7 Best Practices for Higher Email Open Rates: Best Email Subject Lines (2023)

Do you want better email subject lines with higher open rates?

A compelling subject line can make all the difference in open rates, click-throughs, and overall engagement.

Uncovering the most powerful email subject lines is essential for those in digital marketing and small business owners looking to maximize their email campaigns.

This blog post will look at the 7 best practices that have proven effective in crafting attention-grabbing subject lines.

TRY ACTIVECAMPIGN’S FREE
EMAIL SUBJECT GENERATOR

Disclosure: We earn a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

7 Best Practices for Higher Email Open Rates

We’ll explore personalization techniques, such as using customer names and addressing specific pain points. We will also discuss creating a sense of urgency with deadlines and limited-time deals and strategically utilizing preheader text for maximum impact.

Furthermore, you’ll learn about optimal length and punctuation usage for higher open rate subject lines, incorporating emojis as visual flair without compromising professionalism or compatibility across devices, and infusing humour through puns while maintaining a balance between wit and professionalism.

In addition to these tactics, we’ll cover the importance of A/B testing to refine your approach continuously. You’ll discover context-specific campaign ideas like customer appreciation emails or re-engagement campaigns.

We will share some best practices on tools available for crafting the best email subject lines while monitoring key performance metrics regularly.

Personalized Subject Lines

Personalize your email subject lines for higher email open rates — Personalize your email with subject lines for higher email open rates

Personalizing email subject lines by addressing customers’ pain points or using their names can establish an instant connection with them. This strategy is essential for increasing open rates and driving traffic to your website, making the content more relevant and engaging.

Make Sender a Real Person

Using a real person as the email sender can significantly impact your email open rates.

Customers are more likely to trust and engage with a brand when they perceive it as more human and approachable. This practice goes beyond simply including a person’s name in the sender field; it involves making the sender appear as a real person actively involved with the brand.

This approach has been proven to be effective in various studies and surveys. For instance, a study by Experian found that emails with a personalized sender name had an open rate of 29.3%, compared to just 20.8% for those without a customized name. Similarly, a survey by Litmus found that 42% of respondents said a brand’s email was more trustworthy when it came from a real person rather than a company name.

One of the ways to make the sender feel more human is to use the name and title of an actual employee, such as the CEO or the customer support representative customers may have worked with in the past. This personal touch gives customers a sense of familiarity, making them more likely to open the email and engage with your brand.

Another way to make the sender feel more personal is to use a profile picture in the sender’s field.

This allows customers to put a face to the name, creating a stronger connection and making the brand more approachable. However, it’s important to ensure the photo is professional and aligns with the brand’s overall image.

By making your brand appear more human and approachable, you can build trust and create a stronger connection with your customers.

Using Customer Names in Subject Lines

Incorporating a recipient’s name into the email subject line adds a personal touch that grabs attention. For example, instead of writing “Exclusive Offer Inside,” try “John, Don’t Miss Your Exclusive Offer.” Doing so creates a sense of familiarity and demonstrates that you value each customer individually. To achieve this level of personalization efficiently, use merge tags, which automatically insert recipients’ information from your contact list into the subject line.

Addressing Specific Pain Points

Show empathy: Show understanding towards your audience’s struggles by mentioning common issues they face. For instance: “Struggling with Time Management? We’ve Got You Covered.”
Create tailored offers: Segment your mailing list based on demographics or interests to send targeted promotions. A fitness brand could send different emails to gym enthusiasts versus yoga practitioners: “Get Fit Faster with Our High-Intensity Workouts” vs. “Discover Inner Peace Through Yoga.”
Leverage user behavior data:Analyze how subscribers interact with previous emails or browse products on your site to tailor future messages accordingly – e.g., sending abandoned cart reminders like “Hey Sarah, You Left Something in Your Cart.“

Incorporating personalization techniques into your email subject lines can significantly improve open rates and foster a stronger connection with your audience. Remember to test different approaches and analyze the results to refine your strategy.

Personalization in email subject lines is a great way to increase engagement and open rates.

