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How to Craft the Perfect Email Marketing Subject Line

Are you doing email marketing?

If so, niiiiice.

If not, c’mon man!

You’re doing yourself a disservice, a massive one, if you haven’t got your business on the email train. 

Like, honestly, how many times a day do you check your email? Unless you’re some kind of highly disciplined Zen master, you probably check it more than you care to admit. Don’t pretend like you don’t either. The smart guys over at Harvard Business Review told us that professionals check their email fifteen (15!) times per day. Every 37 minutes.

People are peeking into that inbox constantly. Are you showing up there when they look? More importantly, are your email marketing subject lines convincing them to click?

What Is Email Marketing for A Business?

Email marketing should be a priority for your business and there are basically no exceptions for any industry. For starters, 90% of people 15 and older use email in the United States and the vast majority of them check it daily. Multiple times in fact as we mentioned before.

It’s also an absolute ROI monster. We’re talking about an expected return on investment of about $40 for every $1 you spend. It’s bonkers. Email marketing is by far one of the most effective options for maximizing ROI.

It may feel “old school” but at the end of the day, you don’t necessarily need all the fancy bells and whistles, the most cutting-edge tech or be on every social network to nail your marketing.

The only question is, how do you give your emails the best shot of actually getting opened? 

Effective Email Marketing Subject Lines

The best-laid plans don’t work so well if no one is opening the damn thing which is why effective email marketing subject lines are clutch. 

Here’s a crash course in getting it done and getting it done right:

Short and Sweet – Seriously, you don’t have much space and you don’t want your line cut off. Brevity is key and remember, 46% of people check email from their phone where the subject line gets even fewer characters before being cut off. Keep it less than 30 characters.

Peak Curiosity – Give them a reason to wonder. Have you considered making the subject line a question? Or a statement!

Humor – Funny is always good, if you can slide in a quick pun, do it.

Offers – Who doesn’t love a good offer, amiright? Make ‘em an offer they can’t refuse, capisce?

Highly Topical and Relevant – If you know your audience, speak directly to what’s relevant and in the moment for them.

Personalize – All reputable email campaign software allows you to personalize the subject line with the recipient’s name.

Make the Sender Name Recognizable – This will most likely be something related to your brand or company name, however, make it recognizable and easy to quickly grasp. If it’s a daily deal offer, for example, you can make the sender “XYZ Daily Deals” where “XYZ” is your brand. 

Action Words – Use verbiage that is active and urgent.

Don’t Forget About Preview Text! – This doesn’t relate to the subject necessarily but it’s something people will see before they open the email so we can address it here. Since the first bit of text shows up as a preview in the inbox you technically have a little more runway to work with to catch your recipient’s attention. So, make sure those first lines of your email are fuego.

The Snow Agency Are Masters at Email Marketing

Here’s the long and short of it, you can have pitch-perfect copy in the body, amazing insights or killer deals but if you don’t take the time to focus on the subject line, it’ll be straight to the trash with your email. It’s imperative you nail the subject line. If you’re having trouble getting that real estate right, reach out to us at The Snow Agency, we’re masters at the art of the subject line and we’re here to help.