Email subject lines are crucial. It is the first thing that people see when they have a look at their inbox. The subject line is responsible for either drawing their attention or turning them away.
Now the question is that what makes a subject line hard to resist? This is what we will be finding out in this article.
Our brains are wired in such a way that they respond to certain emotions. It is very crucial to know and understand these emotional triggers to create subject lines that connect with your audience.
USING PSYCHOLOGICAL TRIGGERS
These are some of the most powerful psychological motivators you can use:
- Curiosity:
All of us are naturally curious beings. So, always choose to write subject lines that can provoke curiosity by hinting at things that are intriguing or mysterious and can compel your audience to open the email to satisfy their curiosity.
Such as, “Unlock the Secrets to Effortless Weightloss (It’s Not What You Think!)”
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO):
People also have a fear of missing out on something important or valuable. Therefore, writing subject lines that highlight exclusivity or urgency can trigger a sense of importance and prompt the recipient to immediately open the email.
For example, “Last Day of Sale! Don’t Miss Out!”
- Anticipation:
Anticipation can create excitement and eagerness. Your subject lines may hint at upcoming events, exclusive offers, or product launches which can build excitement and encourage the recipient to open the email and find out more about it.
You can write like, “Early Bird Discount! 10% off For The First 10 Customers”
- Personalization:
Individuals like it when they are valued and recognized. A subject line that contains individual’s name or personalized content relevant to their interests can build connection and increase the likelihood of engagement.
For instance, “Hi (name) We Found A Perfect (item) Based On Your Last Purchase”
- Social Proof:
Since people tend to look to others for guidance therefore subject lines that include testimonials, reviews, or social proof can build and enhance trust, prompting people to open the email quickly.
Example: “Customer Raved: ‘This Skincare Routine Has Changed My Life!’”
- Emotional Appeal:
Emotions play a very important role in decision-making. So, writing subject lines that arouse positive emotions such as happiness, joy, or excitement can make recipients interested in opening the email and finding out what it is about.
For example “Get The Perfect Beach Body With Our Fitness Challenge (And Feel Amazing)”
ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR EMAIL SUBJECT LINES
While all these mentioned elements can be used to catch the attention of the audience, there are some additional methods such as creating trust or staying relevant, to get people involved.
Here is how you can make it happen:
- As mentioned above, you can personalize the emails as personalization is a very effective way of catching the attention of the audience. Because when people find their name mentioned in the subject line, they feel like the message is just for them.
This will increase the chance of them opening the email.
- Similarly, if you divide people into different groups and then send different subject lines based on their previous activity or interests can also show them that you understand them.
For example, if you run an online store then you may send subject lines about the products the person has previously viewed or purchased.
- Another way of keeping it relevant is that instead of using unclear subject lines, be specific about what your email is about.
- The subject line should be clear enough to tell the readers what they will find inside the email.
For instance, rather than using a generic subject line like “Tips to Lose Weight” you may write
“Find out How to Lose Weight Without Giving up Your Favorite Foods”
are some examples of catchy subject lines along with their open-rate
Check out some of the best email customization tools
MAKE SURE YOU USE COMPELLING WORDING
Moreover, the wordings of your subject line also play a crucial role. Choosing the correct words is extremely important.
Here are some tips on how you can do it:
- Be clear and make sure your subject line is easy to understand. Your goal should be to make people understand what your email is about just by reading the subject line.
For instance, instead of a generic subject line that says “Special Offer” you may instead write “Get 50% Off On All Your Purchases Today”.
- Creating a sense of urgency can encourage people to immediately open your email. You can use strong words like “Ending Soon”, or “Offer Only for Today” to let people know that they need to act fast upon it.
- You may highlight the benefits of your email. Let your readers know what they can gain by reading your email. For example, if your email consists of any tips, then you could mention that in your subject line.
Such as, “Free Shipping On All Orders Today! (Plus Exclusive Deals Inside)”
- Using numbers in the subject line can make it more eye-catching. Whether you are offering discounts, sharing tips, or just simply listing the reasons to open your email, include a number with it.
For instance, instead of writing “Tips to Improve Your Health” write “10 Ways to Improve Your Health”, as it looks more compelling.
- Other than this, you can even ask questions in your subject line to make people curious and make them want to find out the answer. Make sure that the question is relevant to your email’s content and your audience.
- Also keep in mind that while being relevant, clear, and specific, the subject lines do not have to be very long. They need to be under a limit to ensure full display on mobile phones.
Coming up with an attractive subject line is important, however, this is not it. It is important that the subject line correctly represents what the email is about and is not only used as a clickbait technique.
Thus, establishing trust and providing valuable content are the key factors for achieving success over time.
Moreover, with the passing of time, the trends also keep changing, and what excites a group of people may no longer excite them in the future. Similarly, different groups have different interests.
So, you can test out different subject lines to figure out which one works best for your particular audience.
THE FUTURE OF SUBJECT LINES
As technology keeps progressing, the way we approach email subject lines will also change. Below are a couple of trends that we may expect in the near future:
- Since audience preferences and trends are always evolving, therefore, testing and refining subject lines to determine what resonates best with the audience will always be essential.
- As AI is advancing with time, you may expect the subject lines to become more personalized based on individual interests. Thus, personalization is the key.
How to Craft Compelling Email Subject Lines Using AI? Read now
- Since the popularity of voice assistants is increasing, we may see voice-activated subject lines in the future.
Other than this, find impressive subject lines for inspiration before crafting one for your own emails.
Concluding it all, creating effective subject lines requires a blend of creativity and strategy. It is more like a skill that combines artistry as well as psychological understanding.
By grasping these psychological factors that influence human behavior along with staying up to date with the newest developments, you can easily compose subject lines that stand out and can grab the reader’s attention. Always remember that a subject line that is finely composed will serve as your key to make your email stand out.
