It’s every salesperson’s nightmare to wind up in the spam/junk folder of emails.

What if I told you there is a sure-shot way to ensure that doesn’t happen?

Seems too good to be true?

Well, email subject lines are the answer.

It’s the one thing that prevents emails from going directly to the spam/junk folder.

Everything depends on your sales email subject line, including click rates, open rates, and CTA conversions.

It’s a lot of pressure for 60 characters, isn’t it?

But, once you get the hang of what makes an email subject line great, you’ll automatically see a significant increase in your email open rates. But first, let’s address the elephant in the room: What is an email subject line?

What Is An Email Subject Line?

When you open your email, you’ll see something like this:

The text inside the red box is email subject lines. Let’s understand how emails are shown in your inbox.

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As illustrated above, the first text you see is the sender’s name, followed by the subject line. Any text that follows is the preheader text, which is a sneak peek into the content of the email body.

“An email subject line is the brief text that appears in a recipient’s inbox, summarizing the content of the email and enticing them to open it.”

A lot rides on an email’s subject line. You have to summarize the context of the email in a few words while enticing the recipient to open the email. Yes, it’s a lot of pressure on just one sentence!

Why Is An Email Subject Line Important?

Since subject lines are the first thing you see when you see an email, you have just one line to grab the reader’s attention – for them to open your email and read through it. That’s why getting your sales email subject is crucial.

Here’s an illustration to show you the importance of email subject lines.

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So, no matter the situation—whether you’re cold emailing, informing customers about an unbelievable discount, or following up on a potential customer—your email subject line needs to spark interest.

What Makes A Good Sales Email Subject Line?

Let’s get down to business. We know what an email subject line is and why it’s important, but what makes an email subject line good?

Here’s the recipe for the perfect email subject line!

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Let’s talk about these points in detail.

1. Personalization

Did you know email personalization helps increase the open rates by 26%?

You can increase your eCommerce revenue by ~800% by running segmented, personalized email marketing campaigns that deliver more value to the subscribers.

Email software like Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign allows for advanced segmentation and personalization, making it easier to deliver targeted content to your audience.

People want to hear from, buy from, and talk to other people, not from big brands and companies! In addition, people also want to be called something other than sir/ma’am. Addressing people by their names in emails is a smart way to go.

Campaign Monitor supports this claim by finding that 74% of marketers saw an average 20% increase in revenue with personalizing emails.

For example, a marketing email from a fitness app can have a subject line: “Alex, Achieve Your Fitness Goals with Our New Personalized Plan!”

Why would this work?

This subject line grabs Alex’s attention by referencing his name and his interest in fitness, making it more likely that he will open the email.

Personalized subject lines significantly increase email open rates. They make recipients feel valued. As a result, personalized emails foster a stronger connection between the sender and the recipient.

2. Mobile Optimization

Nearly 1.7 billion users check emails on their mobile phones. Imagine tapping into such a large audience only to give them a bad experience. In my experience, a subject line optimized for mobile has consistently delivered higher open rates.

How do you optimize your email subject lines for mobile?

Here’s a pro-tip: Keep the subject line crisp and ensure that the most relevant information is at the start. While optimizing subject lines for mobile will get you a higher open rate, it is also important to make sure that your website is optimized for visibility in SERPs.

For example, a SaaS company could use a subject line like: “Boost Efficiency: Discover Our Latest Automation Tools!”

Why would this work?

This subject line is short and crisp – easily readable on a mobile screen

It immediately communicates the important part (the offer), enticing the recipient to open the email.

3. Eye-Catching

Subject lines must be eye-catching. Eye-catching subject lines leverage creative elements to draw attention and spark curiosity, making the email stand out among numerous others in the recipient’s inbox.

Add emojis, a catchy phrase, or any information instantly grabbing the recipient’s attention—so much so that they simply have to open the email! If you’re looking for inspiration, these 5 best AI writer can help  you generate compelling subject lines that captivate your audience.

I remember using the subject line “✨ Winter Sale: 80% Off All Winter Styles! 🌞” for a fashion retailer, which significantly increased our engagement due to its visual appeal and the urgency it conveyed. Here are a few more examples:

Why would this work?

The use of emojis and the promise of a significant discount make the subject line visually appealing and exciting.

Pro-tip:  Leverage generative AI services to craft eye-catching email subject lines. This way, you can save time and ideate more on how to catch the recipients’ attention.

Every subject line must answer three key questions:

• Why now?
• Why my industry?
• Why me?

I always ask myself these questions to ensure the relevance of my subject lines.

For example, for an online furniture store, I used: “New Arrivals in Boho Lamps You’ll Love!”

This was particularly effective for recipients who had shown interest in boho style in past behaviors.

Why would this work?

By tailoring subject lines to the recipient’s preferences or past behavior, emails become more appealing, thus increasing the chances of a positive response. So, if the recipient previously showed interest in boho lamps, this subject line will resonate with them.

Does your business offer a service or product that a prospect sought?

Can you help the prospect reach their goals faster?

Do you have a significant discount on something that a prospect needs?

Crafting a subject line that answers any of the above questions (or offers something a prospect would need) significantly increases the probability of the email being opened.

For example, a tech company might use the subject line: “Unlock Exclusive Discounts on text to speech- Coupon Inside!”

Why would this work?

1. The subject line promises valuable information that the recipient would find beneficial, enticing them to open the email
2. It emphasizes the value within the subject line, thus significantly increasing open rates. Recipients are likely to engage with content that offers clear and immediate benefits.

9 Best Email Subject Lines For Sales That Get Results

Capturing a potential customer’s attention with the perfect subject line is crucial for driving sales and engagement. Here are the 10 best email subject lines for sales that increase open rates and boost your sales performance.

