We all get too many emails we prefer not to receive. Some are spam, while others may be from people we choose not to communicate with.
That’s why when sending personal emails, you hope your email does not fall into either of those categories. If you are, this can increase the chances of your email not being opened at all.
Too often, onliners inadvertently underestimate the Subject: field. Doing so hinders the potential of their email being opened, resulting in their messages being blocked, deleted, or sent to the trash.
A study I tripped upon noted that 41.1% of recipients determine whether they open an email by the Subject: field. So let’s make sure our emails are those that get opened.
Simple Subject: Field Tips
Follow these tips so your emails are opened.
Never confuse the Subject: field for the body of the email. Do not want to use the Subject: field to ask a question or make a point and leave the body of the email empty. This is the epitome of laziness, and it is spammy. You also risk your email being blocked by spam filters.
Keep your subject line concise and to the point. Most email clients display only the first 50 characters, so make sure your subject line is compelling and concise. Always include an appropriate, short, and accurate Subject:. Many email programs auto-delete subjectless emails to Junk/Trash.
Type your subject with appropriate capitalization and structure. All lowercase or all caps gives the impression of being spam (not to mention a lack of education or technology skills).
Refrain from using common terms abused by spammers in the subject and first paragraph of your email. You know what they are – you see them every day. You also want to avoid using words such as hello, hi, and help, as these may trigger spam filters. Many spam filters track these terms and may inadvertently send your email to the trash.
Be Clear and Specific: Your email subject line should clearly convey what your email is about so the recipient knows what to expect. Avoid vague or misleading subject lines.
Use Action-Oriented Language: Use verbs and action-oriented language in your subject line to encourage the recipient to take action. For example, instead of “Checking In…,” try “Please let me know…”
Email Etiquette Overall
Yes, the subject is essential to your emails getting opened. But then you still want to ensure you use good communication practices overall.
When using any spam software or filtering system, also make a point to review your junk/trash before emptying it. Take a quick peek to see if any email is, in fact, from folks you know or recognize who didn’t follow the guidelines above.
You are what you type; you are the words you choose to use. Know that what you type will be taken at it’s face value by the other side — that they will take you at your word(s).
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