Subject Lines that Grab and Don’t Let Go
Thursday, December 13th, 2007Subject lines are the first, and sometimes only, impression an email makes on a customer. Mastering this magical one-liner is not easy. The key here is to diversify your email subject line. Any one of the ideas below, if used too frequently, will lose its efficacy.
- Compound Topics: I’ve seen this used regularly by Karmaloop. They cram about as many topics, brands, or product names into the subject line as possible, in hopes that something will grab the users attention. In order for this strategy to work, it’s important to still keep the subject line scan able by breaking up the topics. I personally like using the “+” symbol. (”New Nike + Reebok + Addidas Shoes!” vs. “New Nike, Reebok, and Addidas Shoes”)
- Short and Simple: If you can communicate the topic email in 2 words rather than 6, you’ll stand apart from the rest of the inbox clutter.
- Use Special Characters: I like using special characters in order to communicate ideas and create eye magnets. Below are a couple of suggestions:
- New Widgets = Great Gifts
- Huge $avings on Widgets
- { New Widgets, In-Stock Now }
- New Widgets @ YourURL.com!
- Question Marks and Exclamation Points: Creative use of Question marks and exclamation points within subject lines can stress urgency or create curiosity in the mind of the subscriber. I like combining the 2 and creating something like “50% Off All Widgets?!” Tags: email marketing Internet Marketing Transactional Email Marketing Web Marketing


