Posted by
Cold emailing is a powerful way to connect with potential clients, partners, or leads. However, the success of your cold email outreach largely hinges on a key element: the subject line. This seemingly small aspect of your email can make or break whether your message gets opened or ignored.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of subject lines, their relationship with spam filters, and provide 10 examples of subject lines that are effective in cold outreach.
Additionally, we’ll touch on the use of capitalization and personalization in subject lines to maximize your open rates.
The Importance of Subject Lines
The subject line is the first thing your recipient sees when your email lands in their inbox. In a world where people receive hundreds of emails daily, your subject line must grab attention, spark curiosity, and entice the reader to open your email. If it doesn’t, your message will likely be overlooked or, worse, deleted without a second thought.
Here’s why subject lines are crucial:
First impression: Your subject line is the gateway to the email’s content. It’s the first point of engagement and sets the tone for what follows.
Determines open rate: Research has shown that around 35% of email recipients open an email based solely on the subject line. A compelling subject line can increase your open rate and the likelihood of your email being read.
Conveys value: If your subject line can communicate a clear benefit or reason for the recipient to open your email, you’ve already won half the battle.
In cold emails, where the recipient isn’t expecting your message, the subject line’s importance is magnified. Without the trust or relationship already established, the subject line has to do the heavy lifting.
How Subject Lines Affect Spam Filters
Cold email subject lines are a major factor in whether your email ends up in someone’s inbox or gets flagged by spam filters. Spam filters analyze various elements of an email, and the subject line plays a pivotal role. Certain words, phrases, or even formatting can trigger these filters, resulting in your carefully crafted email being relegated to the spam folder.
Here’s how subject lines can affect spam filters:
Trigger words: Words like “free,” “guarantee,” “urgent,” or “buy now” can trigger spam filters. These terms are often associated with promotional or scam emails.
Overuse of punctuation: Excessive punctuation, like multiple exclamation points (!!!) or question marks (???), can also raise red flags.
ALL CAPS: Subject lines written in all capital letters scream “spam” to both recipients and spam filters.
To avoid spam filters, ensure that your subject lines are natural, conversational, and steer clear of over-the-top sales language. Aim for curiosity, value, and relevance without sounding pushy or desperate.
If you’re unsure whether your email is likely to end up in the spam folder, there are several tools available online that can help you test your email before sending it. These tools analyze various factors like subject lines, body content, links, and images to determine if your email might be flagged by spam filters.
Here are some popular websites you can use to check if your email will end up in spam:
MailGenius: (mailgenius.com) This tool gives you a spam score for your email and provides feedback on what might trigger spam filters. It checks for common issues like the use of spammy words, sender reputation, and formatting problems.
Spamcheck by Postmark: (spamcheck.postmarkapp.com) Spamcheck analyzes the content of your email, including the subject line, and provides a detailed report with a spam score and suggestions on how to improve deliverability.
IsNotSpam: (isnotspam.com) This tool allows you to send a test email and evaluates your email’s spam potential by analyzing SPF, DKIM, and other authentication factors, as well as the content of your email.
GlockApps: (glockapps.com) GlockApps provides detailed deliverability insights, including whether your email might end up in the inbox, spam, or promotions tab. It checks your subject line and email content for possible triggers that could affect deliverability.
Mail-Tester: (mail-tester.com) Mail-Tester is an easy-to-use tool where you send your email to a test address, and it generates a report that evaluates your email’s spam score and provides recommendations for improving deliverability.
By using these tools, you can test your cold email before sending it to ensure that your carefully crafted subject line and content don’t accidentally land in the spam folder.
Does the Common Cold Email Subject Line “Quick Question” Still Work?
For years, “Quick question” has been one of the most commonly used subject lines in cold emailing. It’s short, to the point, and creates curiosity. However, its effectiveness may have waned due to overuse. When a subject line becomes too common, it loses its uniqueness, and recipients might recognize it as part of a typical cold email script.
In many cases, the phrase still works because it’s simple and feels informal, which can lower the recipient’s defenses. But depending on your industry or the type of person you’re emailing, this subject line might feel stale. It’s still worth testing, but you should experiment with variations and more personalized alternatives to see if you get better results.
10 Cold Email Subject Lines That Get Replies
Here are 10 cold email subject lines that have proven to be effective. They’re designed to stand out in a crowded inbox and encourage the recipient to open the email.
“[Name], I think you’ll love this idea”
Using the recipient’s name grabs their attention, and the intrigue of “this idea” piques curiosity.
“Can we discuss this next week?”
This line feels like part of an ongoing conversation and creates an urgency to respond.
“Thought you’d find this interesting, [First Name]”
Personalization combined with a hint of value sparks curiosity.
“Quick question about [Company Name]”
A slight variation of the classic “Quick question” that adds relevance by including the recipient’s company.
“Here’s how [competitor’s name] is doing [task] better”
Leveraging a competitor’s name adds a competitive edge and piques interest, especially if the recipient is curious about what others in their industry are doing.
“Can I help you with [specific pain point]?”
Addressing a known problem or pain point can be highly effective in gaining attention.
“Are you free for a quick call next Tuesday?”
Specificity in the subject line makes it feel more personal and action-oriented.
“How [Company Name] can improve [process] by 20%”
Showing the value or potential outcome upfront gives the recipient a reason to open the email.
“[First Name], have you thought about [solution]?”
Directly addressing the recipient and offering a solution creates a connection.
“Your competition is doing this, are you?”
A curiosity-driven approach that plays on competitive instincts.
The Power of Using Lowercase Subject Lines
The use of lowercase in subject lines has become a popular tactic in cold emailing. Lowercase subject lines give off a more casual and conversational tone, making the email feel less “markety” and more personal. This can be particularly effective in cold outreach, where you want the email to come across as authentic and not part of a mass marketing campaign.
For example:
“just checking in” vs. “Just Checking In”
“saw this and thought of you” vs. “Saw This And Thought Of You”
The lowercase version feels more relaxed and approachable, which can lead to higher open rates. The key is to make it look like you’re sending a message from one person to another rather than from a company to a prospect.
Using the Recipient’s Name or Company in the Subject Line
Personalization is another powerful tool in crafting cold email subject lines. Including the recipient’s name or their company’s name in the subject line can significantly boost open rates. When someone sees their name or something relevant to their business, they’re more likely to pay attention.
Example subject lines:
“[Name], quick question about [Company Name]”
“How [Company Name] can improve [specific process]”
“Hi [Name], here’s a solution for [pain point]”
By using personalization, you make the email feel like it was written specifically for the recipient, which increases the chances of them opening and reading your message. Just be careful not to overdo it or make it seem too robotic by using the same template repeatedly.
Subject lines are the unsung heroes of cold emailing. Crafting the perfect one requires a balance between personalization, curiosity, and value without sounding spammy or overly promotional. Remember, your subject line can be the difference between a successful campaign and a slew of unopened emails.
By avoiding common spam triggers, using low caps for a more personal touch, and incorporating the recipient’s name or company, you can boost your cold email open rates.
The examples shared in this article provide a great starting point for your next campaign, but always test and iterate to see what works best for your audience.
Mastering the art of the cold email subject line takes practice, but with these tips and examples, you’ll be well on your way to crafting compelling subject lines that get replies.