Crafting effective email subject lines for sales doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Understanding the importance of this small piece of text is key to getting people to open your emails, regardless of how good your content or offer may be. It’s crucial to ensure that your subject line is as compelling as the rest of your persuasive writing.
What Makes a Good Subject Line for a Sales Email?
While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for writing email subject lines, there are some tips that can help improve your open rates. Here are 5 essential steps:
1. Use Descriptive Language in Your Subject Lines
Research has shown that the best email subject lines for sales are typically between 36 and 50 characters in length. Short subject lines (1-15 characters) tend to underperform compared to longer ones. However, it’s important to avoid subject lines that exceed 70 characters as open rates may start to decline beyond that point.
Being too vague in your subject lines can deter recipients from opening your emails. It’s essential to strike a balance between being specific and providing enough information to entice readers. For example, longer subject lines with descriptive language can intrigue recipients without giving away too much upfront.
2. Maintain Proper Etiquette
Good email subject lines for sales should adhere to proper etiquette, especially when reaching out to prospects with cold pitches. Avoid using all caps or excessive punctuation marks, unless they serve a specific purpose like emphasizing a deadline. Emojis can also be effective in subject lines, but it’s important to use them judiciously to avoid negative impact on deliverability and open rates.
3. Avoid Making False Promises
Avoid making exaggerated claims in your subject lines unless you can substantiate them in the email content. It’s important to deliver on the promises made in your subject line to maintain trust with your audience. Using case studies and data to support your claims can help establish credibility and engage readers.
4. Conduct A/B Tests to Optimize Subject Lines
Continuous testing of your email subject lines can help improve open rates and overall email performance. A/B testing allows you to compare different subject lines to see which ones resonate better with your audience. Most email marketing services offer A/B testing tools, making it easy to experiment with different approaches.
5. Segment Your Audience for Personalized Content
Segmenting your email list based on user behavior and preferences can help you deliver more targeted and relevant content. By tailoring your emails to specific segments of your audience, you can increase engagement and drive better results from your email marketing efforts.
Understanding your audience’s needs is crucial, as each person visiting your website has unique requirements.
For instance, if you offer an SEO course, you may have buyers who are beginners in SEO and others who are agency owners seeking training material. Even though both groups are interested in the same course, their needs differ significantly, necessitating tailored pitches for each.
Newcomers to SEO may respond better to messaging showcasing how a student progressed from being a novice to earning a substantial online income. On the other hand, agency owners may prefer a case study demonstrating how the course helped a beginner SEO double traffic and conversions, leading to business growth.
Segmenting your audience based on factors like gender, age, location, and actions taken can also be beneficial. Research has shown that segmentation can boost revenue by up to 760%.
By understanding and catering to the specific needs of your audience, you can create more effective marketing strategies and improve your overall sales performance.
Here are some examples of how you can create urgency in your subject lines:
- Subject Line: Last Chance to Save 50% Off!
- Template: Last Chance to (action)!
- Subject Line: Limited Time Offer: Buy One Get One Free!
- Template: Limited Time Offer: (benefit)!
- Subject Line: Act Now Before It’s Too Late!
- Template: Act Now Before (event)!
- Subject Line: Don’t Miss Out on This Exclusive Deal!
- Template: Don’t Miss Out on This (benefit)!
Creating a sense of urgency in your subject lines can motivate your audience to take action quickly, increasing the chances of them engaging with your email content.
Email Subject Lines for Sales: 5 Steps to Better Open Rates, with 48 Templates
A study conducted in 2018 also highlighted the effectiveness of urgency as subjects consistently opted to complete less important tasks with a sense of urgency over more important ones.
While excessive urgency at the beginning of a sale may seem intrusive or off-putting, it can be a powerful way to conclude a nurturing sequence and prompt action.
- Subject Line: The free account you forgot to claim is being deleted
- Template: The free (offer) is being deleted
- Subject Line: You have until 11:59pm TONIGHT to sign up for Dream Job
- Template: You have until (time stamp) (DAY) to sign up for (product/service)
- Subject Line: $14,591 in one day — here’s how (Earnable closes tonight)
- Template: (Audience Goal) in one day — here’s how (product/service closes tonight)
- Subject Line: Seats are filling up extremely fast … only 21 spots left
- Template: (Openings) are filling up extremely fast … only X spots left
- Subject Line: Closing time (“Access All Of 2020” plan gone)
- Template: Closing time (“Access All Of (course)” gone)
10. State something controversial
If you’ve been following an expert for a while and their subject line contradicts their usual messaging, you’re likely intrigued to learn more.
This strategy is commonly used by TV producers and magazine editors to capture audience attention.
- Subject Line: SEO Is Dead
- Template: (Practice you’ve been teaching) Is Dead
- Subject Line: Why I Regret Investing in Live Events
- Template: Why I Regret Investing in (product/service you offer)
- Subject Line: Why I don’t create weekly content anymore …
- Template: Why I don’t (perform my service) anymore …
- Subject Line: We’re deleting our email list
- Template: We’re deleting (revenue driver)
Note: The offer was ultimately to sign up for messenger updates.
Most of these subject lines ultimately address a problem within a specific industry and demonstrate how your product or service can resolve it.
Try out one of these email subject lines for sales today
Remember, your email subject line can significantly impact the success of your email marketing efforts. Experiment with one of these templates to craft a compelling subject line.
If you don’t receive a response from a prospect, consider sending a follow-up email and testing logical versus emotional sequences.
Which of these email subject lines will you try first?
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