Creating a sense of urgency can further help drive conversions from your emails.

Key Takeaway: This article provides tips on increasing email open rates by personalizing subject lines, such as addressing customer pain points or using their names. By leveraging user data and tailoring offers based on demographics or interests, you can grab your customers’ attention and create a stronger connection.

Creating a Sense of Urgency

Offer a sense of urgency like one day sales, event sales, etc

Incorporating dates or a sense of urgency in your email subject lines can help evoke fear of missing out (FOMO) among new subscribers, boosting open rates. This tactic encourages recipients to take action quickly before they miss out on valuable opportunities.

Adding Deadlines to Offers or Promotions

One effective way to create urgency is by adding deadlines to offers or promotions. For example, use phrases like “Last Chance” or “24-Hour Sale” in your subject line. Creating a sense of urgency can motivate subscribers to act quickly and not miss out on the deal.

Campaign Monitor provides several examples and tips for crafting urgent and different subject lines that drive results.

Highlighting Limited-Time Deals

Besides using deadlines, highlighting limited-time deals is another excellent method for creating a sense of urgency in email subject lines. Phrases such as “Limited Time Offer,” “Flash Sale,” and “While Supplies Last” convey scarcity and encourage readers to open the email promptly lest they lose out on an exclusive offer.

The OptinMonster blog post features numerous examples of successful limited-time deal subject lines that have proven effective at increasing open rates.

Action Item: Experiment with different ways of incorporating urgency into your email campaigns – try both deadline-driven and scarcity-based approaches, then analyze which performs better with your audience.
Urgency: Don’t overuse urgency tactics, as doing so may lead to subscriber fatigue and diminished results. Use them strategically for maximum impact.

Crafting a sense of immediacy can boost email engagement, so take the time to contemplate ways to add expiration dates or emphasize exclusive offers.

Utilizing preheader text strategically is another great way to capture readers’ attention and ensure they open your email.

Utilizing Preheader Text Strategically

Incorporating preheader text in your email campaigns is a powerful way to provide additional context about the content without giving too much away. This approach helps pique recipients’ curiosity while maintaining their interest in opening the message, ultimately improving engagement.

This section will discuss two key aspects of crafting effective preheader text: concise yet informative wording and balancing mystery with clarity.

Crafting Concise Yet Informative Preheader Text

Preheaders should be short and sweet but also convey enough information to entice readers into clicking on your email. Aim for around 40-50 characters as most email clients truncate longer texts.

To create an impactful preheader, highlight one or two main points from the body of your email that would appeal to your target audience. For example, these test subject lines:

Email Subject Line: “Unlock Your Exclusive Discount Today.”
Preheader Text: “Save up to 30% off select items”
Email Subject Line: “10 Tips for Boosting Productivity”
Preheader Text: “Discover time-saving hacks & tools”

Here are some tips on when using preheader text:

Use action-oriented language: To encourage recipients to take action, use verbs encouraging them to do something, such as “Shop Now” or “Get Your Discount Today.”
Highlight offers or deals: Since preheader text appears right below the email subject line, it’s a great place to include information about great deals or exclusive offers you’re offering. This can increase the chances of the recipient opening the email and engaging with your content.
Keep it short and sweet: Preheader text should be concise and to the point. Avoid long sentences or blocks of text that may make it difficult to read. It’s best if you can keep it within 40-50 characters.
Make it personal: Personalizing preheader text can increase the likelihood of your recipient opening the email. You can achieve personalization by including the recipient’s name or any other relevant personalization data.
Add emojis: Emojis can add visual appeal to your preheader text while also conveying emotion or context. Just be sure not to overuse them or add emojis that may not be supported by all email clients.

Balancing Mystery and Clarity

The perfect balance between intrigue and transparency can make all the difference when engaging subscribers through preheaders. While you want them curious enough about what’s inside the email, avoid being overly cryptic or vague, as this may deter some users from opening it all together.

A good rule of thumb is ensuring that both subject line and pre-header complement each other by providing different pieces of information rather than repeating themselves redundantly.

