Your 60-character email subject line can stop spam and boost open rates, clicks, and CTA conversions. Make it count! The success of your cold email subject line hinges on open rates, click rates, and CTA conversions.
75% of marketers believe personalization can provide you with higher click-through rates. Did you know you can personalize your subject lines as well?
Not just subject line personalization but there is way more you can do for high email opening.
Want to get your subject line right?
Here are tried and tested best cold email subject line examples that will get prospects to click.
Use them to overcome poor open rates and craft the best subject lines that create curiosity and grab instant attention.
53 Subject Lines For Effective Cold Email Marketing
Around 70% of cold emails are labeled as spam due to ineffective cold email subject lines. Trust me, it is one of the simplest ways to make your prospects open the email.
Here are catchy email subject lines for your next successful email campaign!
Personalized Cold Email Subjects Lines
A smart approach is to include your prospect’s name in the subject line for personalization. This is because people are more likely to respond to an email that seems explicitly crafted for them.
Use a cold email subject line that treats the receiver as a unique individual rather than someone on a random mailing list. Here is how to do it.
- “A new HR strategy for ABC Corporation.”
A specificity for the benefit, like in this subject line, will instantly hook the recipient. For greater impact, you can include the company’s name when selling it to a business.
- “James, your insights on digital marketing were spot on.”
A personalized email subject line like this reflects the prospect’s achievement or interest. Including things beyond names, this way makes the subject line more attention-grabbing.
This Reddit user, who is a B2B SaaS professional, believes the same. So, you could, too, include your prospect name for higher open rates.
However, let’s not confuse personalization with relevancy. We are not talking about the need for a weak or generic personalization that simply includes the name.
As Royal_Introduction33 on Reddit rightly pointed out, the goal is to convey that you know more than just their names.
Research plays an integral role here. Mentioning their book, specific interest, or achievement strengthens the personalization.
Cold Email Subject Lines That Are Questions
Including proactive questions in the subject lines invokes the reader to click and respond. As humans, we have an urge to know the answer upon seeing a question.
You can add questions like these in your email subject lines for higher response rates.
- “Quick question regarding proposal pushers (project).”
Doing this instantly puts the recipient in an expert position while hinting that you value their time. It makes a person feel valuable, and they are more likely to help you.
- “Are you prepared for the latest tax updates, Lisa?”
It is true that questions in email subject lines provoke answers. But including names along with a question will indeed make your email stand out in the crowded inbox.
So, include a question like this to pave the way for an engaging conversation.
Cold Email Subject Lines Providing Value
Have you heard about the power of reciprocity?
It states that we are more obligated to repay when we are provided with something. This universal social rule promotes exchanging for mutual benefits.
Have you ever thought of applying this to your subject lines and generating higher responses? Let’s discuss how you can do this.
- “Save 15 hours on reporting monthly with this.”
Highlight a benefit and convey immediate value to your prospects. What does this do?
This encourages your recipients to open the mail faster.
- “ Tips to increase sales during tough times.”
Provide instant value like this to be relevant. However, ensure you are providing the values mentioned in the subject line of your email content for conversion.
Providing value is indeed one of the most crucial email open-rate strategies. But did you know it works for subject lines as well?
We do agree with this Reddit user on how a quality subject line providing value can improve conversions.
Cold Email Subject Lines Addressing Pain Points
Mentioning a pain point in your email subject line prompts the recipient to look for solutions. This technique can increase your email marketing effectiveness.
- “Eliminate guesswork while tracking marketing campaigns today.”
Guesswork is the pain point you are focusing on. Being direct and using words like ‘today’ creates a sense of urgency, increasing the chances of a response.
- “Have you solved your challenge yet?”
This is an excellent subject line to use if you know your prospect hasn’t solved their pain point. Even if they have, there is a chance of a simple yes from them, making you jump toward your next target.
Best Email Subject Lines After No Response
It’s not a great feeling to not receive a response to your emails. But remember, it does not end here. It takes about seven touches to close a sales cycle, so a follow-up email is a must.
The goal of a follow-up email subject line is to grab attention without being pushy.
- “Closing the pilot training on Friday, reaching out once more.”
An important thing to remember while being persistent with emails is not to annoy recipients. Using the above subject line is a good last try, it can encourage a response.
- “Reaching out once more.”
This clearly indicates you are reaching someone again; it can compel a prospect who was busy earlier to respond.
