50 Subject Line Methods for Your Email Marketing

Email marketing has many benefits for businesses. It is a cost-effective way to reach a large audience with your message. By using email marketing, you can track the results of your campaign to see how well it is performing. However, when your email marketing is not preforming so well, maybe you need to check your subject line.

Email Open Rates

Even if you have a decent open rate, you can still improve it. By using different methods, you can make your email subject line more effective and get more people to open your emails. One way to do so is by starting with your email subject line.

Best Types of Subject Lines

Writing an email always starts with a clever subject line. It is the first thing that people see when they get your email, and it determines whether or not they open it. This is your chance to make a good first impression and get the recipient to open your email. You have to be sure to capture their attention and make them want to open your email. That is why you need to make sure that your subject line is catchy and interesting.

When writing a subject line, you need to decide what type of campaign you are running. Once you know the type of campaign you are running, you can decide what style will work for your campaign.

50 Subject Line Methods

Here are 50 subject line style methods that you may want to use in your next email campaign:

1. The Teaser. The teaser subject line is designed to make the recipient curious about the email's content. Because we cannot help our curiosity, it is difficult to resist opening your email if you peak their interest. For instance, "You Won't Believe What I Found Out About You" or "Something Big is Coming."
2. The Welcome. The welcome subject line is perfect for those who have just subscribed to your email list. It can also be used as a way to say thank you to your current subscribers. Examples include "Welcome to the Family" or "You're the Best!"
3. The Bold Promise. The bold promise subject line is designed to make the recipient believe that they will gain something by opening the email. If you use this method, be sure that you can live up to your promise. An example of the bold promise method, "I'll Give You $100 If You Open This Email."
4. The Quiz. The quiz subject line is designed to make the recipient think that they will be able to learn something valuable by opening the email. It might read, "What Homemade Products Do You Make?"
5. The List. The list subject line is designed to pique the reader's curiosity by providing a sneak peak of the email's content. For example, "7 Hair Products You Should be Using."
6. The Spoof. The spoof subject line is designed to make the recipient believe that the email is not from you. This type of subject line can be funny or serious. For example, "I Am Not the Person You Think I Am."
7. The Unique Offer. When you use the unique offer, you are promising the reader something that they cannot find anywhere else. If you use a great offer, your customers will respond. Example of the unique offer subject line is "30-day Free Trial" or "70% Percent Off Entire Inventory."
8. The Urgent Request. The urgent request subject line is designed to to create a sense of urgency and make the recipient think that they need to take action immediately. This can also work on scarcity if you only have a few products left. Examples of an urgent request are, "25% Off Sale Ends Tomorrow" or "Only 3 in Stock. Get Yours Today!"
9. The Humorous Approach. The humorous subject line is designed to make the recipient smile or laugh. The humorous approach is a great way to get the reader's attention without being too salesy. For example, "Don't Open This Email. Seriously."
10. The Casual Greeting. The casual greeting subject line is designed to make the recipient feel comfortable opening the email. An example of a casual greeting subject line is "Hi, It's Me."
11. The Announcement. When you use the announcement subject line style, you are letting the recipient know about something important that has happened. For example, "Big News! Grand Opening."
12. The Contest. The contest subject line is designed to get the recipient to enter a contest by opening the email. An example of a contest subject line is "You Could Win a $100 Gift Card."
13. The Warning. The warning subject line is designed to make the recipient think that they are in danger. An example of a warning subject line is "WARNING: Don't Make These Errors" or "Only a Few Spots Left in Our Yoga Class!"
14. The Compliment. The compliment subject line is designed to make the recipient feel good about themselves. An example of a compliment subject line is "You're Doing a Great Job!"
15. The First Name. Using your recipient's first name in the subject line is designed to make the recipient feel special. When you use a first name subject line, be sure to use the recipient's actual first name. You can also personalize the email by using information regarding their recent purchase. For example, "Hi Daisy! How Did You Like Your Rose Colored Table Cloth?"
16. The Preview. The preview subject line is designed to show the recipient a snippet of the email's content. This type of subject line is great for creating curiosity and can improve your open rate significantly. For instance, "You Won't Believe What This Email Is About."
17. The RE: Approach. When you use RE: in your subject line, you are letting the recipient know that the email is a response to something they sent. Even if you did not send a previous email, you may be able to grab your audiences' attention by using this method, but you need to be careful in not overusing it. An example may read, "RE: Your Request for a Quote."
18. The Urgent Question. The urgent question subject line is designed to get the recipient to reply to the email as quickly as possible. This method is designed for urgent questions that need to be answered right away. You can also use this method when you need feedback from the recipient or when you need them to take an. The subject line could read, "Urgent: Can We Meet Tomorrow?" or "How Was Our Service? Review Today for $25 Off."
19. The Riddle. The riddle subject line is designed to get the reader to think about the email's content. This type of subject line can be fun or serious. For example, "Can You Solve This Riddle?"
20. The Informational. When you use the informational subject line method, you are providing the recipient with information that they may find helpful. This subject line is great for newsletters and updates. For instance, "Newsletter: March 2022 Edition."
21. The Sales Pitch. The sales pitch subject line is designed to get the recipient interested in the email's content. The sales pitch is often used in promotional emails. Examples include, "25% Off all Hair Bows Today! or "Buy One, Get One!"
22. The Quote. The quote subject line is used when you are quoting part of your email. When you use the quote method, you should always credit the source of the quote in your email. It may read, "Quote of the Day: 'There is no substitute for hard work.'"
23. The How to. The how to subject line is used to provide the recipient with information on how to do something. The how to method is often used in informational emails. You might write, "How to Make a Paper Crown."
