Do you know the difference between an email that we open with curiosity and one that we delete without hesitation? The object !

Writing a compelling subject line, capable of captivating your audience from the first words and optimizing your opening rates, is not always easy. It’s a strategy in its own right, where every word counts to boost the click rate and transform a simple email into a commercial opportunity.

The challenge is clear: to seduce quickly, with short, relevant and impactful content. You may have the best message behind it, if the subject doesn't capture attention, it all ends there. Fortunately, with a little method and the right tools, it is possible to master the art of a well-designed object.

In this article, discover examples of tested and approved email subject lines that hit the mark and pave the way for appointments and sales. Whether you're looking to refresh your approach or fine-tune your technique, these ideas will help you score points in the inbox. 

Ready to freshen up your emails? Let’s start writing objects that make people click!

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Why is the subject of your prospecting email crucial?

Importance of first impression

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The subject of your email is the key to making a good impression. It’s the first thing your audience sees, and within seconds, it should make them want to click. A bland or too generic sentence? your email may end up in the trash. Conversely, an object that is eye-catching, inspiring or even slightly tinged with humor can immediately captivate. 

This is the first element of successful prospecting.

The impact of the subject on the opening rate

A well-formulated object is not just aesthetic, it directly influences your results. Think about it: a clear subject that provides precise information or piques curiosity naturally encourages people to open the email. Whether it’s discovering a product, solving a problem, or exploring an offer, every word should create a sense of urgency or interest.

✅ Example of an impactful topic : “This secret that propels your appointment bookings today” 

❌ By contrast: “Special offer” seems banal and goes unnoticed

How a well-worded subject line can increase your chances of success

A good subject is also a way to transform a simple sending into a lead generator. Playing on humor, personalizing or asking a direct question makes all the difference. The objective? create a feeling of proximity, mystery and make you want to discover what is hidden behind.

On average, emails with a personalized subject have 58% chance additional to be open, and 33% of buyers decide to open an email based solely on the subject line.

What are the key elements of a prospecting email subject line?

First impression counts

A good email subject line is a bit like a smile at the start: it makes you want to know more. To interest a potential customer, you need clear, impactful text that makes you want to read more. 

There's no point beating around the bush: get straight to the point and with a touch of personalization. Just with a name or a specific detail, it is already the start of a good business relationship.

Personalization: the detail that changes everything

A personalized object shows that you are not talking to everyone, but to a specific person. Including a first name or a reference to the sector of activity of your interlocutor is a good way to encourage openness. Good salespeople focus on personalization and often see a better response rate and a more engaging follow-up.
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Clear content and call to action

A successful subject line should reflect the heart of the message and contain an explicit call to action. 

Some examples:

• ''[Name], what if you doubled your marketing results this year?
• “3 ideas to optimize your commercial strategy”

These approaches are intriguing while encouraging you to find out more.Follow-up strategyA subject line is not just for the first email. Reminders are just as important. A well-thought-out follow-up, like “Bollowing up on our exchange yesterday,” keeps the discussion active.Trick : The email subjects which ask a question increase response rates. 

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‍How to write a catchy email subject line?

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• The importance of personalization
  Writing a personalized email subject line is an excellent way to immediately captivate your interlocutor. Personalization not only creates a feeling of proximity, but also creates interest from the first impression. By making your potential customer feel like they are the priority, you avoid ending up in the spam category and you optimize your chances of engagement.

• The use of urgency and curiosity
  Piqueing curiosity is essential to obtaining a high open rate. A catchy email subject line that suggests something unexpected or time-limited can entice the recipient to open your email. This creates a sense of urgency and pushes for action.

• The importance of conciseness and clarity
  A short, clear subject line makes all the difference. Between 6 and 10 words is ideal to avoid losing your interlocutor. Every word must have an interest.

• Personalize according to the prospect's personality (DISC)
  Each potential client is different and understanding the DISC profile of your interlocutor can be a real asset. By adjusting your email subject line according to the personality of your prospect, you increase the chances of attracting their attention and obtaining a favorable response.

It is thanks to the DISC profile that Humanlinker knows your prospects by heart. To find out more, do not hesitate to click here 🙌

• The importance of relevance and added value

​A relevant subject line that highlights the added value of your email is important. By ensuring the relevance of your email, you optimize the chances of increasing the response rate of your email campaign. Well-thought-out emails, which meet a need or solve a problem, are the ones that really engage.

Trick : email campaigns with neat subject lines increase the response rate by up to 50%. With a little humor or a touch of mystery, you can transform a simple email into a business opportunity.What examples of prospecting email subject lines should you use?A catchy email subject line is essential to interest your reader and obtain a high open rate. Here are some examples of impactful subject lines, followed by analyzes and tips to draw inspiration from them in your own email campaigns.Example 1“Find out how to increase your sales by 20% in 30 days!”