Subject Lines That Create FOMO
Fear of missing out, or FOMO, is a popular millennial term that makes you realize you are not experiencing something you should. No one likes the feeling of being left out or missing anything.
A subject line creating FOMO can quickly ignite a response.
- “Limited seats left for the exclusive seminar.”
This cold email subject line creates a sense of urgency. A short subject line prompts the prospect to open the email and read it. Use this tactic, as the recipient will capitalize on the opportunity to prevent FOMO.
- “Organizations are saving big with this product.”
Organizations are saving a lot of money, and you aren’t. Recipients can’t help but click on it out of FOMO. More importantly, when it’s about saving money, the click becomes irresistible.
Email Subject Line Examples for Meeting Requests
“Can we meet on Wednesday for 15 minutes?” If you are writing like this, you are going to sound just like everyone else.
Instead, you can pique their interest first and schedule a meeting later.
- “Want to exchange objectives on the G2 summit?”
What makes it different? You are catching their attention on something they are already interested in. It is brief, on-point, and yet open-ended.
- “Let’s sit and discuss next quarter’s goals?”
Use this when your recipient is expecting a meeting. Why does it work?
It highlights that business leaders are often busy with daily tasks but are always seeking growth opportunities and planning for the future.
Follow-Up Email Subject Lines
John Barrows, CEO at SellBetter by JB Sales, suggests the best way to write a follow-up email subject line is to reiterate value without being salesy or pushy. Ensure you respect their needs and time and have value to offer.
- “Your competitors are doing this to stay ahead.”
This line highlights a common problem, sparks curiosity about how others are solving it, and appeals to competitive instincts. Does it sound like an ideal follow-up cold email subject line? You bet!
- “John, I thought you would like this content.”
Use prospect names in the subject line and provide relevant content in the email body. This approach can help re-engage unresponsive prospects.
Cold Email Subject Lines Using Social Proof
Mentioning how someone dealt with a certain challenge similar to yours can promote engagement. When others are doing the same thing, we tend to believe it is right. Hence, social proof becomes one of the most powerful behavior drivers.
- “How X Business this product to turn their business around.”
Mention one of your top clients. This will show your prospect that if this client uses your product and sees great results, they can, too.
- “Check why 1,000 customers trust our cybersecurity solutions.”
Using social proof elements like this will create curiosity. The recipient will have to click and read further to know how and why to increase your open rates.
Best Email Subject Lines Generating Curiosity
The main purpose of a subject line is to make the reader open the email and prompt them to take action. One effective method to do so is to spark curiosity.
How?
Avoid revealing everything in your email subject line. Encourage them to open the email to find out more, then captivate them with a compelling message.
- “Discover what’s achievable with X.”
Don’t give all the details right away. If you reveal too much, people might think they don’t need to read further. Use cliffhangers to increase email opens, but resolve them early in your message to keep readers engaged.
- “Want to know what’s the secret ingredient to our success?”
This example shows how to spark curiosity and engage readers with your subject line. Using hints or compelling questions encourages the recipient to open the email to find out more.
“Anything that interests your audience would serve as a great subject line!” says Lunar_Badguy, and we can’t help but agree. Mixing curiosity with controversy or trendy topics can work well.
Subject Lines With A Touch of Humor
Using humor in your cold email subject lines grabs attention and sets your message apart. Funny lines lighten the tone, making your email memorable and increasing the chances of a positive response.
- “Why did the salesmen get off the trampoline? He was worried about his monthly target.”
Here is an example of a funny subject line that can be used by a sales software brand. Ensure the joke fits your target prospects to strike the right chords.
- “You deserve a break (and a discount)!”
Sometimes, the most effective emails are the ones that surprise. A funny line or random thought like the one above can make someone curious enough to open your message. This approach is especially useful when you don’t have much information on your recipient.
Best Subject Lines For Cold Emails With Competitor’s Name
Another strategic move is to add a competitor’s name in the subject line. The comparison draws instant attention and sparks interest.
- “What does X have that you don’t?”
This strategy, commonly used in best B2B cold email subject lines, sparks curiosity. It is about what your email could offer in terms of advantages or insights over a well-known competitor.
- “Want to take your sales game ahead of X?”
A subject line like this immediately makes your recipient want to learn more. It taps into a competitive spirit in your favor.
