Research shows that when people receive your emails, the first question most ask themselves is – WHO is this from?
If you have an existing relationship with your recipient, great. There’s a good chance you can get past this first hurdle.
But, what if you don’t? Then what?
You could try and find a way to develop a relationship first so that when you do send an email, you’d have a better chance of getting it opened. But that could take a long time.
Here’s a faster solution:
Learn how to write killer subject lines.
Before we dive in, consider this:
If you were trying to get someone`s attention in a face-to-face communication, it`s unlikely that you would stop in mid-sentence and hope you`d said enough to get your prospect to listen.
And yet, marketers commit the online equivalent all the time when they create subject lines that are too lengthy.
Fifty characters is considered the optimum length for a subject line.
That should be enough to “sell” the reader on opening your email.
Okay, let’s take a look at increasing the chances your email will get opened.
9 tips for creating subject lines that get your email opened:
1. Offer a benefit.
By highlighting the key benefit of your offer, the reader can easily decide if it is a subject of interest. Focus on how your product or service will change your reader’s life.
2. Write what the field asks for.
In most cases, be direct. Let the reader know EXACTLY what the subject is. Why should he want to open your email? Be clear and succinct. This often works well.
3. Ask a question.
This immediately involves the reader. Make your question straightforward. You want to get your reader thinking.
4. Avoid cryptic phrases.
Although this approach can sometimes be effective in conventional direct mail, it is often regarded with suspicion. (read `deleted quickly`) when used in an email subject line. Your reader isn’t going to work to figure out what the email is about.
5. Use a teaser.
An attention-getting teaser can work well. Example: Are you making this sales letter mistake? This arouses the reader’s curiosity. If he isn’t getting good response to his sales letters, he’ll be curious to see what the mistake is. Even if he is getting decent response, he may open the email to make sure he couldn’t be doing better.
6. Use a deadline.
If your offer has a time limit, there’s no reason you can’t say so in your subject line. But don’t forget: in order for this subject line to be effective, the reader MUST understand why the deadline should matter. What’s he stand to miss out on?
7. Stay away from hype.
We all have seen those emails that promise: “Triple your sales in two weeks!’ Riiiiiight. Click! Stay away from this. It’s almost an invitation for your reader to dismiss your email without even thinking about opening it.
8. Remind readers they requested the information.
If you are sending someone some content they asked for, be sure you allude to it in the subject line. People often forget they asked you to send them something. Don’t be shy about writing, ‘Here’s the such-and-such info you asked for.
9. Avoid using the word FREE.
Most Spam filters will pick off your email the minute it hits your reader’s inbox. That’s why you see the word FREE written like this from time-to-time : fr*ee. If you feel you absolutely must communicate that you’re offering some value the reader doesn’t have to pay for, then try phrasing it as no charge, no cost or complimentary.
Although people are becoming more selective about whose emails they will open, a strong subject line can often help you achieve your #1 email marketing objective: getting them to open YOURS.
Try using some of these tips and see if your “open” rate increases.
