"URGENT: READ THESE EMAILING TIPS TO SUCCEED IN YOUR COMMUNICATION!!!"
You’ve probably already received emails with subject lines like this. And without a doubt, you’ve 1: rolled your eyes, 2: sighed deeply, and 3: immediately moved that email to your trash. A completely normal reaction, especially when faced with the influx of emails that look like spam!
To avoid such an experience for your recipients and get them interested in reading your message, it’s essential to know how to write an attention-grabbing email subject. That is, a short, impactful text that sparks interest in the message’s content.
Here are our 20 tips for crafting an effective email subject that contributes to successful business communication. And of course, a list of subject line examples to spark your creativity!
A double question, designed to define the email subject but also to invite you to think about what you want to communicate.
This brings us to the second aspect of the question: to choose your email subject, you must first define your intention. Do you want to convey information? Make contact? Prospect to potential clients? After identifying the goal of your email, you can start drafting it following our tips below!
Sometimes, we forget—whether intentionally or not—to add a subject to our email. Whether it's laziness or a complete oversight, this little mistake can significantly impact your communication. If your recipients can’t get at least an idea of the content of your message, they will be less likely to open the email!
Not to mention that email service algorithms aren’t particularly fond of emails without a subject. They tend to consider them as spam...
So, the email subject: essential and indispensable for successful communication!
We can already hear you saying: “But why spend time on the subject when I still have an entire email to write?!” Answer: because the subject does 50% of the communication work. Alright, maybe we’re exaggerating a little. But we can at least point out two good reasons to carefully consider this seemingly trivial title...
First, your email subject gives a first impression of your brand. Its tone, phrasing, and style are all elements that convey your branding. It helps you stand out with communication that reflects your identity.
By creating an original and memorable email subject, you send a strong brand image to your recipients. They are more likely to remember you and your company. In the process, you also stand out from competitors with more generic or flat communications.
More generally, with a well-constructed subject, your email will be more likely to "catch the eye" of your recipient, whose inbox is likely already overwhelmed. By the way, did you know that an average user receives about 120 emails per day in their professional inbox?
So, the email subject is a small but powerful ally to get noticed in the virtual ocean of emails. Just like a professional email signature, in fact!
Crafting a good subject also helps increase the open rate of your emails. A subject that creates intrigue or evokes a particular emotion (other than annoyance!) will have a better chance of encouraging the recipient to open the email.
And we don’t need to tell you: the higher your open rate, the more likely your email campaign is to achieve its goal, whether it’s selling a product, expanding your network, or promoting your company.
Do you remember the particularly irritating subject that introduced this article? Well, that’s exactly the kind of subject you should avoid. This type of title, which gives the impression of a phishing attempt, simply doesn’t invite the recipient to open the email.
Creating an attractive email subject is primarily about considering the human being receiving your message and leveraging various strategies to spark their interest. As you’ll see, the emotional lever is particularly effective: we focus, therefore, on urgency or curiosity!
Let’s dive into the heart of the matter! Here are our 20 tips for crafting an appealing email subject. Apply these tactics, and your email campaign will be a great success.
Do you want to convey specific information, or establish initial contact, for example? Once you’ve determined the “purpose” and central idea of your email, note down 10 keywords that summarize it best. Then, select 1 to 3 of those keywords to insert into your subject.
In their busy day, your recipients are likely to skim through their inbox at lightning speed. Short and easy-to-understand subjects will have a better chance of standing out.
Moreover, long subjects are often cut off by email services, especially on mobile devices. A length of 50 to 70 characters is ideal to ensure the entire subject appears.
Finally, if your email is part of a regular strategy like a newsletter, there’s no need to include the word "Newsletter" in the subject. Don’t hesitate to dive straight into the topic of the day to grab the reader's attention.
Your subject should encourage your recipient to quickly open the email by creating anticipation or a sense of urgency.
For example, if your email campaign is about a ski resort, a subject like "Hit the best slopes" will be more impactful than "The best ski slopes." The verb "Hit" immediately evokes a striking image: your recipient can already imagine themselves skiing down a beautiful red slope, wind in their hair...
Imagine receiving a passionate love letter without knowing the author. You appreciate the idea of a secret admirer, but you also feel frustrated not being able to respond! You might even feel a bit uncomfortable knowing that a stranger is sending you impromptu letters...
Recipients prefer to know who’s writing to them; they feel more involved when they read a person's name rather than a brand name.
For your recipient to open your email, they must feel involved in what they’re reading.
By adding a personal touch, your recipient feels a sense of closeness, which reassures them and encourages them to interact with your content.
Certain words have a knack for evoking negative emotions like irritation, mistrust, or discouragement!
