Writing Email Subject Lines People Actually Click (Tips + Real Examples)

Writing Email Subject Lines People Actually Click (Tips + Real Examples)

Why Subject Lines Matter More Than Ever

Did you know that 47% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone? (OptinMonster, 2024). That means if your subject line doesn’t hook them, your email is as good as ignored.

And in 2025, the inbox is noisier than ever. With AI-generated emails, automated campaigns, and hyper-personalization becoming the norm, your subject line is your first and often only chance to grab attention.

Whether you’re sending newsletters, B2B outreach, or product updates—this article will show you how to write email subject lines that stand out and convert.

The Psychology Behind Great Email Subject Lines

Curiosity

Create just enough tension or mystery that the recipient has to click to learn more.
Example:
“You won’t believe what we built this week…”

Urgency & FOMO

Time-sensitive language nudges people to act now.
Example:
“Ends tonight: 40% off your plan”

Relevance

Subject lines that speak directly to the reader’s pain points or desires perform better.
Example:
“Still struggling with low open rates?”

Simplicity

Clear beats clever. If it confuses them, they’ll ignore it.
Avoid: “Time to rev up your lead accelerator 3000”
Try: “Get more leads with one simple change”

Proven Formulas for High-Converting Subject Lines

Here are battle-tested formats used by top-performing marketers:

[Question]

“Are you still using spreadsheets for email campaigns?”

“Is your email marketing stuck in 2023?”

[List/Number]

“5 subject lines that doubled our open rate”

“3 things every SaaS founder should automate today”

[Benefit-Driven]

“Double your click rate—without changing your strategy”

“How to grow your email list by 1,000 in 30 days”

[Personalized]

“Hey Tiinuade, your email report is ready”

“Still thinking about Yournotify’s Pro plan?”

[Teaser]

“We’ve got something big for you tomorrow”

“This update changes everything…”

 What NOT to Do: Common Subject Line Mistakes

  • Clickbait With No Value: If your subject line overpromises and under-delivers, your credibility (and future open rates) tank.
  • Too Long or Too Vague: Keep it under 60 characters. If it gets cut off, your message is lost.
  • Overusing All Caps or Emojis: You can be exciting without looking like spam.
  • Not Testing or Optimizing: Relying on gut feeling alone is risky—use A/B testing (see section 6).

 Examples of Click-Worthy Subject Lines (Real Brand Examples)

Here are real examples of subject lines that drove impressive open rates—and why they worked:

Brand Subject Line Why It Worked

  • Spotify “Tiinuade, your 2024 wrapped is here” Personal + anticipation
  • Grammarly “You’ve used 13,456 words this week” Personalized data + curiosity
  • Yournotify “Automate 5 emails in 5 minutes (Here’s how)” Time-bound, actionable, highly relevant
  • Notion “Build your second brain in 10 minutes” Strong benefit + minimal time investment
  • Netflix “New shows just for you, Tiinuade” Hyper-personalized and timely

 

 A/B Testing Your Subject Lines: What to Measure

Key Metrics

  • Open Rate: Percentage of recipients who open the email.
  • Click-to-Open Rate (CTOR): Percentage of openers who click the content.
  • Conversion Rate: Percentage of recipients who take the desired action.

 

How to A/B Test with Yournotify

1. Write 2-3 versions of your subject line.

2. Split your list (50/50 or 30/70) to test.

3. Measure which gets more opens and engagement.

4. Optimize future sends based on results.

Pro Tip: Don’t test multiple variables at once. Focus only on subject lines.

 Conclusion: Stop Guessing—Start Writing Subject Lines That Work

Great subject lines aren’t just about creativity—they’re about strategy, psychology, and data.

Start with a proven formula

Avoid common traps like clickbait or vagueness

Test everything

Optimize based on what your audience actually engages with

Whether you’re launching a new drip campaign or re-engaging cold leads, Yournotify’s subject line A/B testing and real-time analytics help you write emails people want to open.

Boost your email opens—start optimizing your subject lines with Yournotify

FAQs

Q: What’s the ideal subject line length?
A: Under 60 characters or 6–10 words is ideal. Shorter lines often get better results on mobile.

Q: Should I include emojis in subject lines?
A: Emojis can boost engagement when used sparingly and strategically. But always test what your audience prefers.

Q: How many subject lines should I test?
A: Start with 2 (A/B test). If your list is large enough, you can test 3–5 for deeper insights.

Read more related articles:

 

Tinuade

Marketing Content Strategist

Related Posts