Controversial Subject Lines For Cold Emails
Controversy is riskier than using humor, but it can be a powerful tool for marketing and PR when handled carefully. Media frequently employs controversial headlines to attract attention and increase engagement. Marketers can also adopt this strategy to provoke responses from their audience.
- “Is traditional marketing dead? The answer will shock you!”
It boldly suggests that traditional marketing might be ineffective, which can stir up strong opinions. The phrase “the answer will shock you!” also adds an element of intrigue, compelling recipients to open the email to find out what’s inside.
- “Pet training best practices need a redo: Know Why”
The phrase “Need a redo” implies that there’s a significant need for change or improvement. It provokes those who advocate for established training techniques.
Tips To Write Catchy Cold Email Subject Lines
A little creativity is a must when writing a catchy cold email subject line. Then, there comes intent, tone, and powerful words that make your subject line stand apart from the rest.
Here are some quick tips to help you perfect your cold emails –
- Keep It Short: The optimal length for the best subject line for cold emails differs across mobile, desktop, and tablet devices.
Typically, the email provider may cut off subject lines longer than 60 characters. So, create a concise subject line for effectiveness
“Want to exchange ideas on [topic]”
- Make It Interesting: This is one of the most crucial tips for creating cold email subject lines. You have got to make it through your email subject line before mastering the mail body.
One way to do this is to make the subject line interesting. Add recent industry news or stats to make it about the prospect, ensuring they click.
“10x [prospect’s company]’s traction in 10 minutes”
- Emoji or No Emoji: As the debate over emojis persists, one thing is clear: they’re here to stay. When used wisely in subject lines, emojis can make your emails stand out.
But it’s important to think carefully whether your audience will connect with it or not. Since most companies avoid using them, emails that include emojis often see higher response rates.
“⚠️Last chance, summer sale ends tonight!”
- Include Keywords: Keywords help prospects sort their emails. Using specific keywords in your emails can ensure they end up in folders that prospects will check later.
While you can’t be sure of the exact filters your prospects use, creative thinking and A/B testing can help.
“Try [product/service] for free.”
- Avoid Clickbait: Whenever you put yourself out there online—whether through a cold email campaign or networking—you’re making a promise. Your subject line or headline sets an expectation.
But if you use a clickbait subject line and don’t deliver on that promise, you break their trust. You want them not only to open your email but also to read it and enjoy the interaction. If you deceive them, they’ll delete your email and move on.
“Act now or no discount!”
- No Buzzwords: The quickest way to lose your audience is by using buzzwords or industry terms they might not understand. Communicate using words your audience knows.
“Will not believe your eyes.”
- Right Time: An offer is accepted when the customer is ready. So, you need to reach them at the right time of the day and when they’re more likely to be interested.
Think about your own schedule. When do you prefer to check your emails? It’s likely that your potential clients won’t appreciate receiving cold emails over the weekend.
- Tempting Incentive: Getting something enticing makes a recipient open an email. Something like significant results or a mutual connection in the subject line allures them. You can also mention statistics or numbers vital to your offerings to draw their attention.
“20% off, only for you.”
Anmol shares effective subject lines for cold emails that worked for him. These are short, offer incentives, are interesting, provide value, ensuring they fetch results.
Best Practices To Write A Great Subject Line
Around 33% of email recipients open an email entirely based on the subject line. While it’s common for everyone to follow the basic email subject line tips, does it ensure an open?
Today, you need more than basic personalization elements to craft good subject lines. Discover below four best practices to write a relevant subject line.
Ensure Your Cold Emails Avoid Spam Filters
When you write really good, personalized messages, can you be sure they won’t end up in spam? Well, not exactly. Spam filters today are advanced but not smart. They don’t read or understand your emails.
Instead, they rely on various clues to decide if an email might be spam. Here are a few things we think are important:
- Open rates: If lots of people open your emails, it means they’re likely not spam.
- Replies: Getting replies shows people aren’t treating your emails as spam.
- Junk folders: It’s bad if your emails end up in junk. But if they’re moved to the inbox, they’re less likely to be marked as spam later.
- Deletions: If emails are deleted without being opened, it means they’re not interesting.
- Address books: When people add your email to their contacts, it means they want to receive your messages.
Here is what you can do –
- Segment your email list: Instead of sending one email to everyone, divide your list based on customer type or interests. This helps avoid your emails being marked as spam and makes each email more relevant.
- Send emails from a business domain: Always send mass emails from your business domain (like “hello@xyz.com”), not from a personal email address.
