Best Subject Lines for Cold Emails: Examples and Templates

best subject lines for cold emails
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“There’s one email feature that can prevent your email from going straight to your recipient’s “Junk” folder.”

You’ve spent hours crafting the perfect email – clear, concise, and bursting with value. You hit send, that familiar mix of anticipation and dread bubbling in your stomach. Will they open it? Will they care? If you’re reaching out to someone for the first time, someone who has no idea who you are or what you offer, that email is a cold email.

If you’re hearing it for the first time, Cold emails are the foot soldiers of the digital sales world. They’re how businesses introduce themselves, spark conversations, and build relationships with potential customers who haven’t explicitly expressed interest. But crafting the best subject lines for cold emails is crucial with inboxes overflowing and spam filters on high alert. It’s that first impression, that line that determines whether your carefully crafted message gets seen or sent straight to the dreaded junk folder.

The need for the best subject lines for cold emails comes from the sheer volume of communication bombarding decision-makers today. They don’t have time to wade through generic pitches. A captivating subject line is your golden ticket, the key that unlocks the door to their attention. So, chuck the generic greetings and forget about the hard sell. It’s time to craft the best subject lines for cold emails that intrigue, inform, and compel them to hit “open.”

Key Point:

  • Cold emails serve as vital tools for digital sales, requiring attention-grabbing subject lines to evade spam filters and secure opens.
  • Effective subject lines for cold emails should be concise, personalized, and relevant to the recipient’s needs or interests.
  • Various strategies exist to craft compelling subject lines, such as showcasing benefits, stimulating curiosity, leveraging FOMO, making offers, and appealing to vanity.
  • Achieving a good cold email open rate typically involves hitting 15-25% or higher, emphasizing both email deliverability and compelling copywriting.
  • Avoiding spammy subject lines is crucial, as they trigger email filters and decrease deliverability; instead, focus on genuine, attention-grabbing language tailored to the recipient.

What is A Good Subject Line For A Cold Call Email?

A good subject line for a cold call email should be concise, attention-grabbing, and relevant to the recipient. It should pique their curiosity and encourage them to open the email. One effective approach is to personalize the subject line by mentioning the recipient’s name or referencing something specific about their company or industry. For example, “John, How [Recipient’s Company] Can Benefit from [Your Product/Service]” shows that you’ve done your research and tailored your message to their needs.

Another strategy is to create urgency or offer a solution to a problem the recipient may be facing. Phrases like “Don’t Miss Out on [Benefit or Opportunity]” or “Solving [Specific Pain Point] for [Recipient’s Company]” can compel them to open the email to learn more.

Using numbers or statistics can make the subject line more compelling. For instance, “Increase Your [Metric] by 30% with [Your Solution]” immediately communicates a tangible benefit.

You’ve got limited characters, so every word counts. With a captivating subject line, you’ll grab their attention, prime them for your value proposition, and increase your chances of that all-important “Open.” Now go forth and conquer those inboxes!

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What Email Subject Lines Get The Most Opens?

You stare at the blinking cursor, the email subject line mockingly blank. Sure, the email itself is fire, but if no one opens it, all that effort goes up in smoke. So, what makes someone crack open a cold email? The answer, my friend, lies in the magic of the subject line.

lines get the most opens

Here are 10 different types of best subject lines for cold emails and examples of each to inspire you in your email creations: 

1. Show the benefits 

Self-interest subject lines are one of the most prevalent and successful ways to get clients to open your emails. If your consumer sees value in viewing your email, they are more inclined to do so. For example, “How to write blog posts that sell,” informs your buyer that your email has useful information. It also foreshadows future information.

2. Stimulate curiosity

Indeed, most individuals would rather speak about something other than overdue library books, but what precisely does this email allude to?

You may use a similar technique to your subject lines to enhance open rates. For example, suppose you got an email with the subject line “An Evil Facebook Genius.” Wouldn’t you like to find out more about the email’s subject? I thought so

In addition to increasing open rates, raising interest boosts click-through rates and increases traffic to your website. Try to include a query in your subject line. Address (but do not respond) the question in the email. If your buyer genuinely wants to know the answer, they will need to visit your website. When you employ an exciting subject to keep your customer interested, it may be a highly effective strategy.

3. Leverage FOMO (fear of missing out)

The fear of missing out motivates many customers to check emails. Subject lines conveying urgency had a 22% higher open rate. Customers want to take advantage of current promotions before they expire. For example, “Limited Quantities Left! Don’t Miss Out on [Product Name]!” powerful right! This subject line has a highlights scarcity, creating a sense of urgency and will drive them to open your email before the opportunity disappears.

