Best practices

10 Best Email Subject Lines

EmailLabs Team,  Published on: 29 August 2023, Modified on: 6 December 2024

Nowadays, the art of crafting the best email subject lines is a game-changer.

A well-crafted subject line can make all the difference between your email being opened and read or tossed into the dreaded spam folder. As such, mastering email subject line crafting is more critical than ever for anyone looking to communicate and engage with their target audience.

15 Tips to Keep Email Out of the Spam Folder

To help you excel in this area, we have compiled a list of the ten best email subject lines, each accompanied by insightful tips and tricks. They will help you grab your recipient’s attention and significantly boost open and response rates, leading to higher levels of success in your email marketing efforts.

 

email-subject-line

So, without further ado, let’s dive into our carefully curated list of the best email subject lines and uncover the secrets behind crafting attention-grabbing and response-boosting subject lines that will set your emails apart from the rest.

Maximize your email deliverability and security with EmailLabs!

Personalized Email Subject Lines

A personalized subject line has the power to speak directly to your target audience, making each individual feel valued and important. This personal touch can greatly enhance the connection between the sender and recipient. It can result in higher engagement levels and a stronger rapport.

 

source: Experian

 

In other words, crafting personalized subject lines helps forge stronger connections with your target audience, increasing engagement and improving overall results for your email marketing campaigns.

By incorporating relevant information, such as the recipient’s name, location, or even their interests, you can create subject lines that truly resonate with your audience and pique their curiosity.

For example, consider the impact of a message that begins with “Hi [Name], we have a special offer just for you!

 

Babel uses not only the user's name in its communications, but also the fact that the user has had an account with Babel for more than three years.

Babel uses not only the user’s name in its communications but also the fact that the user has had an account with Babel for more than three years.

This simple yet powerful introduction demonstrates the sender has taken the time to personalize the email. It also acknowledges the recipient as an individual rather than just another faceless email address in a mass mailing list. The result is a subject line that feels exclusive and inviting.

This simple yet powerful introduction demonstrates the sender has taken the time to personalize the email. It also acknowledges the recipient as an individual rather than just another faceless email address in a mass mailing list. The result is a subject line that feels exclusive and inviting.

 

Another approach to personalization is tailoring your subject line to specific locations or events.

For instance, offering an “Exclusive deal for our [City] customers!” not only catches the eye of recipients from that particular city but also makes them feel like they are part of a select group receiving a unique opportunity. This targeted approach can significantly increase open rates, as recipients are more likely to engage with emails that appear relevant and beneficial to their lives.

 

Source: optinmonster.com

Funny Email Subject Lines

Humor is undoubtedly a powerful tool when it comes to engaging your audience. It has the unique ability to break down barriers, making your email more approachable and appealing compared to the standard marketing messages that relentlessly flood our inboxes.

Funny subject lines, when executed correctly, can evoke a sense of curiosity and amusement, encouraging recipients to open your email and explore its contents further.

However, incorporating humor into your email subject lines should be done with caution. It’s crucial to ensure your brand voice is well-suited for incorporating humorous elements, and the jokes or witty remarks will not offend or alienate anyone within your diverse audience.

Striking the right balance between being funny and staying true to your brand’s identity can be challenging but yields great rewards when accomplished.

Here are two examples of funny email subject lines that successfully walk this fine line:

All these toys and you had to step on a Lego?

This subject line is universally relatable and lighthearted, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of audiences. If you run an e-commerce website selling toys, leveraging a well-known brand from this niche, like Lego, is a fantastic way to craft a compelling subject line.

How to survive a passive-aggressive sticky note war

This example plays off a common workplace scenario with a humorous twist, piquing the interest of recipients who are likely familiar with similar situations. This simple subject line shows that you’re aware of the intricacies of day-to-day work in the office.

 

The title Really Good Emails, through a word game, encourages people to change their habits and decide to positively ruin their existing plans.

Cold Email Subject Lines

Cold emails often face an uphill battle, as they are typically unsolicited messages from unknown sources. This factor can lead to recipients viewing them with skepticism or even outright dismissal.

Nevertheless, if crafted carefully, cold emails can still be a highly effective means of initiating contact and building relationships. One crucial aspect of achieving success with them is the use of compelling subject lines that raise curiosity without coming across as overly salesy or pushy.

A well-crafted subject line for a cold email should spark interest and encourage the recipient to open the message. Remember, the primary goal of a cold email subject line is not to sell but to capture attention and begin a conversation.

