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The Ultimate Guide to Professional Email Subject Lines
Learn How to Craft Subject Lines That Boost Open Rates and Drive Engagement
Megan Smith
April 15th, 2024
You've just crafted a compelling email, filled with valuable insights and actionable steps, only to get lost in the sea of countless emails in your recipient's inbox.
The subject line can be the difference between a wildly successful campaign and one that barely makes a ripple. These professional subject line examples will help grab your reader's attention and make them more likely to engage with you.
This comprehensive guide delves into the art of crafting professional email subject lines. Use these examples and best practices to use in your communication.
Key Takeaways
In this article, we'll cover the importance of subject lines, their essential components, strong examples, and practical strategies.
That's a lot of material, but here are the five most important takeaways:
Subject lines directly impact open rates. Only the identity of the sender has a greater effect on whether or not your message gets read.
Professional email subject lines should be short and clear, instantly letting readers know what to expect from the email.
Take advantage of engagement tactics such as appealing to your readers' humor or FOMO, but never sacrifice clarity or conciseness for clever wordplay.
Tailor your subject lines to your audiences with automated personalization, appropriate segmentation, and a contextually appropriate tone.
Test different subject lines and pay attention to key email metrics to find the specific best practices for your audience.
Table of Contents
Professional Email Subject Lines 101
Subject lines play a pivotal role in determining whether your email gets opened or ignored because it's important to master subject line basics.
A professional email subject line succinctly conveys the essence of your message. It maintains a tone consistent with your brand, avoids misleading language, and is tailored to the recipient's needs or interests.
Key Information to Include in Your Email Subject Line
Your subject line should pack a punch while offering a clear snapshot of what the email contains. Include the purpose of the email and key details.
What do I write in "Subject" when sending an email?
When writing a subject line, focus on the main point of your email. Avoid generic phrases like "Important" or "Please read." Instead, use specific and actionable language such as “Learn more about [X}.” This gives the recipient a clear idea of what to expect from your email.
What Makes a Good Professional Email Subject?
A good professional email subject efficiently conveys its message and strikes the right tone.
Clear Content
Clear and concise subject lines cut through the noise. Your subject line should be a snapshot of your email's purpose. Whether you’re sending someone an event invitation or an interesting article, let them know what to expect.
Inaccurate titles confuse or annoy readers, and misleading claims violate the CAN-SPAM Act. Lack of compliance opens you up to civil suits and serious fines.
Appropriate Tone
Maintaining a professional tone in your subject lines is key, but that doesn't mean being overly formal. Hit the right note for your industry and brand tone of voice.
For example, many brands make effective use of emojis in subject lines, but people in more formal B2B industries may want to avoid them.
The tone of your subject line also shapes the way people will engage with its content. Be friendly and positive but also respect occasions that require a more serious demeanor.
Short Length
You want your subject line to display fully in your recipient's inbox. That means keeping things short. Different email clients and devices limit the number of characters displayed.
For full visibility on all Apple and Android devices, restrict subject lines to 33 characters. If you can't convey your full message that quickly, put the most important information upfront.
High-Open-Rate Subject Line Formulas
There are two essential components of a subject line. It should have:
A compelling hook: This is the phrase that grabs the reader's attention and hints at the value contained in the email. They can be action phrases like "Learn more" or descriptive like "our biggest sale of the year."
Relevant keywords: These are words or phrases that indicate the content of your email.
These are the magic ingredients that convince recipients to read your message.
What is a Subject in an Email Example?
Let's see this in action. Here's the subject line for an email from Ring, a security-device brand:
Last Chance to Save on Father's Day Gifts
It's simple but contains the necessary elements.
A compelling hook: "Last Chance to Save"
Relevant keywords: "Father's Day Gifts"
The Role of Subject Lines in Email Open Rates
Subject lines play a critical role in email open rates—-one of the most-valued metrics for content performance by experienced marketers.
Subject Line Statistic
Almost as many people mark an email for deletion by scanning the subject line (34%) as identifying the sender (35%). A poorly crafted subject line could lead to your email being dismissed even by those who enjoy receiving your messages.
Crafting Subject Lines for Different Business Scenarios
Different business scenarios require different approaches. Here are some common contexts for professional emails and related subject lines.
Business Proposal Subject Lines
Writing subject lines for business proposals is tricky, but the goal is to convince your recipient to engage further with your proposal, not instantly convince them to sign on the dotted line.
Advertise your value, but stay away from promotions and phrases that demand immediate action.
Business Proposal Subject Line Examples
Here are a couple of subject lines I've used with prospective digital marketing clients:
Let's work on your content strategy!
A Custom Digital Marketing Proposal for [Brand Name]
Newsletter subject lines should be engaging and informative without overwhelming your audience with details. One reason why newsletter readers appreciate publications is that the curated content helps them avoid information overload.
To improve newsletter open rates, highlight the main event. Identify the top reason people will want to read this email.
