What can you do to increase the odds of your author newsletter being opened and read by your subscribers? Write a killer email subject line. Check out these tips!
General Email Subject Line Tips
1. Keep it short, clear, and concise; aim for around 6 to 10 words.
2. Be specific, not vague; let readers know what they're going to read about.
2. Try starting with an action verb.
3. Use specific numbers.
4. Use proper grammar and capitalization—do not use all caps.
5. Use words that increase open rates, such as "giveaway," "better," "congratulations," "easy," "quick," and "latest."
Specific Email Subject Line Strategies
Offer Readers Something
6. Include an offer for a free book or two: "2 Free Gifts Inside!"
7. Let readers know about giveaways and prizes: "Giveaways, Prizes, and More"
8. Tell readers about new releases: "[Book Name] is available for purchase!"
Communicate Urgency
9. Try including a deadline in the subject: "Grab your free book by Friday!"
10. Limit the time frame for the reader to take action: "Get your entry in soon"
11. Reiterate a time frame: "Last Chance to Enter the Book Giveaway"
Pique Curiosity
12. Start with the end of a story: "Falling from a plane is not all it's cracked up to be"
13. Use an open-ended question: "How do you get rid of woodpeckers?"
Offer Information
14. Format the information as a list and use that as your subject line: "5 Cozy Reading Nooks" or "10 [Genre] Authors that I Love"
15. Offer personal information that your readers will find interesting: "How I got my daughter to read 'boring' school books"
A/B Testing
Once you've sent an email, be sure to check it's performance with A/B testing. In A/B testing, one variation of your email is sent to a group of subscribers, and a different variation is sent to another group. You should only change a single variable (like the subject line) to accurately test what is increasing your readers' engagement. Both emails will be sent at the same time, and then you will be able to analyze open rates, click rates, and so forth. Most mailing list providers offer A/B testing.
Make sure to check your returned emails to make sure you're not using words that will get your email blocked. For instance, the word "poll" in a subject line might cause some providers to block it as spam, but tweaking the subject line can make it go through the next time.
What's an email subject line that has worked for you? We'd love to hear in the comments below.
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