100 Cold Email Subject Lines To Guarantee a Response

This subject raises curiosity levels straight through the roof, while also incorporating fear-based motivation.

Preparation implies a change is around the corner.

This sparks readers’ interest and ignites fear of being unprepared for an important event.

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This is a clear example of creating an open loop and raising curiosity in readers’ minds. To find out what the question is, you’ll have to open the email.

More than that, the subject asks the recipient to formulate an answer to this question, demanding more of their focus and attention.

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Here’s another headline that provokes curiosity:

Who wouldn’t want to learn more?

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A clever play on a well-known phrase stands out and arouses curiosity.

It can be risky in outbound messages where recipients aren’t aware of your company. But the cold email subject line does enough to make you stop and look twice.

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This works by going in the opposite direction of readers’ expectations.

Why wouldn’t a recruitment company want to fill your vacancies?

The apparent logical inconsistency grabs attention and encourages recipients to click through to find the answer.

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You can’t help but love this reverse psychology.

It speaks to innate curiosity and our overwhelming desire to do what we’re told not to do.

Have you ever wanted to touch something after reading a ‘Don’t touch!’ sign? It’s practically wired into our DNA.

However, this is another one I’d use sparingly.

Used once, and it’s charming. But the second time around makes it seem like a cheap gimmick.

And if the contents aren’t worthwhile, or explain why the reader shouldn’t have opened the email, then they’ll feel tricked.

Remember, nobody likes to be tricked.

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Auto Pilot knocked the curiosity factor out of the park on this one.

While it may look like a mistake at first, the email quickly explains that the ‘jumbled string of text and symbols is what UTM parameters look like, and they’re super important for tracking marketing ROI.’

It’s a risky move, and I wouldn’t try this in a cold email. But as an email to an opt-in list of tech-savvy marketers, it certainly stands out.

What’s a similar way to make a subject line stand out in your industry?

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I love subject lines that switch things up and start from a negative.

When good advice is a dime a dozen, bad advice stands out and kicks the curiosity factor up.

I refer to this as the ‘glossy mag headline.’ Next time you’re out and about, take a look at what’s on the magazine covers.

Positive messages might be nice, but messages about mistakes sell more.

What negative aspect of your industry can you highlight?

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Wait, what finally happened? Is it good? Bad? Am I affected?

Turns out it only takes three words to raise your reader’s heart rate, along with their curiosity.

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We all want answers. And we have an insatiable appetite for seeing other people’s mistakes (remember the ‘glossy mag’ principle?).

So for those on Lincoln Murphy’s list, this subject created enough curiosity to get readers clicking.

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Like my aversion to all lower caps sentences, I’m normally against yelling in ALL-CAPS.

But when you have a cool topic like robots, I think that’s something worth shouting about.

Product Hunt offers a clear value proposition (increased productivity) with a dash of the unexpected (robots).

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This is an example of a subject that uses personalization in a succinct format.

This was sent shortly after the new year when people are often thinking about what’s in store for them in the future.

Remember: Sometimes an email’s timing is as important as its contents.

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Sean Platt has written a post on CopyBlogger about how this is his most opened subject line by far.

The post is well worth a read, but the gist is that we all share a fear of being alone.

So this will speak to your readers’ sense of belonging.

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Donald Miller uses this subject to elicit the recipient’s interest.

Rather than simply stating an important date is coming up, he finds a fresh way to illustrate its importance.

Taking the time to find illustrative ways to share announcements ensures your messages won’t grow stale.

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Here’s an example of an understood concept, Uber, mixed with a metaphor about dogs that likely sparks curiosity.

Are you as curious as I am to find out more about an Uber for dogs?

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This is a mysteriously playful subject line.

And maybe it’s all the time I’ve spent watching James Bond films, but when this showed up in my inbox, I had to click it.

Involving your recipients in something exclusive and mysterious will pay off in higher open- and click-through rates.

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Here’s an example of another great question.

The sender could have asked a straightforward yes/no question:

‘Do you plan to scale?’

Instead, he asks ‘how’ do you plan to scale.

This requires more thought and implies you should have a plan in place.

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‘You’ is a magic word in marketing, and Clearvoice gives us a classic example.

They’re speaking directly to their readers.

We’re not hearing about random people’s content issues, only our own. That’s powerful.

They’re also tantalizing readers with a fear-based message, a strong motivating factor to take action.

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This question works by appealing to a specific problem.

If a recipient is experiencing this problem, if they look at the subject line, and say, ‘Yes, yes, I am…’

Then, they’ll be more likely to open the email, because the writer implies a solution.

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When so many emails are all about selling, an email that’s completely focused on offering help, with no costs or strings attached, stands out.

The sender gets to know what problems affect their audience and can form closer relationships with prospects.

And the receivers get free advice.

It’s a win-win.

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If you tell someone you can help, they’ll likely want to know how.

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Reviews are an important aspect of Amazon’s business:

Have you ever bought something on Amazon without reading the reviews?

But getting people to actually write a review isn’t so simple.

To increase the likelihood of someone leaving a review, Amazon starts off with a subject line that asks you how many stars you’d give a recently purchased item, rather than write a review.

If you have to ask for something, make it a small request, something the recipient can easily say yes to.

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While Tough Mudder puts on obstacle races around the world, they also know their audience is made up of people who are looking for adventures.

That’s why, when they’re looking for potential employees, they’re able to use subject lines like this to appeal to their tribe.

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Have you ever been out for a meal and had the waiter ignore you after taking your order?

Instead, they’re normally around after a few minutes to check if everything’s okay.

Calendly follows this pattern, making sure their customers are happy with the service so far.

It’s a great opportunity to get feedback and make sure customers are getting the best from them. And the subject line is direct and to the point.

Being sent soon after signing up, but after enough time has passed for the customer to try out the service, and an easy-going informal tone contributed to this email’s massive open rate.

What do your customer follow-up emails look like?

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Funding Circle uses personalization by using recipients’ first names, then adds social proof to grab attention. If it’s good enough for 24,000 businesses, surely it’s worth checking out?

Using ‘join’ as a verb is also a good move, inviting the reader to be a part of a large community of businesses.

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This straightforward subject line focuses on ratings.

If your service or product has been given any awards or ratings, then highlighting them in the subject line can convince recipients to learn more.

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Sumo calls people out on its mailing list that haven’t taken advantage of their monthly webinars, while also using social proof (thousands attend this webinar, so it must be useful).

And by framing the subject as a question, your brain engages and wants to know the answer.

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In the cosmetics world, people look for inspiration from celebrities – they’re the ones setting the trend.

To use this method in your industry, figure out whom your audience looks to for inspiration. And mention these influencers in your subject line.

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This subject is a little more direct than others on the list.

If you get too clever with your subjects, you might get your emails deleted.

This sender has done enough homework to know that an ad reporting product would be of interest to the recipient, which is the key task with an email like this.

Sometimes you have to spell out what you’re offering, especially with cold emails.

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A two-word value proposition that does what it says on the tin: captures attention.

With a ‘less-is-more’ vibe, the deal is that if you want to know more, you’ll have to open the email.

If you’re going to use this method, make sure the subject is definitely something your recipient wants to know about, or they won’t be curious enough to continue.

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Personal cold email subject lines are a powerful technique in marketing, and Clearvoice gives us a classic example.

Rather than just simply using the company name, this subject promises something (in this case intent data) that’s specific to the company.

This makes it more valuable to recipients and worth their time to check out.

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