To achieve this delicate balance, consider the following examples:

Email Subject Line: “The Secret to Perfect Skin Revealed.”
Preheader Text: “Learn about our breakthrough skincare formula”
Email Subject Line: “Your Invitation Awaits: Exclusive Event”
Preheader Text: “RSVP now for a night of networking & fun”

Incorporating these strategies into your email marketing campaigns can significantly improve open rates and engagement. For more tips on writing subject lines that are effective, check out this comprehensive guide from Mailchimp.

By taking the time to craft effective preheader text, you can increase your email open rates significantly. Moving on, it’s important to consider optimal length and punctuation usage for even better results.

Key Takeaway: Craft concise, informative preheader text and balance mystery with clarity in email subject lines. Highlight the importance of providing additional context without giving too much away to entice readers and how to achieve the perfect balance between intrigue and transparency by complementing rather than repeating yourself redundantly.

Optimal Length and Punctuation Usage

AWeber blog article on email subject line length

When crafting email subject lines, it’s crucial to consider the length and punctuation usage.

Research suggests that shorter headlines often perform better than longer ones – especially when viewed on mobile devices. This section will explore why keeping your subject lines concise is essential for higher open rates and how to use punctuation effectively.

Shorter Headlines for Higher Performance

A study by Campaign Monitor found that email subject lines with 41-50 characters had the highest average open rate of 14%. This indicates that brevity is key in capturing your audience’s attention.

Most people nowadays read emails on their smartphones, a shorter headline ensures your message isn’t truncated or cut off on smaller screens.

Tip: Aim for no more than nine words and 60 characters in your email subject line.
Action Step: Review past campaigns’ performance data to identify trends related to length; adjust future strategies accordingly.

Limiting Punctuation Usage

Punctuation marks can help clarify meaning or add emphasis but using too many special characters may make an email appear spammy or cluttered. It’s best practice to limit punctuation usage in order not only to maintain readability but also to avoid triggering spam filters which could prevent messages from reaching recipients’ inboxes altogether.

Here are some guidelines regarding punctuation:

Avoid excessive exclamation points (.) as they might come across as overly promotional or aggressive;
Likewise, steer clear of all caps since this approach can be perceived as shouting;
Use question marks (?) sparingly and only when genuinely asking a question to pique curiosity.

Optimizing your email subject lines’ length and punctuation usage can significantly impact open rates. Keep them concise, mobile-friendly, and free from excessive special characters for the best results.

Optimizing your email subject lines’ length and punctuation usage can help you increase open rates. Consider incorporating emojis into your headlines as visual flair to maximize engagement further.

Key Takeaway: This article provides insight into the best practices for crafting email subject lines, emphasizing the importance of brevity and limited punctuation usage. It advises keeping headlines to a maximum of nine words and 60 characters to maximize open rates and avoiding excessive exclamation points or all caps that may come off as too promotional or aggressive. In short, it’s essential to keep your email subjects concise yet effective – don’t let them fall flat.

Puns and Humor in Subject Lines

Salespipe article on funny email subject lines

Using humour or puns in the subject line of your emails can effectively draw attention and foster a connection with recipients. A lighthearted approach makes your emails stand out in a crowded inbox and helps create a sense of connection with recipients through shared laughter. However, it’s essential to strike the right balance between being witty and maintaining professionalism.

Crafting Witty Subject Lines

To craft a humorous subject line that resonates with your audience, consider what aspects of your brand or industry lend themselves well to wordplay or jokes. Remember that humour should be relevant to the content within the email while remaining true to your brand voice.

For example, if you’re promoting a new product launch for pet owners, you might use a playful pun like “Paws-itively Exciting News.” instead of something unrelated like “You’ll Laugh Your Tail Off.”. You can also draw inspiration from successful examples used by other brands.