You may induce FOMO by reminding buyers that a bargain will not last long. You may also convey a sense of scarcity by using words like “going fast” and “only four left in stock.” An appropriate subject line may be “$7 today, $47 tomorrow.” These statements not only build urgency and encourage people to open your email, but they may also drive additional traffic to your website.

Read also: How to Increase Organic Traffic

4. Make an offer

Everyone enjoys receiving a good deal. If the bargain includes a freebie, it’s even better. Check out this example: “Get 20% Off Your Next Purchase! Exclusive Offer Inside!” Now, This subject line is clear, concise, and directly offers value, making it hard to resist opening.

Although the term “purchase” does not ensure that your email will be opened, there are other methods to communicate a bargain that may have a favorable impact. for example, “My gift to you,” implies that there is something to gain by opening your email.

5. Get personal

Personalization adds a touch of warmth. For example, “Hey Hannah, Did You See Our New Books on Business yield?” It is addressed to an individual. Trello hasn’t heard from Hannah in a long. If the subject line is as personal as the email, the message is more likely to be read. You may even modify topic lines based on birthdays, prior transactions, and the customer’s location.

6. Hit the pain points  

Your consumers may have encountered the cost and hassle of sending response emails. But the truth is that, people always respond to solutions for their problems. For example, “Struggling with [Pain Point]? We Have the Solution!” This kind of email’s addresses the pain point and offers a solution. If your subject line does the same, your customers are more likely to read your email and discover how to solve their problem.

Some instances of leveraging pain points in subject lines are Pizza Hut’s. Keep in mind that you cannot grasp your client’s pain points until you first understand your consumer. This brings us back to our original point: get to know your audience. Spending time on your buyer personas allows you to pinpoint the pain areas that truly inspire your consumers.

7. Give them breaking news 

Customers want to be informed, thus news headlines are likely to capture their attention. For example, “Breaking News! [Industry] Just Changed Forever!“. The goal is to identify news that is directly related to your product or service. Oribe nailed the concept with this email, which highlighted the fact that one of their products was featured on the Today Show.

Find a news story that will interest your clients. If it isn’t directly relevant to your sector, find a method to connect them. Be inventive. Create a headline for your subject line that will entice them to read more.

8. Use humor 

Everyone appreciates a good chuckle, which is why hilarious subject lines attract attention. When a subject makes you laugh, you are more inclined to open the email and learn more.

For example, “Is Your [Product] Feeling a Little Dull? We Have the Cure! (It’s Not Coffee)” This method needs more thinking and imagination, but the benefits outweigh the extra work.

Consider this subject line from Groupon: “Best of Groupon: The Deals That Make Us Proud (Unlike Our Nephew, Steve).” Have you laughed? Can you relate?

What about this slogan from OpenTable? “Licking your phone never tasted so good.” Now you see, these sentences are both entertaining and intriguing.

9. Appeal to vanity 

Vanity is a universal trait since almost everyone wants to be liked and accepted. To be honest, most of us want to look our best. Example, “Unlock Your Inner [Desired Trait]! Our Latest Tips Inside!“.

Vanity topic lines may have the effect of making clients appear or feel better about themselves. You can also exploit the fear of being embarrassed by your peers for not wearing the appropriate clothing.

10. Show Social Proof

Social proof builds trust. “Join the Thousands Who Love [Product]! See Why They’re Raving!” In this example, it shows the popularity of a product, making the recipient feel they might be missing out on something great. By including social proof, your email explains how your product will help clients keep up with the Joneses or the Kardashians, depending on who they connect to the most.

There are several techniques to exhibit social proof in your email body. You can display how many people are using your product. Like, “Learning the secret that hundreds of people already know.” Also, tap into our drive to mimic superstars. Sephora, for example, utilized the slogan “Products the celebrities are wearing.” Rapha stated, “As seen on the World Tour.”

Read Also: INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP: Simple Trait of Inclusive Leadership

What is A Good Subject Line For An Introduction?

We all know first impressions matter, and that goes for emails too. You know what they say – you never get a second chance to make a first impression. And when it comes to introductory emails, that first impression is the subject line. It’s the make-or-break moment that determines whether your message gets opened or sent straight to the trash.

So how do I craft a killer subject line for my intoduction? First off, you need to grab attention without being too gimmicky. Things like excessive punctuation!!!!! or all-caps SUBJECT LINES just scream spam. Instead, I’ll go for a punchy, clear subject that hints at the email’s purpose – maybe something like “Quick Introduction [My Name] from [Company].”

Here are examples:

  • Hey {{First Name}}.  I’m interested in your insights on [Topic Name]
  • Hi {{Name}}, It would be great to collaborate with you on this project {Project Name}.
  • Thanks for the awesome work you do, [Name]! I am so impressed.
  • I’ve been inspired by all the great work you do on [Social media]. Thanks for sharing your story!