24. The Joke. The joke subject line is used to make the recipient laugh. This type of subject line is often used when you want to use humor and want to use intrigue to catch your recipient's attention. "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" or "A New Email? Not Again!"
25. The Thank You. The thank you subject line is used to thank the recipient for something they have done. Thank you subject lines are often used in formal emails or after a recent purchase. You may consider writing, "Thank You for Your Assistance" or "Thank You for Your Purchase."
26. The Thanks for Your Time. The thank you for your time subject line is used to show the recipient information about how much time they have to do something. Thanks for your time subject lines can be used after sending an email with a time-sensitive request, such as "Thank you for your time! We need a response by Friday."
27. The Humorless. The humorless subject line is used to show the recipient information about something that is not funny. This method can be a good way to show the recipient that they should take the email seriously. For example, "I'm Not Laughing or "The IRS is Auditing Us."
28. The Trendy. The trendy subject line is used to show the recipient information about a trend that is relevant to the email's content. Everyone wants to know what is fashionable and this method can catch their attention. You can use this subject line for both promotional and informational emails. For instance, "What's Trending in Home Decor?"
29. The Celebrity Gossip. The celebrity gossip subject line is used to show the recipient information about a celebrity that is relevant to the email's content. For example, "Oprah Endorsed this Skin Cream."
30. The Scary. The scary subject line is used to scare the recipient into opening the email. You should be use this method sparingly, as overusing it can have the opposite effect. The subject line might read, "This is not a trick."
31. The Controversial. The controversial subject line is used to get the recipient interested in the email's content, but you need to know your audience before attempting to use this method as these are the hardest to pull off, especially when marketing. An example from Burger King, is "Whopper Neutrality."
32. The Statistics. The statistics subject line is used to show the recipient information about a statistic that is relevant to the email's content. Using simple statistics can have a positive effect on the recipient. You can use statistics in promotional and informational emails, like "75% of Americans Believe in Santa Claus" or "Why 80% of Women Love to Decorate."
33. The Deadline. The deadline subject line is used to show the recipient a deadline that they will miss if they do not act quickly. To establish urgency, consider writing, "Only 2 Days Left to Enter Our Contest!"
34. The Command. The command subject line is used to get the recipient to do something. When you tell your audience what you want them to do, it can increase the open rate of your email. For example, "Join us on Facebook at 6 PM."
35. The Birthday. The birthday subject line is used to show the recipient you care about them. For example, "Happy Birthday! We hope you have a great day!" or "Happy Birthday! Treat Yourself with 10% Off!"
36. The Holiday. The holiday subject line is used to show the recipient information about a holiday that is relevant to the email's content. You may write, "Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best" or "Happy Mother's Day! Here's a Gift!"
37. The Confirmation. The confirmation subject line is used to confirm details, such as an order or vacation travel. Confirmations could include, "Thank you for confirming your participation!" or "Good News! Your handbag is on the way!"
38. The Seasonal. Staying seasonally relevant is another way have your email be noticed. Seasonal subject lines could be about the holidays, summertime, or a current event. Examples can include, "Spring Cleaning Sale" or "Spooky Savings Inside!"
39. The Emoji. Using an emoji can be a fun way to show the recipient information about something that is relevant to the email's content. You may include an emoji like this: "We're hiring! 💰"
40. The Quick and Easy Fix. People love shortcuts so when you can offer them a quick and easy fix in your subject line, they'll be more likely to open your email. For example, "How to Lose 10 Pounds in 5 Days."
41. The Reminder. The reminder subject line is used to show the recipient information about a reminder that is relevant to the email's content. An example of a reminder could be "Don't Forget! Meeting Tomorrow at Noon."
42. The One Word. To grab attention, you can try to stand out by using a single word. When your recipient is sifting through a long list of emails, by only having one word, you are likely to get more attention.
43. The Authority. The authority subject line is used to show the recipient information that you have authority in the subject area. For example, "What is Really the Best Way to Cook an Egg."
44. The Latest News. The latest news subject line is used to show the recipient information about the most recent news, which could be news around the globe or news about your business. For example, "New Shipment Just Arrived."
45. The Follow Up. The follow up subject line is used to show the recipient information about a follow up that is relevant to the email's content. For example, "Are You Still Interested in This Project?"
46. The Cart Abandonment. You can use a cart abandonment method when your see that your product was placed in their cart but they failed to complete the order. You may consider writing, "We noticed you left something in your cart!"
47. The Keyword. If you have a list of keywords that you're targeting for your email campaign, you can use those keywords in the subject line to help increase your open rate. A good use of keywords may be written, "New York Fashion Week starts today!"
48. The Sneak Peak. If you're offering a sneak peak at something that is happening soon, you can use that in your email's subject line. For example, "Sneak Peek! Our New Collection Is Coming Soon" or "First Look! Our Fall Line Just Arrived."
49. The Surprise. Hinting at a surprise in your subject line can be a great way to peak your recipient's curiosity and have them open your email. You may write, "You're going to love this!" or "What we've been working on is finally ready!"
50. The Re-engagement. The re-engagement subject line is used to show the inactive customers why they need to re-engage with you. "Did You See Our Current Sale? or "We've Missed You, Joe! Here's 25% off."

What Subject Lines Will You Use?

Now that you know the types of subject lines that are out there, it is time to get creative. It is important to remember that when writing your subject line, you need to make sure that it is relevant to the content of your email. You also want your subject line to be clear and concise about what is in your email, and make it intriguing enough that the recipient will want to open it. Which email subject method catches your attention?

Remember email campaigns take time and you may not get it right the first time. But that's alright. With time and persistence, you will be an email marketing pro in no time. If you likes these tips and want to see more, please sign up for our newsletter!