Balancing Humor with Professionalism

While the humour in email subject lines can help boost engagement rates, it’s crucial not to overdo it at the expense of appearing unprofessional. To maintain credibility and respect among subscribers:

Avoid offensive language or controversial topics that could alienate certain audience segments.
Ensure any jokes align with company values and target demographics’ sensibilities – consider conducting informal surveys among colleagues before sending out potentially risky content.
Mix humorous headlines alongside traditional ones so readers don’t become desensitized or perceive your brand as frivolous.

By strategically incorporating humour into your email subject lines, you can create a memorable and engaging experience for subscribers while maintaining your brand’s integrity.

Formulating jocular titles necessitates maintaining a professional attitude and going only a little. A/B testing is a great way to determine which email subject line type works best for your audience.

Key Takeaway: Employing puns and jests in email topic lines can be an efficient way to draw readers’ attention, provided that it’s not done excessively. Crafting witty headlines that align with your brand voice is key to success, so strike a balance between being funny and staying professional – otherwise, it could backfire.

A/B Testing for Email Subject Lines

Active Campaign Email Subject Line Testing

Testing different versions of a subject line on randomly selected parts of your subscribed audiences is an effective way to optimize email subject lines through A/B testing. This method allows you to analyze what works for your target audience by sending multiple subject line versions to randomly selected parts of your subscribed audiences.

Doing so lets you learn which appeals most to them and make data-driven decisions when crafting future subject lines.

Identifying Variables to Test

To begin with A/B testing, it’s crucial to identify the variables you want to test in your email subject lines. Some common factors include:

Length: Shorter vs. longer headlines
Tone: Formal vs. casual language
Punctuation: Use or omission of punctuation marks and emojis
Personalization: Including recipient names or other personalized elements

Consider experimenting with successful email subjects mentioned in this article, such as direct descriptions, trendy phrases, or informative headlines.

Analyzing Results and Implementing Improvements

Once you’ve conducted an A/B test on various aspects of your email subject lines, you must analyze the results carefully. Look at key performance indicators (KPIs) like open rates and click-through rates (CTR) for each version tested – higher numbers indicate better engagement from recipients.

In addition, tools like Mailchimpâ€™s built-in A/B Testing Campaign feature to provide detailed reports on how each variation performed across different segments within your subscriber list; use these insights to refine future strategies accordingly.

By understanding the variables that affect email subject lines, A/B testing can help businesses optimize their campaigns for maximum engagement. Moving on to context-specific campaigns, let’s explore how to craft effective emails tailored to customer appreciation and re-engagement efforts.

Context-Specific Campaigns

Wordstream's catchy headlines — Wordstream’s catchy headlines

For email marketing, the context of your campaigns is an essential factor to consider. Crafting subject lines that align with your campaign goals and audience expectations can significantly improve open rates and engagement.

In this section, we’ll discuss two common types of email campaigns – customer appreciation emails and reengagement campaigns – along with tips for creating compelling subject lines for each.

Customer Appreciation Email Subjects

Customer appreciation emails are an excellent opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality while celebrating milestones or expressing gratitude towards loyal customers. To create effective subject lines for these emails, focus on:

Celebratory tone: Use positive language that conveys excitement and makes recipients feel valued.
Personalization: Include the recipient’s name or a reference to their past interactions with your business (e.g., “Thank you, [Name], for being our top customer.”)
Actionable incentives: Offer exclusive deals or rewards as a token of appreciation (e.g., “You’ve earned a special discount – claim it now.”)

Reengagement Campaign Subject Lines

Email re-engagement campaigns aim to reconnect with subscribers who haven’t interacted with your content. To craft enticing subject lines that encourage them to take action, consider these strategies:

FOMO-inducing offers: Create urgency by offering limited-time promotions specifically designed for inactive subscribers (e.g., “Last chance: Exclusive offer just for you ends soon.”)
Nostalgia-triggering headlines: Remind recipients about what they loved about interacting with your brand initially (e.g., “Remember the good times? Let’s catch up.”)
Personalized content: Use data-driven insights to recommend products or services tailored to their preferences (e.g., “We miss you, [Name]. Check out these handpicked items just for you”)

Incorporating context-specific strategies into your email subject lines can help drive higher open rates and reengage customers effectively. To learn more about crafting compelling subject lines, check out Mailchimp’s guide on writing effective email subjects.

