Ever wondered why your cold emails aren't getting the attention they deserve? Well, the secret often lies in something as simple as the subject line. Crafting the best email subject lines can skyrocket your open rates and set the stage for a successful email outreach.
In this article, we’ll share 21 killer cold email subject lines that boast an impressive 90% open rate.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
P.S., The best cold email subject line in the world still won't work if you're not reaching out to the right customer for your business. If you're tired of wasting time finding the right buyers, cleaning spreadsheets, and verifying their emails and phone numbers, try ListKit to build your first triple-verified lead list of high-potential buyers so ALL your emails land – and turn into a sale.
When you write subject lines for cold emailing, using psychological triggers like curiosity, urgency, scarcity, and personalization can dramatically improve your open rates. By crafting compelling subject lines that incorporate these elements, you can start sending successful cold emails instead of junk mail that turn into sales.
Key Strategies for Effective Email Subject Lines:
1. Curiosity:
2. Urgency and Scarcity:
3. Personalization:
Why This Subject Line Works: Avoids a pitch right off the bat and is designed to spark a harmless conversation that you can turn into a sale.
When to Use: When you know a specific question will capture curiosity and lead the prospect down a certain questioning funnel.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], are you using Klaviyo for email marketing?
Why This Subject Line Works: Directly addresses a common pain point, showing empathy and understanding.
When to Use: When you have identified a significant pain point the recipient is likely experiencing.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], are you struggling with [pain point]? We helped a client overcome this exact challenge and improved their process efficiency by 30%. Open to a quick chat about how we can help you too?
Why This Subject Line Works: Shows a clear benefit of your product or service, highlighting a specific metric to make the value proposition tangible.
When to Use: When you can offer a measurable improvement in a specific area.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], we helped [Company] boost their [specific metric] by 25%. I’d love to share how we did it and discuss how we can do the same for you. Interested?
Why This Subject Line Works: Offers a solution to a known issue, sparking interest and positioning your email as helpful and relevant.
When to Use: When you can provide a direct solution to a problem the recipient is facing.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], here’s a solution to your [problem]. We implemented this for a client and increased their productivity by 30%. Open to hearing how we can help you too?
Why This Subject Line Works: Engages the recipient by posing a question related to a problem they may have, inviting a response.
When to Use: When you know the recipient might have a specific issue that you can address.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], can we help with your [specific issue]? We recently helped a client with a similar problem and reduced their downtime by 40%. Interested in seeing how we can help you too?
Why This Subject Line Works: Promises a quick and easy benefit, piquing curiosity and interest.
When to Use: When you can offer a fast and effective solution to a problem.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey [Name], we have a quick win for [Company]. We implemented a similar strategy for a client and saw a 15% increase in sales within a month. Open to chatting about how we can do the same for you?
Why This Subject Line Works: Invites a conversation on a topic of mutual interest, building rapport and establishing common ground.
When to Use: When you have identified a relevant topic that is of interest to both.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
I noticed your interest in [topic]. We recently helped a client optimize their [related process], resulting in a 25% efficiency boost. I’d love to discuss how we can achieve similar results for you. Free next week for a quick call?
Why This Subject Line Works: Creates a sense of urgency and competitiveness, motivating the recipient to take action.
When to Use: When you have information about industry trends or competitor activities that can benefit the recipient.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Did you know that many of your competitors are already using [product/service] to improve their [specific area]? We helped XYZ Corp increase their productivity by 30% using this solution. Interested in hearing how we can do the same for you?
Why This Subject Line Works: Offers actionable insights and specific numbers that capture attention and add value.
When to Use: When you have identified key strategies that can benefit the recipient.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Here are three proven strategies to boost your [specific metric]: 1. Personalize your outreach, 2. Use data-driven insights, 3. Optimize your follow-ups. We helped a client increase their conversion rate by 20% using these methods. Open to learning how we can do the same for you?
Why This Subject Line Works: Challenges the recipient and implies potential growth, positioning your offer as a solution for scaling.
When to Use: When you can offer a solution that addresses growth challenges.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
If you’re ready to scale, we can help manage your growing customer base. We recently helped a client double their lead volume in 60 days. Open to chatting about how we can support your growth?
Why This Subject Line Works: Emphasizes a minimal time investment, reducing resistance to the call.
When to Use: When you need to propose a brief and focused discussion.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
I promise to keep it brief. Let’s discuss how we can improve your [specific area] with minimal time investment. We helped a client boost their ROI by 20% in just a month. Free for a 5-minute chat this week?
Why This Subject Line Works: Ties your message to a relevant event, creating urgency and relevance.
When to Use: When an upcoming event or deadline is approaching.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
With [upcoming event] around the corner, are you prepared? We helped a client maximize their sales during the last event season, resulting in a 25% increase. Open to hearing how we can do the same for you?
Why This Subject Line Works: Presents a specific and compelling benefit, making the value proposition tangible.
When to Use: When you can provide concrete results within a specific timeframe.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Our methods can increase your [metric] by 20% in just 30 days. We helped a client achieve this exact result last quarter. Interested in how we can do the same for you?
Why This Subject Line Works: Shows interest and personalization by directly addressing the recipient’s company.
When to Use: When you have a specific question related to the recipient’s company.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Is {company} using Klaviyo for email marketing?
When you send marketing emails, they don't always have to be a sales pitch. A cold sales email can start with a request to just connect and get to know your target audience. This can give you higher response rates because people know yoi're not a sales rep trying to take their money.
Then, once you've established a relationship, you can spark a prospect's curiosity about something you offer. The advantage of networking first is you can make more offer more appealing, now that you have more information about the prospect's interest at hand.