Be Honest & Avoid Unnecessary Hype
Your email subject should clearly match what’s inside. Tricky subject lines might get people to open your email, but they can also hurt trust and cause them to unsubscribe quickly.
Show how your offer solves a problem they have, but be honest and don’t promise too much.
For example, if you offer sales management services:
- Don’t say – Boost your sales by 10X!
- Say instead – Improve your sales engagement!
Summarize Your Email In A Word Or Two
Pick two words that capture your email’s essence, like ‘Productivity Hacks’ or ‘Expansion Plan.’ Short subject lines grab attention in a busy inbox.
They should pique interest and reflect your email’s main idea.
Will Aitken, too, in the YouTube Video, suggests summarizing the email content in 2-3 words in the subject line instead of being too descriptive.
For instance, if you are selling to a Payroll Management Company, instead of writing, “Wave goodbye to payroll headaches,” try, “Employee pay stubs.”
Find Your Own Framework And Stick To It
Here are some effective copywriting models that help grab attention:
- The AIDA Model (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) helps get people’s attention. It makes them interested, creates desire, and gets them to act.
Example – “Discover what 90% of your competitors are overlooking!”
- The 4 Us (Urgent, Unique, Specific, Useful). This approach ensures the subject line is urgent, unique, and specific and offers value.
Example – Improve your SEO in just 24 hours using our Toolkit
- The PAS Model (Problem, Agitate, Solution) involves first identifying a problem, then explaining why it matters, and finally offering a solution.
Example – “Improve your email open rates with this effective solution.”
Yes, definitely, there are no silver bullets for email subject lines. What works for one may not work for another.
That’s why, despite following the above tips and best practices, test your content before sending. It will help you better understand your customer preferences, and you can act accordingly.
Do’s and Don’ts While Crafting Powerful Outreach Email Subject Lines
Avoiding common pitfalls and using best practices paves the way for effective cold email subject lines. Here is a do’s and don’ts list for a successful email outreach campaign –
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Personalize your cold email subject line. | Overuse terms like – ‘appropriate person’ and ‘quick question’. |
| Research well about the prospect. | Avoid being generic and writing like everybody else. |
| Craft a brief and on-point subject line. | Ignore spammy words and too much punctuation. |
| Be persuasive and make an effort. | Don’t be aggressive. |
| Add a personal touch by mentioning a mutual connection. | Say no to no-reply to the sender’s address; this can discourage people from responding. |
| Create FOMO for prompt response. | Do not overpromise to avoid disappointment. |
| Try to spark curiosity. | Misleading subject lines should not be included. |
| Include statistics and numbers to stand apart. | A single approach for all prospects. |
| Offer benefits or value. | Forgetting preview text can lower open rates. |
| Test different styles and formats before sending. | Disregarding timing or context. |
Bonus Tip: Test Your Subject Lines Before Sending Cold Emails
In marketing or sales, trust your instincts for crafting email subject lines, but don’t skip objective feedback.
A/B testing works best when testing email subject lines. Choose two or more subject lines you think will work and test them on different groups.
Measure how many people open the emails and take action to see which subject line is more effective. A/B testing can help you improve your email marketing over time.
Key Metrics To Measure The Success Of Your Cold Email Subject Lines
Want to learn how well your email campaigns are doing? Here are some key metrics to do so.
Open Rate
The open rate shows how many people open your cold email. A higher open rate means more recipients are interested in your email subject line.
To boost open rates, personalize your subject lines by using the recipient’s name or mentioning their industry or challenges.
Example – “Boost Your B2B SaaS Revenue: Custom Solutions for [Recipient’s Company].”
Nicholas Shkov shares what subject lines helped him generate high open rates. They were short, had an emoji, were personalized, and offered incentives. So, how about you try that too?
Response Rate
The response rate shows how many people are actively replying to your email. To boost response rates, customize your messages. Mention specific problems or offer solutions tailored to the recipient.
Example – “Hello [Name], let’s discuss B2B SaaS growth strategy.”
Click Through Rate
CTR shows how many people click links in your cold email, indicating their interest. Craft clear, engaging content highlighting the solution’s value for a good CTR. Avoid clickbait subject lines—they might work briefly but won’t help in the long term.
Example – “Discover Advanced Analytics Platform To Skyrocket Your B2B SaaS Sales.”
Conversion Rate
The conversion rate hints at how many people take the action you want, like signing up for a free trial or scheduling a demo. Clearly emphasize the benefits and unique advantages of your offering. Adding a social proof can also be very effective.