These examples tease the main point, inspiring readers to dig into the attached articles.
beehiiv: 🦾 0–500k subscribers in 10 months
The Information: The AI Election Apocalypse Isn’t Here—Yet
The Atlantic: The ‘whiteboy Brooklyn novelist’ grows up
Event Invitation Subject Lines
Event invitation subject lines should create excitement and provide essential details. Identify the event and why they should put it on their calendar now.
Consider sending different subject lines to segments of your audience such as new guests or event veterans. For example, returnees often appreciate loyalty rewards such as early bird offers or other perks.
Event Invitation Subject Line Examples
Encourage people to show up, using these lines as inspiration.
Reminder and Follow-up Email Subject Lines
Reminder email subject lines should be polite and direct. Showing respect for your recipient's time increases the likelihood of a positive response.
Follow-up emails after initial communication require a particularly delicate touch. Remind the recipient of your previous interaction without sounding demanding.
Timing also matters; sending a sales follow-up too soon could come off as pushy.
The situation changes if you're following up on an in-person discussion or a phone meeting. In that case, message them immediately without asking for anything. Simply thank them for their time. Then send them another email around five days later to follow up on business.
Worried you'll miss the window? Automate your follow-up messages for perfect timing and peace of mind
Follow-up Email Subject Line Examples
These two follow-up reminders prove that both a minimal approach and a detailed one can work.
Sundays, Checking in
What is a good subject line for a checking-in email?
Take a cue from pet food brand Sundays. Sometimes less is more. One good subject line for a checking-in email is "checking in."
Networking and Cold Email Subject Lines
The key to cold emails is sparking curiosity while still being relevant and professional. Appeal to your recipient's interests and explain why you're reaching out.
Personalization can make your networking emails stand out. Use their name or reference something specific to them. Mentioning a connection is also a good idea. It's more difficult to ignore a "fellow UVA alum" than a mostly anonymous sender.
Cold Email Subject Line Examples
Here are a few ideas to adapt for your cold emails and professional networking.
Loved your article on [X]
[Name], ready to move up the corporate ladder?
[Referral] suggested I contact you
Sales Subject Lines
Sales email subject lines should show value and create urgency. You want to convince them to take action and to take that action now.
If you're in the B2B industry, remember that more than half of B2B sales require multiple decision-makers. B2B sales subject lines work best when they're clear — easy to share and understand.
CTA Phrases That Drive Sales
Incorporate call-to-action phrases into your sales subject lines. Try one of these sample CTAs to persuade recipients to open your emails and make a purchase.
Limited Time Offer
Exclusive Deal
Claim Your Discount
Space is Limited
Get Your Free Gift with Purchase
Early Access Starts Now: Shop Before Anyone Else
Become a [Brand] VIP!
Welcome Email Subject Lines
The subject line of a welcome email plays a crucial role in setting the tone for your relationship with a new subscriber. Effective welcome email subject lines are warm, inviting, and often personalized.
Welcome Email Subject Line Examples
Get off on the right foot with a subject line like one of these.
Techniques for Creating Catchy and Engaging Subject Lines
These tips help add extra appeal to all your subject lines. Just remember: while clever subject lines can be entertaining, prioritize clarity over cleverness.
Be Creative
Try different strategies to engage readers. Use compelling statistics, powerful quotes, or challenge common beliefs.
Wordplay and Humor
Humor can make your subject lines more engaging and memorable. Puns and wordplay grab attention and add personality to your messages.
While humor can be effective, maintaining professionalism is crucial. Avoid offensive or inappropriate jokes, and ensure the humor doesn't obscure your message.
Questions
Posing questions in subject lines can pique curiosity and prompt opens. These can be questions for you to answer in the body of your email or questions that directly involve the reader such as "Ready to take your marketing to the next level?"
Numbers and Symbols
Go beyond the alphabet. Numbers and symbols such as emojis in subject lines visually differentiate your subject line from those around it.
Use Psychology
Subject lines with higher open rates leverage psychological or emotional triggers. They make your subject line more compelling, encouraging readers to dig deeper or take action.
Humans are inherently emotional beings and tend to relate to narratives that evoke feelings. When you craft messages that resonate emotionally — even if the appeal is subtle — the audience is more likely to remember the ad and make a purchasing decision.
FOMO in Subject Line Strategy
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a potent motivator. Like other forms of emotional marketing, FOMO can be leveraged to drive opens and clicks.
Take this email from Oobli, warning customers that they're quickly running out of chocolates. They instill urgency with the exclamation, "We're Selling Out!!"
Curiosity-Driven Subject Line Tactics
Curiosity is a powerful driver of human behavior. Intrigue or tease the reader with a hint of what's to come.
While confusion is most often to be avoided, a little bit of a puzzle can catch the reader's attention. Check out this Surreal email advertising the e-commerce brand's bowls. The subject line reads, "Say goodbye to plates, friend." I want to know why I should bid plates farewell.
Tailor Your Approach to Your Audience
Understand your audience. Are your subscribers executives who appreciate brevity? Young consumers who respond to humor?
Tailor your subject lines according to audience demographics and interests.
Personalize
Personalization is one of the biggest marketing buzzwords across channels. It boosts revenue by 5-15% and improves marketing ROI by 10-30%.
Give it a try, and make your subject lines more relevant and engaging.
