The first step to a successful email campaign is for the recipient to open the email. This means you must have a subject line that sizzles! You only have a few seconds to get their attention and convince them they must open your email. If the subject line is not persuasive, you’ve just wasted the time and energy you put into the content. It also means the possibility of losing the recipient as a possible customer. With a bit of creativity, there are a few ways to make your email marketing subject lines irresistible.

Integrate Action-oriented Words

Research shows action-oriented words have the same power and effect as a call to action. This makes it necessary to get used to using words like “dine,” “act now,” and “don’t forget,” which are effective in creating a sense of urgency with your email marketing content. When people assume they only have a limited amount of time to do something, they’re more willing to take the time to learn what they need to do instead of opening the email later. When there’s more excitement added to the subject line, it will allow yours to stand out among the sea of other emails.

Many people make the mistake of adding all CAPITAL LETTERS or exclamation points to make the subject line more enticing. They also do this to try and get the attention of the reader. Unfortunately, spam emails also contain a lot of all-caps titles and exclamation marks. These tactics can make your email look cheesy and unprofessional. They can also cause your business to look desperate. You don’t want your customers to feel like you’re yelling at them or like you’re being obnoxious. Most people prefer lower-case subject lines, making it necessary to avoid characters that don’t get your point across.

Keep it Concise

Don’t make the mistake of trying to put all of your content in the subject line. Many businesses do this in an attempt to convince the reader to open the email, but this will only cause their eyes to glaze over. Your subject line should be clear and to the point to prevent the words from getting cut off, especially for those who are using their smartphones.

Always Perform an A/B Test

A/B testing your subject lines can give you an idea of how well they cater to your targeted audience. This is something that should be performed consistently to ensure you can continue to prompt your recipients to open the emails you send out each week. This will allow you to discover if your audience prefers subject lines that include a question or if they open more emails with statements. Knowing what your audience favors will allow you to run more successful email marketing campaigns.

Leave Out the Spam Words

Spam words are a huge no-no when it comes to marketing to your customers. Acting too aggressively or salesy with your subject lines is a turnoff to all types of customers and can affect the reputation of your business. This is one of the best ways to have your emails sent to spam folders and to make people unsubscribe. Remain authentic, respectful, and kind without including a lot of promotional language.

Although it can be easy to find yourself leaning towards being promotional, opt for sharing valuable information or offering your expertise. This makes it look like you have the reader’s best interest in mind and are more concerned about helping them stay informed rather than trying to sell something.

Make an Announcement

Some of the best subject lines include announcements. Whenever you have new or exciting news, whether you have a new product or service, this will make it easier to get more people interested. This also offers a sense of personalization. Your readers will assume they’re one of the first to receive this information and like they have an advantage over other customers.

Remain Unique

The goal of each email marketing campaign should be to remain unique and original. This requires knowing who your audience is and what your business can provide them with, which is something they shouldn’t be able to get from your competitors. You can even include your business name in the subject line to make it stand out more. If the recipients quickly see that the email is from your business, they’re a lot more likely to open the emails.

Tell a Joke

Don’t be afraid to be playful and have a bit of fun with your email subject lines. This is one of the best ways to attract more attention to the email and make it stand out more. If you can make someone laugh with your email subject, it’ll make them want to read more of your message. 

Consider testing out a few different jokes, including puns. They can relate to the market or industry that you’re in to ensure they’re relevant instead of random. This is a great method of enhancing your engagement with your prospective and current customers.

Think outside the box with your email marketing content. Say something your reader may not expect. This can even include an interesting statistic that most people don’t know. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. After a while, your customers will start to look forward to the emails you send and read the content you include.

Need help adding some sizzle to your sales emails? We’re here to help. Contact us today to have access to our talented team of content writers. We’re ready to start your email marketing campaign today!