Why This Works: Personalizes the email, sparking curiosity with a direct address.
When to Use: When you have a specific question that is relevant to the recipient.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, are you currently using HubSpot for your CRM?
Why This Works: Personalizes the email, making it feel more like a personal connection.
When to Use: When you want to create a sense of familiarity and connection.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, it’s [your name] here. I’d love to discuss how we can collaborate on [specific topic]. Can we set up a quick call?
Why This Works: Creates a direct connection between the two companies, making the email feel more relevant.
When to Use: When you want to emphasize the potential partnership between the companies.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, I see that {company} is doing great work in [industry]. At [your company], we have some ideas on how we can collaborate to achieve even more. Interested in discussing this further?
Why This Works: Directly asks for a connection, making it clear and straightforward.
When to Use: When you want to establish a connection with the recipient.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, I’d love to connect and discuss how we can support each other’s goals. Open to a quick chat?
Why This Works: Directly addresses a potential need, making the email highly relevant.
When to Use: When you know the recipient might be looking for a specific service.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, are you looking for [service]? We’ve helped several clients achieve [specific result] with our services. Open to chatting about how we can do the same for you?
Why This Works: Emphasizes a minimal time investment, making it easier for the recipient to agree.
When to Use: When you need to propose a brief and focused discussion.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, do you have 5 minutes to discuss [specific topic]? I promise to keep it brief and valuable. Free for a quick chat?
Why This Works: Personalizes the email with an observation, showing that you’ve done your research.
When to Use: When you have a specific observation about the recipient’s company.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, I noticed [something interesting] about {company}’s recent project on [specific topic]. Open to discussing this further?
Why This Works: Directly asks for a call, making it clear and straightforward.
When to Use: When you want to establish a connection and have a conversation.
Sample email starter with this subject line:
Hey {name}, I’d love to have a quick call to discuss [specific topic]. Are you free for a call this week?
Mistake: Using Spam-Trigger Words
Avoid spam-trigger words like “Sale,” “Earn,” “$$,” “Income,” and “Profit.” These words can trigger spam filters and land your email in the junk folder.
Do Right: Place your offer in the email body. Focus on creating subject lines that are clear and relevant to the recipient's interests.
Mistake: Failing to Optimize for Mobile
Not optimizing subject lines for mobile devices can reduce open rates, especially since 42% of emails are opened on mobile.
Do Right: Keep your subject lines concise—aim for 4-7 words or a maximum of 60 characters to ensure readability on smaller screens.
Mistake: Writing Generic Subject Lines
Generic subject lines fail to capture attention and can be easily overlooked.
Do Right: Be specific and pique curiosity with intriguing content that speaks directly to the recipient’s interests.
Mistake: Lack of Preheader Text
Neglecting to add preheader text misses an opportunity to provide additional context and entice the reader to open the email.
Do Right: Use preheader text to complement your subject line and provide a brief preview of the email content.
Mistake: Over-Personalizing Subject Lines
Overloading subject lines with too many personalization points can seem forced and inauthentic.
Do Right: Personalize smartly by using one or two key personalization points that feel natural and relevant to the recipient.
When it comes to cold email outreach, deliverability is crucial. Even the best-crafted subject lines won't matter if your emails aren't landing in your recipients' inboxes. Here are some key strategies to ensure high deliverability and achieve open rates of 90% or more:
1. Authenticate Your Emails: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC - Set up these authentication protocols to verify that your emails are sent from legitimate sources. This helps prevent your emails from being marked as spam.
2. Maintain a Clean Email List: Regularly clean your email list to remove invalid, inactive, and duplicate email addresses. This reduces bounce rates and increases deliverability.
3. Warm Up Your Email Account: If you're using a new email account, start with a small volume of emails and gradually increase it. This helps build your sender reputation with email providers.
4. Monitor Your Sender Reputation: Use tools like Sender Score or Google Postmaster to monitor your sender reputation. A good reputation ensures better deliverability.
5. Avoid Spammy Words: Words like "free," "buy now," and "discount" can trigger spam filters. Focus on creating relevant and engaging content that resonates with your audience.
6. Personalize Your Emails: Personalization goes beyond using the recipient's name. Tailor the content to their specific needs and interests to increase engagement and reduce the likelihood of being marked as spam.
7. Use a Reliable Email Sending Service: Use reputable email sending services that have strong relationships with ISPs and ensure high deliverability rates.
8. Regularly Test and Optimize: Continuously test different subject lines and email content to see what works best. Use the data to optimize future email campaigns.
9. Engage with Your Audience: Encourage recipients to respond to your emails. Engaged recipients are less likely to mark your emails as spam.
Cold email sending tools like Smartlead lets you auto warm-up your cold email domains and A/B test your cold emails and subject lines.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your email deliverability and achieve open rates of 90% or more. Remember, the foundation of a successful cold email campaign lies not only in compelling subject lines but also in ensuring that your emails reach your audience's inbox.
Smartlead is a cold email sending software that provides robust tools for A/B testing your email subject lines, allowing you to optimize your cold email campaigns effectively.
Wrapping up, you now have the tools and insights to craft compelling cold email subject lines. Your emails are on the path to achieving higher open rates and engagement. Here are the key takeaways from this article:
With these strategies, you're ready to transform your email outreach. To streamline your lead generation and ensure your email lists are top-notch, ListKit is here to help.
ListKit offers a vast database of triple-verified leads, ensuring your efforts are focused on high-quality prospects. This integration with Smartlead not only enhances the effectiveness of your subject lines but also ensures your emails land in the inbox of the right people.
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