In short, you’ve understood: just one word can completely ruin your email campaign due to its emotional effect.
To increase your chances of your subject leading to the email opening, avoid the following terms:
In addition to certain words, an overuse of special characters can also cause your email to disappear into the virtual void. If misused or overused, these symbols can create mistrust with your recipients and cause your email to be considered spam by the email service.
Also, beware of false promises! The last thing you want with your email subject is to create disappointment. A subject that "lies" about the content of the email can lead to a loss of credibility or trust with your audience.
The subject plays on the curiosity of the recipient, the need to understand a given topic, or the desire to find a solution to their problems. Thus, a subject like "Do you really know how to make a good ratatouille?" will be more effective than "Here’s how to make a good ratatouille."
The question also creates inclusion: the reader feels involved because we are directly addressing them, inviting them to share their experience or opinion. The affirmative form, on the other hand, is more closed and takes the reader less into consideration.
You may have already understood: one of the most powerful levers for creating a good email subject is the emotional lever.
Attention: make sure to choose your words carefully and emphasize the positive, so as not to discourage, frighten, or paralyze your recipient. For example, instead of saying "Adopt this diet to prevent cancer," prefer "Adopt this diet to stay in great shape."
Email subjects that contain numbers are more likely to be opened than those without, for 3 reasons.
You can include a number for a list, a ranking, a statistic, or an offer.
Don’t be afraid to choose a subject that steps outside the box, such as using mystery. A subject like "You won’t believe your eyes" will spark intrigue and make your recipient want to know more.
Tip: brainstorm your most original ideas on paper, without holding back. Then, select the ones that best align with your communication.
As mentioned earlier, your recipient must feel that a real person is addressing them when reading your subject.
To inject humanity into your subject, you can use a confidential tone, suggesting that you will share a personal anecdote. A subject like "I’ve got something to tell you" emphasizes the experience, and even the vulnerability of the person writing the email. This sparks trust and curiosity—two key ingredients for your recipient to click "Open"!
Show your recipient that you're thinking of them: email wishes, for example, will be much appreciated!
These small icons have the ability to visually communicate an idea, emotion, or concept in the blink of an eye. A big advantage for the subject line, which needs to be short and effectively convey the overall idea of the email!
However, be careful: a good balance is key. Besides taking up unnecessary space, a chain of emojis may give the impression of a lack of seriousness on your part. So yes to the smiley, but sparingly. ;)
Your recipients like to feel included! This is what encourages them to engage with your communication and, more broadly, with your brand.
For example, make references to current events, a particular interest of your reader, or a cultural item like a movie or a book. This reference will immediately speak to your recipient, who, in addition to feeling included, will want to click to learn more about the topic that interests them.
This tactic doesn't directly relate to the subject line, but it's essential for giving it a better chance of grabbing your recipient's attention.
In general, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. is the beginning of the workday for many professionals, making it a good time to send emails. It's when the mind is most alert and attention is sharpest.
Your recipients are unique, and their interests vary.
You can also use a segmentation tactic for your contact lists. The criteria used include interests, geographical area, or the usual level of engagement your contacts have with your communications.
In most email software, the preview text is automatically written. However, it is possible to decide for yourself what preview will appear in the header when the email is received.
Puns, iconic lines from a comedy, or self-deprecating humor—it's up to you to choose the humorous subject that aligns best with your branding!
After all this hard work, it would be a shame if the clicks didn't come.
These tests help you gather information about your audience's preferences and habits regarding email reception, whether it's the subject line length, wording, or tone (interrogative, declarative, etc.).
Ready to create your subject line? Here are our examples of impactful email subjects based on different objectives!
There are countless ways to communicate information! The key is finding a catchy and fun approach, such as:
Is your email campaign aimed at attracting new clients? Here are our best subject line examples for a prospecting email:
If your goal is to build a connection, especially in your industry, here are some ideas to inspire you:
You sent an email that got no response? No worries! Here are some subject line examples to follow up with your recipient:
If your goal is to find an internship at a company you're interested in, crafting an attractive subject is always a plus. Here are some suggestions:
Accompany the sending of your professional, personal, and marketing documents with a subject that stands out, such as:
For relaxed exchanges with your friends, colleagues, or clients, here are some examples of friendly subject lines:
You're not at the office or can't respond to your emails? Check out these examples of out-of-office email subjects:
To go further, also check out our article on examples of out-of-office messages.
Here are some email subjects to encourage your friends and prospects to check in with you:
Whether you're using Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo, adding a subject is incredibly simple. Just enter it in the designated "Subject" field located above the email composition window. Once this step is done, you can move on to the body of the message!
Now you know all the keys to creating a subject line that dazzles! For your communication, why not also create your own professional email signature?
.svg){kind=small}