Context-Specific Campaigns can be a great way to target specific audiences and increase engagement. You can ensure that your campaigns effectively reach their intended audience by utilizing the best practices and tools for crafting compelling email subject lines.

Key Takeaway: This article provides strategies for crafting effective email subject lines, such as using celebratory language and personalization for customer appreciation emails or creating a sense of urgency with FOMO-inducing offers in re-engagement campaigns. With these tips, businesses can easily up their game when boosting open rates and engaging customers.

Tools for Crafting Compelling Email Subject Lines

To ensure you’re following best practices for crafting compelling email subject lines, utilizing tools that provide guidance based on open rate performance data is crucial.

By monitoring recent trends, you can inform your future strategies accordingly and create engaging subject lines that resonate with your audience.

Utilizing tools such as Mailchimp’s Subject Line Helper

Mailchimp, a popular email marketing platform, offers a useful tool called Subject Line Helper.

This feature analyzes the effectiveness of various subject line elements by comparing them against millions of emails sent through their platform. It provides real-time feedback on word choice, length, emojis usage, and personalization.

Active Campaign Email Subject Line Generator

Active Campaign also has a free email subject line generator. You choose a keyword category (from topic, pain point, and benefit) and enter a keyword phrase, and it will generate suggested subject lines.

These valuable resources will help you craft more effective subject lines tailored to your specific audience.

Regularly monitoring performance metrics

Besides using specialized tools like Mailchimp’s Subject Line Helper, it’s essential to monitor key performance metrics related to your email campaigns regularly.

Open rates are vital when assessing the success of different subject line styles or approaches since they directly measure how many recipients were enticed enough by the headline to view its content.

Average Open Rate: The percentage of subscribers who opened an individual campaign compared to the total number delivered.
List Growth Rate: A metric that measures how quickly your subscriber list grows over time; higher growth rates often indicate successful acquisition efforts driven partly by enticing headlines.
Email Click-Through Rate (CTR): The ratio between clicks within an email message and total opens; while not directly tied solely to subject lines’ effectiveness, higher CTRs suggest that recipients find the content valuable and engaging.

Regularly monitoring these metrics allows you to make data-driven decisions to optimize your email subject lines for maximum impact. The best practices may vary depending on factors like industry or audience demographics; therefore, staying informed about recent trends and continuously testing new approaches is essential.

Utilizing tools such as Mailchimp’s Subject Line Helper and regularly monitoring performance metrics when crafting compelling email subject lines is essential. Understanding the types of successful email subjects can help ensure your emails stand out.

Key Takeaway: It’s important to monitor performance metrics such as open rates, list growth rate, and click-through rate. This will help you craft more effective subject lines tailored to your audience for better results.

Types of Successful Email Subjects

It is essential to explore various approaches and styles of subject lines when engaging in email marketing to determine what works best with your target demographic. Here are three successful email subject categories that can help you craft compelling headlines:

Direct Descriptions

Direct descriptions in email subjects provide a clear and concise overview of the content within the message. These straightforward headlines leave no room for ambiguity, ensuring recipients know exactly what they’ll get by opening your email.

For example:

New eBook: “The Ultimate Guide to SEO for Small Businesses”
50% Off All Items – Today Only.
Your Monthly Newsletter Has Arrived.

Trendy Phrases

Creative or trendy phrases pique interest and encourage readers to explore further. By incorporating popular culture references or buzzwords into your subject lines, you create an instant connection with subscribers who share similar interests or values.

An excellent resource for staying up-to-date on trending topics is Google Trends; use this tool as inspiration when crafting catchy subject lines like these examples:

“Winter Is Coming: How To Prepare Your Business For The Holiday Season”(Game of Thrones reference).**
“Bringing New Life To Old Gym Equipment: What You Need to Know”
“Stand Out: Boost your productivity in just 5 minutes a day!”
“Financial Freedom is Possible: Discover the Secret to better financial management today.”
“Finding Purpose: Unlock the key to a happier and healthier lifestyle.”
“Career Boost: Get your dream job with these proven interview tips.”
“Vacation soon: Revolutionize your travel experience with these top-rated destinations.”

