How To Create An Effective Email Subject Line

Email marketing can be extremely effective when done correctly, but you need to make sure that your messages stand out from the crowd. Every single day billions of emails are sent out and consumers are flooded with special offers, newsletters, and spam. Most emails are deleted without even being opened, so what can you do to make sure that your efforts are not wasted? There are several mistakes responsible for poor email marketing performance, but before you even worry about those you need to create catchy titles that will result in a high open rate. The other stuff doesn’t matter if your emails aren’t even being opened.

Imagine the average email inbox. It is packed full of advertisements, spam, genuine communication, and lead follow up emails. You need to create email subject lines that stand out and command the attention of the recipient. Think about your own email inbox for a moment. How many emails do you receive daily that you simply delete without even opening?

Here are some suggestions to help you create subject lines that will result in a higher email open rate.

Include Your Brand in the Email Subject Line

You will achieve a much higher open rate if your use your brand name in the subject line. A consumer is much more likely to open an email if they know who it is from. If your subscriber has signed up for your marketing list they are expecting your emails. Our marketing newsletter is a double opt-in, so our subscribers are aware that it will be in their inbox every week. We include our company name in the subject line to bring immediate attention and get that high open rate week after week.

Include a CTA Emphasizing Value

An effective subject line will also let the individual know what they get out of opening your email. What do they get out of opening your email? Is your email a special offer? Does it include a discount coupon? Is it a newsletter? Let the recipient know by including a call-to-action in the email subject that explains the value and why they should open your email. You will also need email marketing calls-to-action that drive website traffic within your email copy as well.

Use Your Space Wisely

You are limited to a very small space for your email subject, so it is important that you don’t clutter your subject line with useless words and phrases. Every single character in your email subject line needs to provide value, and work to help deliver the message and generate an open. Read your title back and put yourself in the shoes of the recipient again. Does your title get right to the point and encourage an open? If not you need to adjust your wording and eliminate the fluff.

Short & Sweet Titles

As mentioned above, space is short, but that doesn’t mean you need to use it all. The average person is going to open their email and scan their inbox to see if there is anything important that they need to address. During their scan you want them to notice your email. A short title is easy to read immediately and it will stand out in a sea of email spam and offers with longer titles. Also, with so many people using tablet and mobile devices to access their email you want to make sure that your title is fully displayed on all devices to generate a high open rate.

Don’t Demand an Action

How many times have you seen an email that has a subject containing phrases such as, “Open now,” “Your response required” or similar demanding titles? Any email subject that comes off as pushy or forceful is going to end up in the trash without being opened. You want to encourage an open, not demand it.

Value Your Recipients Time

Your email isn’t the only one in an inbox. The average person will scan an email first, rather than reading it fully. Your recipient should know what your email is about just by reading the title. Use it as a way to summarize the email. If the title does a good job at explaining what the email is about there is a better chance that they will read the email body fully and not just skim it over.

Use these tips to make sure that your email stands out and receives opens, rather than a single click to the trash. If consumers took the time to go through and read every email they received it would take up their entire day. Also, put yourself in the shoes of the consumer and read every email subject that you compose. Would you open it if it landed in your inbox? Be your own critic and watch your open rates rise!

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1iChWxj