Consider the following examples of compelling cold email subject lines:

I noticed something interesting about your website

This catchy email subject line intrigues the recipient by hinting at an observation or insight related to their online presence. It suggests that you have taken the time to research their business and have valuable information to share, making it more likely they will open your email to learn more.

Ideas to improve your sales process

Here, the subject line directly addresses a key pain point for many businesses — increasing sales efficiency. By offering solutions or suggestions on how to enhance their sales process, you demonstrate your expertise in the field and provide a reason for the recipient to engage with your message.

Ultimately, when crafting cold email subject lines, remember to focus on creating genuine interest and curiosity. This way, you will stand a higher chance of overcoming skepticism, capturing your recipient’s attention, and laying the foundation for a successful interaction.

 

H&M is going for a simple title that will attract the attention of those interested in the latest fashion trends.

Sales Email Subject Lines

For sales teams, writing email subject lines that effectively communicate value without using any words that may trigger spam filters is of paramount importance.

Striking the right balance between promoting your product or service and avoiding the dreaded spam folder can be a delicate task. Regardless, it’s crucial to ensure your message reaches its intended recipients.

Avoid spam words like “free,” “instant,” and “limited-time offer.” These phrases may seem enticing at first glance. Yet, they are more likely to land your email in the spam folder than in front of your target audience.

 

TooFaced makes it clear that their proposed price cut is coming to an end. If customers want to take advantage of the offer, they need to hurry.

 

Instead, focus on highlighting the benefits your product or service can provide in a concise and engaging manner. This approach will improve the chances of your email being opened and read. Besides, it allows you to convey the value that your offering brings to potential customers.

Consider these sales email subject line examples as inspiration:

Unlock 20% more productivity with our tool

The secret to boosting your conversion rates

By crafting catchy email subject lines that emphasize the benefits and value of your product or service, you’ll gain much-needed attention without raising red flags for spam filters. In doing so, you’ll increase the likelihood of your email being opened and read, resulting in a positive response from potential customers.

Maximize your email deliverability and security with EmailLabs!

Newsletter Subject Lines

Newsletters play a pivotal role in marketing campaigns, serving as an essential tool for keeping your audience informed, engaged, and connected with your brand. Nevertheless, they can quickly become monotonous and lose their appeal.

8 Must-Open Email Newsletter Examples to Learn From

To keep your audience engaged with your newsletters, you should start writing subject lines that offer a sneak peek into the content while remaining concise and enticing.

A great subject line will encourage the recipient to open and explore the newsletter further. It will lead to increased open rates and stronger connections with your audience.

 

At EmailLabs, we use simple titles. This way you know right away what is waiting for you in the message.

 

Consider the following great examples of newsletter subject lines that successfully achieve this goal:

Our top 5 blog posts you can’t miss this month

This subject line entices readers by promising an exclusive selection of must-read content, instantly creating a sense of value and urgency. It follows the essential rules of crafting good email subject lines by informing and encouraging action at the same time.

 

Although Jasper does not report on recent blog posts, it fits very well with the example cited above. Instead of presenting recently published educational content, he chose to present ways for customers to use his services.

 

The latest trends in [industry]: Your monthly roundup

By offering an overview of current trends in the reader’s industry, this subject line captures interest by demonstrating its relevance and timeliness.

 

H&M is again going for a simple title that immediately suggests that the brand is presenting the latest clothing offerings for the upcoming season.

 

Final Thoughts

The best subject lines captivate your audience, encourage them to open your message, and lead them to take action. By incorporating personalization, humor, specificity, value-driven messaging, and enticing newsletter subject lines into your email marketing efforts, you’ll be well on your way to achieving higher open rates and overall success.

Remember to keep subject lines short and sweet (especially for mobile devices), avoid spam trigger words, and always test different subject lines to see what works best for your specific target audience.

 

With these tips in mind, you’ll be crafting great email subject lines in no time!

Additionally, don’t hesitate to contact us to learn how we can help you. Whether you want to send transactional or marketing emails, our team at EmailLabs is up to the task, providing you with a fast and secure service that:

  • increases your mail deliverability,
  • maximizes your delivery speed,
  • includes real-time performance monitoring,
  • secures your email communication with robust authentications,
  • and more!

Create an account with EmailLabs today

Increase the deliverability of your newsletters and effectively reach your users!

Most popular

Latest blog posts