For services or products that help deliver a quantifiable result, it’s always a good idea to leverage that information in the email subject line.

Always remember:

1. A factual claim will be more compelling than a vague one. But -ensure it’s not too good to be true!
2. Write numbers in digits, not in words – they catch the recipient’s attention quickly and also don’t take much of the character limit

If you tell the prospect that you can achieve $[X] in a specific period, they will be intrigued to check the email and explore the product/service.

Examples:

1. “$200 in the next 2 months?”
2. “$10000 in the next 5 months?”

2. “One day left to get in on [offer]”

Creating urgency is a great way to tap into potential customers’ FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Limited time and availability motivate people to take action immediately. Urgency also makes it harder for recipients to delay reading your emails or delete them without opening them.

The subject line here puts an image in the recipient’s head – and what’s that? It’s a clock – ticking!

They feel they have to act quickly to get in on the action.

Examples:

1. “One day left to get in on the summer sale at Amazon”
2. “One day left to get in on Buy 2 get 2 free at H&M”
   

3. “Only the best for you, [name]”

Adding a human touch to your emails is a great way to entice recipients to open them. It makes them feel valued and recognized.

Personalization can include:

• Addressing the recipient by name
• Referring to something unique about their work or interests or
• Mentioning where they’re from

This email subject line shows that you value and respect your prospects, giving them a sense of familiarity. In addition to personalization, the first phrase of the email subject also makes the recipient feel special.

Examples:

1. “Only the best for you, Arial”
2. “Only the best for you, Connie”

4.”Quick question about [prospect’s company].”

Sometimes, the best approach is to be direct. Subject lines that are crisp and to the point make it evident why you’re reaching out and make life easier for your prospect.

Instead of opening a misleading email, the recipients know what to expect from the email and can decide whether it interests them or not.

The email subject line mentioned above is direct and to the point. The recipient knows exactly what’s inside the email, so they can decide whether to answer any questions before opening the email.

Examples:

1. “Quick question about Ikea.”
2. “Quick question about Apple.”
3. “Am I right to assume…?”

We’ve all had prospects who stop responding to emails. It’s abrupt and is impossible to prevent. However, it’s crucial to figure out whether to continue to save the relationship or move on when this happens.

This email subject line invites a clear-cut answer. It gives the recipient the chance to keep things going or sever ties.

5. Free [day of the week] at [time]?

You’ve been trying to meet or connect with your prospects, but they have a busy schedule. It seems impossible to set a time to connect with them. In such cases, it’s best to use sales email subject lines that make your meeting request emails stand out.

This subject line example is an excellent way to ask for a meeting for busy prospects. Even before opening the email, the recipient will know whether to respond “yes” or “no.”

Examples:

• Free Tuesday at 5:25 pm?
• Do you have some time on Thursday at 8?

6. You know you’re running a [type of business] when…

If you know the person to whom you’re sending an email, it’s really easy to craft a subject line that is relevant to them. It’s a win-win because people love to feel understood!

This email subject line instantly catches the recipient’s eye and makes them want to know more.

Examples:

• You know you’re running a tech company when…
• You know you’re in a salon business when…

7. “Hey, [name]. We’d love your feedback on our connect earlier”

In sales, it’s crucial to keep the conversation going; follow-up emails are a great way to do that. If you’ve connected with a prospect for the first time or somehow managed to get some relevant information they needed, a good sales follow-up email keeps you in their mind and lets you set some next steps. Using a sales follow-up software can streamline this process, ensuring timely and personalized communication.

Asking for feedback using user feedback tools from your prospects is an excellent way to:

1. Make them feel valued
2. Tie up any loose ends
3. Give you insight into how the engagement went
4. Potentially, get good pointers to upgrade or better your service or product

Examples:

1. “Hey, Ken. We’d love your feedback on our connect earlier”
2. “Hey, Billy. We’d love your feedback on our connect earlier”

8. [Your company name> x <prospect’s company name>!

A good email subject line for B2B sales or potential partnership opportunities. It’s one of the best email templates that help brands show how they value partners or a prospect’s company – giving them a sense of commitment and, thus, significantly increasing the chances of a sales win.

Examples:

1. Evaboot x HubSpot Marketing Hub
2. Evaboot & Lix: A great combination?

9. [Referral name] suggested we reach out

Referrals are a great way to connect and get recipients to open an email. When referred by a friend, people are 4X more likely to buy a product or service. Referral marketing creates a sense of trust and familiarity, increasing the likelihood of a positive response. This email subject line shows that the sender and the recipient have a mutual connection that recommended something.

Once the recipient receives this email, they’ll be intrigued to open it for more details.

Examples:

1. Chelsea from Apple suggested we reach out
2. Hey, Kelly from Hinge said we should talk

Conclusion

Crafting the perfect email subject line for sales is an art not many can master. The process requires a strategic approach and a deep understanding of your target audience. Over my six years in content marketing, I’ve seen that personalized, value-driven subject lines that trigger an emotional response are more likely to compel recipients to open the email. And that’s what we aim for: open emails and engaged readers.

In addition, effective email subject lines are integral to a broader email marketing strategy. They increase open rates and contribute to building a stronger connection with your audience. Consistently using powerful subject lines helps establish your emails as valuable and worth reading, enhancing your brand’s reputation and leading to higher engagement rates over time.

Author Bio

Natasha Merchant: I specialize in content marketing & I have been doing it for more than 6 years. I love creating content marketing maps for businesses. I have written content for various publication websites.At present, I am helping SaaS to improve online visibility with the help of SEO, Content Marketing & Link Building.