Better email communication

Better email communication through clear subject lines

Ever feel like your emails aren’t being read?  Are you still waiting to hear back so you can move forward? Your email subject line will often determine whether or not anyone will actually read your message.

When it comes to sending an important email, whether it be to one person or a mass marketing communication, the key to success is creating engaging content.  First step is to include a useful subject line!

Due to the growth of social media, many people are trying to adapt Twitter speak to emails.  This isn’t the best way to use email. If you want your email read, you need to spend more time than a Tweet or Text.

Tips for writing a useful subject line:

  1. Always write a subject line (this seems obvious, right?!?)
  2. Write the subject line first (helps set the tone)
  3. Keep it short (65 characters is the goal)
  4. Place the most important words at the beginning
  5. Eliminate filler words and spam triggers
  6. Be clear and specific about the topic of the email
  7. Use logical keywords for search and filtering
  8. Indicate if you need a response or set a deadline
  9. Don’t start a sentence that you finish in the email body
  10. Do not use ALL CAPS or a string of punctuation
  11. Reread before you hit send!

How many characters should an email subject line be?

According to data from Return Path, 65 characters seems to be a sweet spot for email subject lines, which is about 15 characters more than the average subject line. When subject lines are 61-70 characters long, they tend to get read. However, most email subject lines are between 41 and 50 characters.

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