Write Effective Subject Lines And Email Text! — BuildMyVocab

BuildMyVocab App
English Vocabulary
Published in
3 min readOct 9, 2017

Out of the billions of emails that are sent every day, how can you make sure that yours stands out? Here is the secret: Impactful subject line and an informative yet compelling email text!

It’s been said many times that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But when it comes to your marketing email, no one seems to have a problem with making a snap decision. Good email subject lines can make a powerful impact on your readers. The words you choose for your email subject lines can have a big impact on whether or not the hard work you’ve put into your email will pay off.

Tips for writing effective email subject line:

For many professionals, the subject line is an afterthought that you add just before you hit send.

A typical inbox reveals about 60 characters of an email’s subject line, while a mobile phone shows just 25 to 30 characters, says Augustine. Get right to the point in about six to eight words.

With such precious space, don’t waste it with unnecessary words like “hello,” “nice to meet you,” and “thanks,” which can easily be included in the email’s body.

The subject line should communicate exactly what the email is about so that the recipient can prioritize the email’s importance without having to open it.

Most professionals have filters and folders set up to manage their email and probably won’t focus on your message when they first see it. That’s why it’s important to include keywords related to the topic of the email that will make it searchable later.

If you’ve been referred by a mutual acquaintance, do not save that for the body of the email. Put it in the subject line to grab the reader’s attention right away. Moreover, try beginning the subject line with the full name of the person who referred you.

To grab someone’s attention and persuade them to reply, consider creating a deadline for your proposition. Common ways of creating urgency include “respond now,” “register today,” and “limited space available — reply soon.

Beware of copy-and-paste errors. Sometimes when people are sending a similar email to multiple people, they forget to tailor it to each reader and end up with the wrong name or title in the subject line. The easiest way to avoid this is to reread the subject line before you hit send.

ALL ABOUT EMAIL TEXT

We’re all busy, and we’ve all received long, ambiguous and rambling email. Ironically, most of us have also been guilty of writing such verbose email while requesting for someone else’s time. So here is a comprehensive guide to write more effective email text!

One way of keeping introductions brief is to write them like you’re meeting face-to-face. You wouldn’t go off into a five-minute monologue when meeting someone in person. So don’t do it in email. When you’re emailing someone for the first time, you need to let the recipient know who you are. You can usually do this in one sentence. For example: “It was great to meet you at [X event].”

In every email you write, you should use enough sentences to say what you need and no more. Embrace the five sentences discipline, and you’ll find yourself writing emails more quickly. You’ll also get more replies.

What’s the key to keeping your e-mails short? Using a standard structure. Here’s a simple structure to get you started:

Use short words, sentences and paragraphs!

Short words show respect for your reader. By using short words, you’ve done the hard work of making your message easy to understand. The same is true of short sentences and paragraphs. Avoid writing big blocks of text if you want your email to be clear and easily understood.

Lastly, write like you speak.

Email is a less formal way of communicating than writing a letter or even making a phone call. Writing as you speak makes you come across as personable and friendly. It also helps you to keep your emails short. After all, only a few of us speak in extended paragraphs.

Additionally, make sure your emails reflect who you are in the real world. If you wouldn’t say something to a person’s face, don’t say it in an email. And remember to mind your manners. “Please” and “Thank you” go a long way.

--

--