The subject line is the first thing your audience sees when they receive an email or scroll through their feed. It’s the gatekeeper that determines whether your message gets opened or ignored.

Writing a compelling subject line or headline can make all the difference in the success of your email or content marketing campaign.

Here are seven tips for writing high-converting subject lines and headlines that are guaranteed to stop the scroll and move your audience from being distracted to focused on solving their problems.

1. Keep it Short and Simple

The best subject lines and headlines are short and to the point. They should be easy to read and understand, even at a glance.

The ideal length for a subject line is between 30 and 50 characters, while headlines can be a bit longer but still concise.

2. Use Numbers

Using numbers in your subject lines and headlines can make them more compelling and attention-grabbing.

Numbers provide a sense of structure and make your content more tangible. For example, “5 Tips for Better Sleep” is more engaging than “Tips for Better Sleep.”

**Odd numbers tend to lure in eyeballs moreso than even numbers. — >> Don’t ask why it’s just one of those random psychology hacks!**

3. Add a Sense of Urgency

Creating a sense of urgency can encourage your audience to take action. Phrases like “limited time offer” or “only a few spots left” can develop a sense of scarcity and prompt your audience to act quickly.

The key here is to be honest and hold up your integrity; if you add urgency, make sure it’s REAL, and don’t go back on your word.

4. Use Power Words

Power words evoke emotions and create a strong response in your audience. Examples of power words include “amazing,” “unbelievable,” “proven,” and “exclusive.”

Power words make your subject lines and headlines more impactful and memorable.

Here are a few of my faves:

• Awe-inspiring
• Heart-throbbing
• Mind-boggling
• Last Chance
• Reminder
• re: (as in you’re finishing a conversation – try it today!!)

Depending on your industry, you will come up with power words associated with your offers and the topics you discuss. For example, power words for a finance company probably include “invest, ROI, high-yield savings,” and the like.

5. Personalize Your Message

Personalizing your subject lines and headlines can make them more relevant and engaging to your audience.

Using the recipient’s name or other personal details can create a sense of connection and make them more likely to open or engage with your content.

Take some time and ask yourself what your audience is experiencing before coming across your brand, what they’re feeling like after your solution, and who their current main enemy is (the thing preventing them from reaching a transformed life through your offer)

6. Make it Benefit-Driven

Your subject lines and headlines should focus on the benefits of your content or offer.

Rather than simply describing your content, emphasize what your audience will gain from reading or engaging with it.

For example, “Discover the Secret to a Perfect Night’s Sleep” is more compelling than “Tips for Better Sleep.”

7. Test and Optimize

Testing and optimizing your subject lines and headlines is crucial for improving their effectiveness.

Try different variations and track the open and engagement rates to see what works best for your audience.

Use A/B testing to compare different subject lines or headlines and determine which drives the most conversions.

Alright, Go Open Your Email Service Provider and Get to Writing!

Writing high-converting subject lines and headlines is critical to email and content marketing success.

Think about it: this little slice of content is the single most important part of an email since it carries the weight of whether or not your content gets opened.

By keeping them short and simple, using numbers, adding a sense of urgency, using powerful words, personalizing your message, making it benefit-driven, and testing and optimizing, you will radically improve your open and engagement rates and drive more conversions.

// Want more training on this topic? Take my 6-day Email Series and Repurpose the subject lines I create to elevate how you show up via email! Download it here.