Example – “Marketing companies increased 30% revenue in 3 months using our automation platform.”
Response Time
Response time is really important for cold emails. It shows how interested people are in what you’re offering. If someone replies quickly, it means they’re more engaged and more likely to become a customer.
Try to respond faster to improve how well your cold emails work. This helps your recipients feel respected and listened to.
Unsubscribe Rate
The unsubscribe rate indicates how many people are choosing to stop receiving your cold emails. Although it’s often seen as negative, it helps understand how well your cold emails are working. A high unsubscribe rate might mean your cold email strategy needs improvement.
A/B Testing
A/B testing in cold emailing means making two different versions of your email and sending them to separate groups of people. By comparing how well each version performs, you can see which elements work best.
This helps you improve your email content. A/B testing fine-tunes your cold email campaigns for better engagement and more conversions.
Conclusion
Even short email subject lines carry tremendous weight. Remember, a well-written subject line can drive the success of your email. So, put in genuine effort.
Creative, informative, and compelling are how we can describe the best subject lines. But remember, there is no “one size fits all.”Try different patterns and strategies that work for you. Only testing will provide the expected results.
Keep your cold email subject lines short and mobile-friendly for higher open rates.
What’s more?
Invest in our cold email software, GrowMeOrganic, to improve your outreach efforts with enhanced personalization and automation features.
Schedule a demo to learn more!
FAQS –
- What Email Subject Lines Get The Most Opens?
Cold email subject lines that spark curiosity, offer value, have personal elements, leverage FOMO, address pain points, or use social proof witness most opens.
- What Is A Professional Subject Line?
Professional subject lines for work emails are brief and clear, telling readers immediately what the email is about. Use humor or FOMO to engage them, but always prioritize clarity for success.
- How To Grab Attention In An Email Subject?
You can personalize your email subject line with the recipient’s name or relevant details to catch their attention. Create urgency to prompt immediate action from your target prospects.
- How To Write A Killer Email Subject Line?
A killer subject line is short, on-point, and grabs attention immediately. Focus on the length of your subject line, its tone, and its objective. You can test a subject line before sending it and get better responses.
- What Are Spammy Subject Lines?
Using words like ‘100%free’ or ‘Earn $$$’ that trick people or are too forceful in advertising is often marked as spam. Subject lines with too many capitals, punctuation marks, or clickbait are also seen as spam.
- What Are the Best Subject Lines For Prospecting Emails?
Here are some examples of the best subject lines for prospecting emails –
- “Essential resources to help with [challenge]”
- “[Name] said we should connect”
- “[Name], looking forward to seeing you at [event]!”
- “Are you prepared to overcome [specific challenge]?”
- “A [better/smarter/faster] way to [reach a specific goal]”
- Are There Good Follow-Up Email Subject Lines?
You can craft a concise 7-word subject line (around 41 characters) to maximize engagement. Short follow-up email subjects encourage creativity and resonate deeply.
- What Are Personalized Subject Lines Examples?
Addressing the recipient by name in the subject line immediately captures their interest and adds a personal touch to the email. For example:
- “John, Enjoy 20% Off Your Next Purchase!”
- “Sarah, Your Exclusive Invitation Awaits…”
- Do Funny Cold Email Subject Lines Work?
Humor is an excellent way to grab a reader’s attention. Something like, “Sales gurus wanted ASAP!” engages the prospect right away and fosters a positive connection.
- How To Create FOMO In the Subject Line?
You can create FOMO in your subject lines by defining your offer, adding power words, including social proof, or setting a deadline. A few examples are –
- You’ve only ONE DAY left before [offer] expires.
- Oh no, your subscription is at an end.
- How Important Is Consistency In Branding And Subject Lines?
Brand consistency builds trust and long-lasting relations, whether it is through cold email subject lines or social media marketing. Quality and consistent communication aids in retaining customers and enhancing their brand experience.
- What Are LinkedIn Message Subject Line Examples?
Here are some effective LinkedIn message subject lines –
- “Join us in our [mission].”
- “[Company Name] is now hiring [job title] in [location]”
- [First name], want to join the best place to work [company name]?
- What Is an Email Subject Analyzer?
An email subject line analyzer improves your email subject lines by evaluating them and giving feedback. It checks different parts of your subject lines and offers tips to make them more engaging and likely to be opened.
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