Did you know that 35% of email recipients will open an email based on subject line alone? (Source: Convince&Convert).

When implementing email marketing campaigns, the subject line is the one part you cannot afford to execute poorly.  If your emails aren’t getting opened your compelling content doesn’t matter.

So, before you hit send, keep these things in mind;

Keep it Short 

Why keep subject lines short? Mobile. Smart phones only display the first five or six words of a subject line. Shorter subject lines tend to capture mobile subscribers’ interest better.

Don’t BEE Clever. Be Clear.

People are not looking for surprises or entertainment and they don’t want their time to get wasted. The subject line should inform the recipients what they can expect from the email.  When the recipient knows what the email is about, they are more inclined to open it. So, instead of clever but vague lines, use ones that give specific information.

Make it Personal

In business, personal connections are everything. Use the pronoun “you”.  Make your contacts feel as though you are speaking directly to them in their inbox.  Adding personalization to your subject line adds to the feeling of a relationship between you and the recipient.

Ask Questions

Whenever we see any question our minds automatically start preparing answer for it. Using questions in your subject line will draw your readers towards you. Engage them by asking a question such as, “Do you want to get your emails opened?”

Don’t Shout

You don’t have to yell to get your point across. ALL CAPS IS SCREAMING THROUGH EMAIL.  This can be a major turn-off to your email recipients and quite possibly land you in the spam folder.

In conclusion, try and put yourself in the shoes of the recipients. Consider what subject lines make you discard an email without a second thought; avoid those at all costs. Be simple and be clear.