I know it can be tempting to stop at the generic “just checking in” email subject line, but this can hurt your email open rates.
Leaving the recipient curious about the contents of the email can help get your email opened, but you should avoid misleading email subject lines.
So, what subject line hooks can you use to get your recipient to open your email?
1. The “How To” Hook
If you’ve been on the internet in the past five years, you’ve probably seen a “how to” headline or two. That’s because people love content that teaches them something. The same goes for your subject lines.
If you’re promoting a piece of content, event, or product, you can use the “how to” hook to tell your audience that they’ll learn something new. This is a great way to get people interested in your email and boost your open rates.
For example, let’s say you’re promoting a webinar on social media marketing. You could use the subject line “How to Master Social Media Marketing” to get people interested in your event.
2. The “Question” Hook
One of the most effective ways to boost your open rates is to ask your subscribers a question in your subject line. This hook is effective because it piques curiosity and prompts the reader to open the email to find out the answer.
And, as an added bonus, asking a question in your subject line can help you to personalize your email content by using your subscribers’ response data.
For example, let’s say you’re a travel company and you want to send an email about the best vacations to take in 2023. You could ask your subscribers: “Where Will You Go on Your Next Vacation?” and then personalize your email content based on their previous travel habits, interests, and destinations.
3. The “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) Hook
FOMO is a powerful motivator. It’s the feeling that everyone else is doing something that you’re missing out on. And, it’s the hook we’re all familiar with in the marketing world.
You can use the FOMO hook in your subject lines by offering something that’s only available for a limited time. This could be a discount, a freebie, early access, a sale or anything else you can think of.
4. The “Curiosity” Hook
Last, but certainly not least, is the “curiosity” hook. This is a great way to get your customers to open your emails. Why? Because it’s a natural human instinct to want to know more.
You can use the curiosity hook in a few different ways. For example, you could ask a question in your subject line and then provide the answer in the email. Or, you could use a teaser to hint at what the email is about without giving too much away.
No matter how you use it, the curiosity hook is a great way to pique your customers’ interest and get them to open your emails.
5. The “Social Proof” Hook
When you want to build trust with your audience, you need to show that other people trust you. You can do that by including testimonials and reviews in your email campaigns, but you can also use social proof in your subject lines.
Social proof subject lines showcase how many people are already engaging with your brand. This could be through a new product launch, a popular blog post, or even a press mention.
When you use social proof in your subject lines, you can help increase your open rates by building credibility and trust right off the bat.
6. The “Personalized” Hook
Personalizing your email subject lines is a great way to increase open rates. And, with the right data and personalization tools, you can create a unique subject line for each of your contacts.
However, you can also use the “personalized” hook to make your subject lines feel more relevant and engaging. In this example, the brand uses the recipient’s first name to grab their attention and make the email feel more personal.
7. The “Number” Hook
People love lists. They’re easy to read and understand.
In fact, our brains are wired to love them.
That’s because lists are a great way to organize information. They’re also a quick way to consume information.
So, if you have a list-based email, make sure to tell people that in your subject line.
For example, if you’re running an event and you have a list of speakers, you could use a subject line like this:
“Top 5 Speakers You Can’t Miss at [Event Name]”
8. The “Command” Hook
If you have a strong CTA in your email, try using a command hook in your subject line. A command hook is a call to action in the form of a command.
This subject line tells the recipient exactly what you want them to do: to read your email. It’s a simple, yet effective command hook that will increase your open rate.
Conclusion
Creating an effective email campaign is no easy feat. But with the right subject line, you can increase open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. Use the subject line hook examples above to create your next winning email campaign.