Here are seven tips from TMW content editor Claire
Bussey for strong, engaging subject lines that encourage
people to open your emails:
1. Be specific
If you bumped into someone you know on the street and they said
"My weekly news!" or "Latest alert!" - you'd be unlikely to stop
and chat. In fact, you'd probably walk quickly in the other
direction. But how about if they said "What are you doing for New
Year's Eve?", "We finally finished the kitchen!" or "Fancy trying
that new pub on the high street?"
You need to instantly engage people. This means avoiding vague
subject lines that tell the reader nothing about the content of the
email. Yours is one of many emails that your customers receive on
any given day. If you don't interest them from the get-go, they
won't stop to listen.
2. Add context
No matter how big your brand, people are not sat waiting for
your newsletter. Yet subject lines like these pop up every
day:
- June's newsletter
- Weekly alert 9 May
- Offers of the week
Try a more enticing subject line, like these ones from Emerald
Street that suggest the content is bite-sized
and interesting:
- Five French films everyone should see
- The best of independent breweries
Avoid unhelpful subject lines like this one from TfL
:
This email was about how London's transport network will be
affected by the Olympics. Pretty important stuff for anyone living
in the capital. TfL could achieve a higher open rate with this more
specific - and more personal - subject line:
- Will the Olympics affect your travel?
3. Front-load key information
With subject lines, as with all online content, key messages
need to come first. In this way, you cater for people who are
skim-reading their inbox in a hurry. Some newsletters have strong
subject lines but, because they begin with the name of the email
newsletter, the lines lose their punch. This also makes them
unscannable in a crowded inbox.
4. Make your 'Sender' line work in harmony
If your name is already in your 'Sender' line, you don't need to
repeat it in your subject line. Your customer already knows who you
are, so repeating your name is a waste of precious words.
5. Remember smartphones
Space is even more of a premium on smartphones so key messages
need to be conveyed in the first 5-6 words. The subject line for a
Debenhams email appears as:
- Don't miss our deal of the day…
Rather vague, isn't it? How do I know whether to open? The full
subject line is "Don't miss our deal of the day… 15% off women's
clothing" - a pretty decent deal, but on a smartphone the key
information is lost. A quick fix for this would be to swap the
subject line around:
- 15% off women's clothing: don't miss our deal of the day
6. Be topical
This will help you stand out in a crowded inbox. With holiday
bookings up by as much as 60% thanks to the recent bad weather,
this easyJet subject line ticks all the boxes for me:
- Escape the rain - holiday deals from £145
7. Test, test, test
Split testing subject lines on a regular basis is the best way
to find out what works well for your audience.
NOTES: Ref for holiday stat:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/25/flood-warnings-hit-south-england