Industry Average Email Open Rates

Strategies around an email marketing campaign are essential for businesses to connect with their customers and leads.

One crucial aspect of email marketing is the email open rate, the percentage of recipients who open an email.

According to Campaign Monitor, an email marketing software company, the average open rate across all industries is around 22%.

However, specific industries such as government, non-profit, and religious organizations have much higher open rates. The ideal length of an email subject line varies across industries as well.

For instance, the technology industry usually aims for shorter subject lines to make them more appealing to prospects.

In comparison, other industries, such as healthcare and education, usually use longer subject lines to cover more information in the email. Understanding the average open rate and tailoring your email marketing strategy for better results is essential.

Investing in quality subject lines, relevant content, and segmenting your audience can increase open rates and better customer engagement.

Summary

The key to creating effective email subject lines is understanding your audience and testing different approaches. Employ action-oriented words, individualize the message, keep it concise and pleasant, pose queries in your subject line, and experiment with A/B testing to discover what works best for you.

With some practice and patience, you can create compelling emails with great subject lines that will help increase customer engagement.

By following these strategies for effective email subject lines, you’ll get more opens from potential customers.

Take control of your digital marketing success with our expert reviews, guides, and tips on the best email subject lines. Unlock more potential for your business today!

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get attention in the subject line of an email?

When crafting an email subject line, it is important to be direct and descriptive. Make sure the recipient knows what they can expect from opening your message. Utilize active phrases and convey urgency or importance, such as “Don’t Miss Out.” or “Act Now.”.

Avoid generic phrases like “Hello” or “Check This Out.” which don’t provide any useful information about the content of your message. Consider including numbers in your subject lines; research shows that emails with numerical values have higher open rates than those without.

Use personalization tactics whenever possible to ensure each recipient feels special and valued by you and your business.

What are the purposes of good email subject lines?

Good email subject lines should be concise, clear, and direct. They should quickly explain the content of the email in an interesting way that encourages recipients to open it. The best subject lines are also tailored to each recipient, as this helps increase engagement with your message.

Good subject lines can use keywords or phrases related to the topic of your email for better visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Emojis and other symbols can help draw attention from busy inboxes.

What subject lines make recipients think emails are just spam?

Subject lines that make recipients think emails are spam include phrases like “Free Money Now.”, “Act Now and Get Rich Quick.”, or any other offer of a quick fix. These subject lines often use exaggerated language to promise unrealistic results, making them seem too good to be true.

Overly generic terms such as “Important Message” can signal spam because it fails to capture the recipient’s attention engagingly.

Including symbols or excessive punctuation is another sign of potential spam email

Is email marketing important for a small business?

Absolutely! Email marketing is a powerful and cost-effective way for small businesses to reach customers and prospects. It allows you to engage with your target audience, nurture relationships, drive website traffic, and generate leads.

It allows you to build brand awareness through personalized content that speaks directly to each customer or prospect.

Email marketing is also a great way to stay in touch using an email marketing campaign with your current customers. Keep them informed about new products, promotions, or upcoming events. You can also use it to generate customer loyalty by providing incentives and rewards for repeat purchases or referrals.

What is a spam filter?

A spam filter is a program or service designed to detect and block unwanted emails (called “spam”) from entering your inbox.

Spam filters look for certain characteristics commonly found in spam emails, such as the presence of certain words or phrases, links to suspicious websites, and even patterns of formatting.

Does Mailchimp have a subject line limit?

It is recommended that the Mailchimp subject line character limit is no more than 9 words and 60 characters.

What email marketing platforms do you recommend?

For some of the best platforms, please read our 7 Best Mass Email Marketing Platforms article.

Email platforms include AWeber, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, and ConvertKit.