comes to email marketing is giving off the impression that the reader will benefit from opening your email. This is why withholding some information or building a sense of mystery is a great way to get people invested from the start.

Asking a question that aligns with your brands values is a perfect place to start. Be careful it isn’t too obscure though or it could be perceived as spam.

Urgency

“QUICK FIRE SALE, ONLY 10 LEFT IN STOCK”

Whilst the word urgency may conjure up images of classic infomercials screaming ‘Act now or miss out on this incredible deal!’ – adding a sense of urgency to your subject line can help compel your recipient to click on your email. I have to stress that these sorts of subject lines should be phrased creatively and strategically. If you have an intense, urgent headline every time you send out a newsletter people will be less inclined to read.

Best to save these for special occasions.

Emojis! 😍

Wow! 😲 10 Technology Blogs We ❤️

Adding a pop of colour using emojis is a great way to make your email newsletter stand out from the bland, business-centric subject lines in your recipients inbox. If you’ve got a deal running on a certain product, add the relevant emoji, or if you’re feeling particularly excited about a topic you’re writing about, channel your personality through emojis!

Honestly, I could sit here all day and write about how I think emojis are great and that they are the modern day equivalent to hieroglyphics, but that’s a story for another time.

Personalisation

“Hey Mark, We Thought You’d Love This Article!”

No two of your readers are going to be exactly the same, so that means that the content we send them shouldn’t be either! Simple things like adding somebody’s name into your subject line is a great way to build trust with your brand. It gives off the impression that you aren’t sending out one-size-fits-all content and you are catering your email towards the individual.

Summary

Remember, you’re using email newsletters and marketing because you have something to share. If your mail-outs aren’t getting opened – the great content you create won’t be seen! You have one shot at a first impression and this should be a punchy subject line to get the recipient interested.

If you want to know more about email marketing, check out our 5 Tips For Email Marketing Success or if you have questions about email marketing, contact us and we’ll be happy to help!