Email Subject Lines That Actually Get Opened

Boost your email marketing strategy with compelling and optimized email subject lines that drive engagement and increase open rates.

Does your inbox often feel like an overflowing abyss that you can never quite catch up on? You’re not alone. More than 293 billion emails are sent daily, but only 21.33% of those are opened. Yeah! You read that right. And if your emails have that uninteresting, bland, market-type email subject lines, it’s likely to get lost in the shuffle-never to be seen again. 

Just consider the consequences of that; lost leads, potential customers, and lost revenue. Maybe too grim of a start for a Monday morning, but it’s nevertheless true. Aliado Marketing Group is bringing you some super exciting subject lines that pique the reader’s curiosity and get those emails clicked!

Not everyone is a copywriting genius, and, admittedly, email subject lines are not the easiest thing to write. Those who mastered the art have set a few formulas and guidelines that you can follow to increase the chances of your email actually getting opened.

Formula 1: Leave a Curiosity Gap

• “Why I Quit My Job and Started a Business”
• “Black Friday secrets revealed”
• “7 deadly sins of email marketing”
• “A sneak peek at my upcoming webinar.”

Use the natural human curiosity to your advantage and entice the reader to open your email by withholding just enough information to make them want to find out more. Promise them exclusive information, a reveal, or teaser content that will be worth their time. This formula is especially great for announcements or teasers for upcoming events or products.

Formula 2: Make it Benefit-Driven

• “Get more done in half the time!”
• “The one trick that will save you hours this week”
• “Save money on your holiday shopping.”
• “Get a $10 Amazon Gift Card!”

People love shortcuts, and they love to learn how to do things better, faster, and more efficiently. Playing to that desire is a great way to get your email opened. Offer tips, tricks, or solutions to a problem. Or make the reader feel like they’re already behind and need to take immediate action. This formula is especially great for listicles, how-to’s, or giving away a freebie.

Formula 3: The Urgency Hack

• “Last chance to save!”
• “Hurry, the offer ends tonight!”
• “Only 2 spots left!”
• “First 100 people get a free iPad!”

Urgency is a powerful motivator and probably the oldest trick in the book. People love a good sale and are likely to take action if they feel like there’s a time constraint or that they’re about to miss out on something good. If you want to create a sense of urgency in your email subject line, use words like “last chance,” “hurry,” “now,” or “immediate.” You can also create a sense of scarcity by saying things like “only,” “limited time,” or “while supplies last.”

Formula 4: Use Humour

• “A little birdy told me…your email address is invalid.”
• “Can’t believe you’re still getting this email?”
• “You tried to unsubscribe, but we found a way to keep you.”
• “We miss you; come back!”

Humour is a great way to stand out in an inbox and get your email remembered. It’s also a great way to show your human side and connect with the reader on a more personal level. Plus, who doesn’t love a good laugh? Just make sure that your humour is appropriate and relevant to your audience.

Formula 5: Use numbers and stats

• “4 out of 5 dentists recommend using our product”
• “Why 1 in 5 people might unsubscribe from your list?”
• “5 ways to make your website more user-friendly”
• “3 social media trends that will dominate in 2023”

If you’re looking to back up your claims, add some extra visual interest; numbers are a great way to do it. They’re eye-catching and provide concrete evidence that you’ve done the research and that what you’re saying is true, which creates a sense of authority and gives the reader a reason to trust you. Just make sure that the numbers are relevant and interesting to your reader.

How to Write Magnetic Email Subject Lines

Regardless of the formula, you decide to use; there are a few general tips that will help you write an email that gets clicked:

• A headline should be succinct and to the point; get to the point and hook your reader in a few words.
• State exactly what the email is about so that the reader knows what they’re getting themselves into.
• Use strong adjectives and verbs to create a sense of urgency or interest.
• Emojis add personality and visual interest but use them sparingly. Overuse of emojis might give a juvenile and unprofessional look.
• Use the recipient’s name or refer to something specific that you know about them.
• Always test, test, test. You may have to try a few different formulas before you find one that works well for your audience.

People are busy and inundated with hundreds of emails daily. If your email doesn’t catch their attention, they will not bother opening it. Plain and simple! The headlines are the key that stands out in a crowded inbox and gets your email the attention it deserves!

So, before you hit send on your next email campaign, take a few minutes to brainstorm a catchy and intriguing headline. If you need more help crafting emails, contact us, we’d love to help you give your business the boost it needs.