[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/writing-successful-subject-lines\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/writing-successful-subject-lines\/","headline":"9 Tips On How To Write Successful Subject Lines","name":"9 Tips On How To Write Successful Subject Lines","description":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”] 6 | Minute Read [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default”...","datePublished":"2020-07-18","dateModified":"2024-11-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/author\/sw1ft\/#Person","name":"Swift Digital","url":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/author\/sw1ft\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d798749f30425bff04d5ff357ac6dba94e073a4a8083725dfb894f9d04f4c5ee?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d798749f30425bff04d5ff357ac6dba94e073a4a8083725dfb894f9d04f4c5ee?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Swift Digital","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/logo.png","width":300,"height":302}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/personLearning2-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/personLearning2-1.jpg","height":1260,"width":1260},"url":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/writing-successful-subject-lines\/","about":["Email Marketing","Marketing Automation"],"wordCount":2199,"articleBody":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”]   6 | Minute Read [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Emails are like books: we\u2019re told not to judge them by their cover, but we do it anyway. Nailing the subject line can make or break an email marketing campaign. No matter how amazing the content of your email is, it simply won\u2019t be seen if your email doesn\u2019t stand out in a crowded inbox and entice recipients to click.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text]Writing subject lines can be a giant pain and a lot of pressure. The subject line is the first impression you make on your readers, and if it\u2019s not a good one then you may find your emails ignored or relegated to the trash without a second glance.\u00a0That one little sentence can make or break a campaign, so it pays to get it right. To help you nail your subject line every time, we\u2019ve got 6 tips for success. And, because we\u2019re feeling particularly cheery today,\u00a0we\u2019ve even got a suggested workflow!To help you get the most out of email marketing, we\u2019ve compiled some tips for creating engaging subject lines that lead to more clicks and better audience engagement.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-1-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” enable_gradient=”true” color_overlay=”#21cdec” color_overlay_2=”#ffffff” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_custom_heading text=”9 Tips On How To Write Successful Subject Lines” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1731390649903{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-right: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}” text_direction=”default”]1. Be blunt and concise.You\u2019ve only got a handful of characters (no more than 50\u00a0characters, not words!) to work with, so keep your clever puns for the body of the email. Clarity is key, just tell it like it is. Get straight to the point. You should be able to summarise almost any email in just a few words. Long subject lines are not only harder to read, but they also risk being cut off by the maximum display limit in inboxes and smartphone apps. There\u2019s no hard and fast rule, but see if you can keep it within 50 characters.2. Create curiosity, be compelling.Your subject line has to compete with everything else pouring into your readers\u2019 inboxes. Put your campaign\u00a0at the front of the pack with a compelling subject line. Make your readers think they\u2019ll miss out on something interesting or important if they don\u2019t open your email.3. Maintain trust and transparency.Like everything you put out into the public sphere, your emails can affect your brand reputation. Be sure that your subject lines aren\u2019t misleading or over-selling your content. Spam-wary readers will look at your sender name and subject line before opening, so make sure there\u2019s no room for misinterpretation.4.\u00a0Stay relevant.Sure, you might be publishing to several thousand recipients, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should consider them a\u00a0faceless mob. Treat each reader like an individual \u2013 use personalisations where possible, and speak to their interests and needs as a single reader.5. Avoid being generic.Don\u2019t get lazy and stick with your working campaign titles. \u2018SuiteTalking \u2013 February 2015\u2032 isn\u2019t very compelling. You put a lot of effort into your email content, so let your readers know what they\u2019re in for!6. \u00a0Bump your stats with an A\/B Split Test.Got a couple of options, but you\u2019re not sure which will have the most impact? No problem, the A\/B Split Test feature in the Suite will work it out for you. Choose your three strongest contenders, and the Suite will publish each to 10%\u00a0of your total recipients. During the (adjustable) delay, the Suite will track the stats and then send the balance out with the most successful subject line.7. Inspire actionA subject line is the hook that takes readers through to your call to action, and calling them to action is exactly what you\u2019re trying to do. Using action words, or simply starting with a verb, helps create a far punchier message and prompts the reader to respond. If a sporting club was planning a meet and greet with players and fans, for example, a subject line of \u201cMeet your favourite player this weekend\u201d sounds more enticing than \u201cAnnouncing player meet and greets for club members\u201d.8. Add a sense of urgencyWhile not applicable to all emails, giving your subject line a sense of urgency is a great way to encourage more clicks. Whether it\u2019s adding a deadline, advertising a limited offer or providing a quick solution to a frustrating dilemma, urgency can be enough to instigate immediate action instead of apathy.9. Pose a questionYour subject line should give the reader a taste of what\u2019s inside and leave them hungry for more \u2013 posing a question can do just that. A question in the subject line can pique curiosity while making it clear that it can only be answered by opening the email, such as \u201cAre you making these common marketing mistakes?\u201d. You can also use a question to encourage action \u2013 such as filling out a feedback form \u2013 with lines like \u201cHow are we doing?\u201d. Just be careful to ensure yours doesn\u2019t sound too much like clickbait.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Putting It Into Practice” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text]Here\u2019s a simple workflow to get those creative juices flowing.Set aside 15 minutes and try this next time: Sit down with your preferred writing setup \u2013 paper and pen, a blank document, whatever suits you.Smash out several subject lines, roughly 6 or 7. Get them down quickly, don\u2019t overthink the process.Pause, and take a look at what you\u2019ve got so far.Choose your strongest contenders, leaving you with at least a list of 3. Edit your list, polishing and tweaking. Consider the length of each potential subject line. With this in mind, reexamine your list.Are they still the strongest choices for their length? Shuffle your options around if you need to. If none of them jump out at you upon reassessment, don\u2019t be afraid to scrap them all and start over! Narrow it down to your 3 best subject lines.Use these to split test. You might like to test a particular aspect \u2013 if so, write a control subject line and 2 alternatives. How do you go about perfecting your subject lines?[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Email marketing is not a one size fits all technique. It takes proper planning and review in order to be successful and achieve the desired outcomes for your business.Is your business currently using email as part of your marketing strategy? Do you need help with creation, automation, or increasing engagement? Here at Swift Digital, we can help you with your email marketing lists by providing tips on\u00a0email best practices\u00a0to make your campaign a success![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Preferred Email, Events and SMS Automation Software For All Australian Government Departments” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Swift Digital\u2019s templates help you effortlessly create stunning emails and events communications using our drag-and-drop email and event builder.You can raise engagement with embedded images, videos, polls, article feedback, and emojis and schedule messages to send at the right time.Government departments’ unique marketing requirements are covered with Swift Digital, and full compliance with all anti-spam and privacy laws is guaranteed. Swift Digital is also ISO 27001 certified.Swift Digital is Australia\u2019s leader in marketing automation software and event management working with organisations like the NSW Government, ATO, and companies like Westpac Bank and Qantas.Find out why we\u2019re the Australian government department\u2019s number one choice for their professional communications and events.To find out how your business can get the best out of Swift Digital\u2019s platform,\u00a0contact our team\u00a0today.Don\u2019t forget to share this post![\/vc_column_text]   Share   Share   Share [\/vc_column][\/vc_row]"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"9 Tips On How To Write Successful Subject Lines","item":"https:\/\/swiftdigital.com.au\/writing-successful-subject-lines\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]