Personalization Techniques
Personalization techniques include using the recipient's name, referencing past interactions, or tailoring content to their interests or location. In 2022, about 47% of marketing professionals used subject line personalization in most of their email campaigns.
Personalization is also one of the most prevalent areas for AI and automation use. Twenty-two percent of marketers use it to recommend products and content and personalize email subject lines.
This email from Twitch personalizes the subject line with the recipient's name and provides content based on their demonstrated preferences. The subject line reads, "SmilesDavis, don't miss this month's freshest games 🍊."
Best Practices for Professional Email Subject Lines
These best practices should inform all of your subject-line creation, improving your open rates and creative process.
Brand Voice and Consistency
Your brand voice should reflect your company's personality and values to maintain consistency across multiple channels.
Why is brand consistency vital? Because it's hard to remember, recognize, and trust someone who's constantly changing. Keeping your subject lines consistent with your brand will help your subscribers connect and easily spot you in their inboxes.
Cultural Sensitivity and Local Insight
Understand your audience's customs, language nuances, and preferences.
If you reach a global audience, adapt your subject lines to different cultures and languages, respecting prevalent customs and values.
An understanding of local idioms, slang, and cultural references is also useful. For instance, a subject line for a British audience might reference a popular UK TV show or use British English spellings.
Brevity
Your subject line should be short and easy to understand at a glance.
Optimal Subject Line Character Counts
beehiiv publications perform the best when they're under 40 characters. The highest open rates go to newsletters with subject lines under 20 characters:
Deliverability
Prioritize email deliverability.
Certain words or phrases can trigger spam filters, causing your emails to land in the junk folder instead of the inbox.
Avoid words such as "free," "guarantee," "risk-free," "prize," "bonus," or "income," which are common spam triggers.
Subject Line Examples by Industry
Tailor subject lines to appeal to your audience and industry. Niche vocabularies don’t translate well across audiences, and different contexts require different levels of formality.
If you serve multiple segments, edit your subject lines accordingly. Think about what language, tone, and content would resonate with each.
Take a look at these email examples coming from different industries.
Airlines: Scott's Cheap Flights, Find New Airports. Find More Deals. ✈️ ✅
Arts and Crafts: Ami Ami, This Saturday! Get crafty with us.🍷
Finance: Greenlight, Smiles Davis, score a $30 bonus.
Beauty and Personal Care: Canopy, 🚿 "My hair has never looked better!"
Books: Counter-Print, Counter-Print – Latest Books
Fitness and Exercise: Fitbit, Your sneak peek at the new Fitbit app
Healthcare: Novos, Exploring the Intersection of Longevity and the Microbiome with Dr. Maria Corlianò
Television: Tubi, New for you: The Hunger Games Franchise
Note the range of strategies. Some offer information, and others provide a special promotion. The beauty brand quotes a pleased customer.
The tones vary as well. The arts and crafts brand is playful, while the health company gains credibility with academic language.
Optimizing Subject Lines
The secret to long-term success is continual improvement. Here's how to learn from your email subject line examples and improve.
Track and Analyze
To understand the success of your subject lines, pay close attention to your email analytics and reports. Monitor key metrics to identify what's working and what isn't.
KPIs for Subject Line Analysis
Track the most important email marketing metrics:
Open Rate: This measures the percentage of recipients who open your email. If your open rate is low, it could indicate that your subject line isn't compelling enough.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): This shows the percentage of recipients who clicked on a link within your email. A low CTR might suggest that your subject line doesn't match the content of your email.
Unsubscribe Rate: If this rate increases after an email, it could mean that your subject line was misleading or off-putting.
Spam Complaints: A high number of spam complaints can indicate that your subject line is perceived as spammy or irrelevant.
By keeping an eye on these KPIs, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your subject lines and continually refine your email marketing strategy.
Test and Refine
Don't be afraid to experiment with your subject lines as you learn how your audience responds to different tactics.
A/B Testing Subject Lines
A/B testing is vital for optimizing subject lines. It involves creating two variants of your subject line, sending each to a small percentage of your audience, and then sending the winning variant to the rest of your list.
It's a proven tool for optimization. Just ask newsletter pro, Rohan Mahtani, the brains behind Resume Worded and one of beehiiv's biggest successes. Mahtani considers beehiiv's easy A/B testing one of his best tools for open-rate success.
Start Writing Your Own Professional Email Subject Lines
There you have it — all the knowledge and tools to craft professional, engaging, and effective email subject lines.
Remember, your subject line is more than just a brief overview of your email content. It's the gateway to the value you're offering and plays a crucial role in whether your email gets opened or ignored. Take time to craft it with care and test different versions.
And if you want the most effective tools to help you transform your email game, look no further than beehiiv. Gain access to the best-in-class testing and analytics tools to help you understand and engage your audience.
Sign up for a free account today.
Why Trust Us
I'm a digital marketer that specializes in long-form content and email marketing and I have written multiple bylined articles for respected websites. As for beehiiv, the email and newsletter platform was designed with best practices in mind and developed by the creators of the ultra-successful newsletter The Morning Brew.
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