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Joseph Lamb

Joseph is a published author, a pioneer in the managed services industry and is currently serving as a facilitator for the Connectwise Evolve organization of peer groups, and the CEO of RedVine Operations.

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Getting Past the Mental Spam Filter: How to Write Subject Lines that Get Noticed

Mastering the Art of Subject Lines in Email Marketing

In the modern deluge of daily emails, subject lines are the sentinels at the gate. They must stand out amid the mental spam filter we all possess—a filter finely tuned by years of sifting through endless messages. All of us do it whether you think so or not. We scan our inbox daily and quickly dispatch those messages that we are certain are not directed toward us specifically, or those that have no relevance.

But how do you create subject lines that not only get noticed, but cruise right past the mental spam filter? Let’s dive into the art and science behind crafting subject lines that get noticed and boost your open rates.

The Strategies Behind Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines

1. Be Clear, Not Cryptic

Clarity is key. While mystery can be intriguing, most people don’t have the patience to decode cryptic subject lines. Let the reader 
know exactly what they can expect inside the email. Avoid jargon and overly complex langage. Simple and direct often trumps clever but confusing. Think of how your email subject compares to the everyday messages people receive from coworkers or friends. Will yours stand out from those?

2. Personalize Always

Personalization makes the recipient feel valued, increasing the chances they will open the email. As a rule of thumb always personalize the subject lines with something only the recipient would understand. Do research before sending each email. If you find they love Tom Sawyer, send a subject line like “Huckleberry Finn was right”. But make sure you talk about this in the first line of your email and make it relevant to you as well. “It’s amazing to find someone that loves Tom Sawyer as much as I do.” Personalize personalize personalize.

3. Choose the Right Personalization Topic

In your quest to personalize, make sure your topic of personalization is a good one. It’s okay to talk about places you know they recently visited, or ice cream flavors they mention on Instagram, but under no circumstances should you mention their children, family names, or where they live. This gets creepy fast. Also, everyone loves to use sports for some reason (“Go Dawgs!”). Yes I know you like the same team, but so do 200,000 other people. That isn’t personal enough. The key is the find the right balance.  

4. Avoid Overused Symbols and Punctuation

We have all seen this one. “Boats + Your Time + My product”. Symbols like plus signs (+) and slashes (/) were once attention-grabbing, but now they often trigger spam filters or get ignored. ubject lines like “Boats + Your Time + Our Service” feel formulaic and unoriginal, making them easy to dismiss.

5. Test and Analyze Your Subject Lines

To optimize your subject lines, test different versions through A/B testing or manual experimentation. Try sending ten emails with one personalized subject line and ten more with a variation. Then, change it up and send ten more. Track your open rates to identify what resonates best with your audience. Continuous learning and adaptation are key.

Conclusion

Crafting subject lines that cut through the noise is a blend of creativity and strategy. By focusing on clarity, personalization, and ongoing testing, your emails are more likely to bypass the mental spam filter and get noticed. Need help improving your email outreach or lead generation? Reach out to RedVine Operations for expert assistance with your outreach efforts.

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