But you shouldn’t stop there. The best subject lines arouse a little curiosity too. I could add “…with an idea for [Their Company’s Pain Point]” to pique their interest. Short, scannable subject lines work well for introductions since the recipient doesn’t know me yet.

No matter what, I’ll avoid anything too pushy or salesy in the subject line. I’m just looking to slip past the gatekeeper and into their inbox. Once they open the email, then I can start connecting. But that punchy, intriguing subject? That’s my key to getting read.

After seeing samples of business introduction emails, here are some templates that you may use in your email marketing program to save time:

Follow-up to meeting in person template

Business Yield Cold Emails

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Cold business introduction email template

Business Yield Cold Emails

What is a Good Cold Email Open Rate?

Let me be real – cold emailing can feel like shouting into the void sometimes. You spend hours crafting the perfect message, only for it to get lost in an endless inbox abyss. But don’t lose hope just yet! A decent open rate proves people are opening and reading what you have to say.

So what counts as “good” these days?

It varies across industries, but generally, anything above 15-25% is considered a win for cold emails. If I’m hitting 30% or higher open rates, I’m pretty much crushing it. Anything lower than 10% though? Yeah, that’s a little disappointing. Of course, open rates only tell part of the story. I could have a 50% open rate, but if no one replies or clicks through, was it successful? That’s why I look at open rates combined with other engagement metrics to gauge true performance.

The secret sauce? It boils down to two things: building rock-solid email deliverability (so your emails land in inboxes, not spam) and becoming a master copywriter for cold emails (think subject lines that intrigue and email content that speaks directly to their pain points). The better you get at both, the higher your open rates will soar.

What Are Spammy Subject Lines?

Okay, listen up! Ever gotten an email with a subject line that screams “Don’t open me, I’m spam”? Those are exactly what spammy subject lines are. They use sneaky tactics to trick you into clicking but trust me, they’re nothing but trouble.

Spammers love words that create a sense of urgency or that sound too good to be true. Think flashing lights and sirens – “Limited time offer!” or “Urgent! You won’t believe this!”. They also throw in dollar signs and all caps to grab your attention, like “EARN $$$ NOW!!!” It’s all about creating a frenzy to get you to click without thinking.

But here’s the thing, these subject lines are a major red flag for email providers. They have filters that sniff out these spammy phrases, and if your email has too many, it lands straight in the junk folder, never to be seen again.

So, how do you avoid them?

Easy! If a subject line sounds cheesy, pushy, or uses weird symbols, it’s probably spam. Delete it on sight. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stay safe out there!

Read Also: WHAT IS COLD CALLING: Definition, How It Works, Examples and Techniques

How Do You Grab Attention in An Email?

Getting someone to open your email feels like cracking a code. But fear not, friend! Here’s how I snag the attention of readers:

First, the subject line is my battle cry. It’s gotta be short, sweet, and spark curiosity. Think questions, urgency, or even a touch of personalization. Like, “Quick question about [their project]” or “Don’t miss out on [exclusive offer]!”

Inside the email, ditch the long-winded intros. People skim these days. Get straight to the point. Is it a question? Ask it boldly! Sharing an update? Highlight the key takeaway. Bullet points are your friend for easy digestion.

Don’t forget the power of “you.” Speak directly to the recipient. It makes them feel valued and engaged. “Your feedback is crucial” is way more impactful than “We appreciate receiving your thoughts.”

Finally, keep it concise. People are busy. One clear message per email is golden. If there’s more to say, break it into separate emails. Trust me, they’ll thank you for it! By following these tricks, you’ll transform your emails from inbox filler to attention grabbers. Now go forth and conquer those inboxes!

Conclusion

Look, crafting the perfect cold email is tough. You’ve poured your heart into the body, addressing their specific needs and showcasing your value. But before they even see that, they gotta open it, right? That’s where the best subject lines for cold emails come in. They’re your secret weapon, the first impression that grabs their attention and compels them to click.

Think of it like a movie trailer. A boring one puts you to sleep, but a thrilling one gets you hyped to see the whole thing. Your subject line is that trailer – exciting, intriguing, and hinting at the value within. Remember, you only have a few precious words to pique their curiosity. So ditch the generic greetings and vague promises. Instead, use the best subject lines for cold emails – lines that speak directly to their pain points, offer solutions, or spark a sense of urgency.

These best subject lines for cold emails won’t guarantee a response every time, but they’ll drastically increase your chances. They’ll set you apart from the endless spam and land you in that coveted “open” folder. So put some thought into it, craft those best subject lines, and watch your response rates soar.

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