Analyse : this object offers a concrete and measurable benefit in a short time, which immediately captures attention. It promises tangible results, making the message relevant to the recipient. This type of subject is very impactful in an email campaign or follow-up email, because it creates a feeling of urgency.How to get inspired: highlight a quick profit and specific. This type of object is particularly effective for a relaunch campaign because it arouses curiosity while providing real added value. Example 2“Have you read our live white paper on sales optimization?”Analyse : the subject line emphasizes an offer of exclusive and useful content, reinforcing the authority of the sender. It evokes the idea of ​​solving a problem while providing engaging content. It’s an excellent way to build a lasting relationship thanks to relevant information, perfect for a follow-up email or to enrich a common reference with the prospect.How to get inspired: offer free resources, such as a white paper or case study, to provide added value. This template works well for larger-scale email campaigns because it piques interest while remaining professional.Example 3:“Exclusive offer for [sector] – Don’t miss this chance!”Analyse : this object creates a feeling of urgency and exclusivity, prompting immediate action. Personalization with the recipient's industry makes it even more relevant. This type of subject can also be used in a follow-up email campaign to rekindle the interest of prospects who have not responded to your previous emails.How to get inspired: using exclusive or limited-time offers encourages your prospects to open your email. This type of object works well in a follow-up campaign to revive the interest of non-responsive prospects. The commercial aspect is effective in making you stand out.Example 4:“a small change could boost your ROI – let’s see how”Analyse : this object is subtle but impactful. It arouses curiosity without appearing commercial, which reduces the risk of ending up in spam. This model is particularly suitable for starting a conversation in a first contact email, while being a good starting point for a common reference.How to get inspired: use wording that is intriguing without being too intrusive. You can adapt it for reminder emails by subtly reminding you of the benefits of the offer.

How to increase the email opening rate?Increasing the email opening rate is essential for a successful email campaign, and taking care of the email subject plays a role in this process. A well-designed object captures the prospect's attention from the first seconds, sparking their interest to find out more.Here are some tips to boost the open rate.

• Create a sense of urgency or curiosity : an object that piques curiosity encourages you to open the email to discover more without revealing everything.
• Highlight added value : by offering a useful resource, such as a book or an exclusive offer, it makes the prospect want to know more.
• Personalize the object : mentioning the prospect's first name or something related to their sector makes the email more relevant and attractive.
• Optimize email subject lines with A/B testing : testing different variants allows you to know which type of object works best to increase the opening rate.

What tips for an effective email subject line?The subject line is the first element your prospect sees, and it should capture their attention from the start. If the subject does not captivate, the email ends up directly in the trash.Some tips for a successful object:

• Get straight to the point : a short and punchy object avoids sentences that are too long. A direct message grabs attention without wasting time.
• Personalization of the object : the name of the dentin or a common reference in the object creates an immediate link, increasing the chances of opening.
• Create a feeling of curiosity : a quick overview of the content of the email is an excellent way to pique the prospect's curiosity.
• Take care of spelling and grammar : and yes, be vigilant about mistakes! 

The prospecting email is based on a catchy subject. This is the key to encouraging people to open. Whether for a special offer or a new resource, the goal is to make your prospect understand that there is an interesting text to discover. Optimizing the subject for each target and situation is a fundamental step for a high open rate. How do you create an email subject line that generates a sense of urgency without seeming pushy?
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Creating a compelling email subject line that generates a sense of urgency without seeming pushy requires a subtle balance. The goal is to appear convincing enough and to encourage action, while remaining “natural”.Using numbers can be a great way to get people interested, such as:“Only 24 hours left to take advantage of this offer”
“30% off this week only.”The numbers immediately catch the eye and reinforce the feeling of rarity.Another effective strategy is to evoke a limited offer:“Only a few places left”
“Offer valid until midnight”This accentuates the notion of urgency.An exciting announcement can also make a difference:"New functionality in our CRM software"
"Check out our latest update."Advertisements often encourage you to find out more.Mention a certain proximity, such as:“exclusively for our subscribers”
“event starting in 1 hour”A successful email subject line encourages rapid decision-making without falling into insistence. It’s an effective way to stimulate interest, increase the opening rate and make you want to discover the content of the email.How do I prevent my emails from being considered spam?To avoid being spam, you will need to focus on certain details:

• Take care of the subject of the email : an eye-catching and personalized object captures attention and improves the opening rate. Terms that are too commercial or generic should be avoided.
• Quality content : a clear and relevant email with a common reference is better than a generic email. 
• First impression : good personalization of the prospecting email according to the recipient shows that the message is intended specifically for them, which increases its legitimacy.
• Avoiding common pitfalls : Emails that are too long, poorly formatted or full of promotional keywords are often filtered as spam.

By implementing these strategies, you improve your chances of your emails arriving in the inbox and not the spam folder. A good email campaign relies on the ability to maintain a balance between personalization and professionalism while creating relevant and engaging content.Here is an example: 
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‍How to test and optimize your prospecting email subject lines?The importance of testing different objectsDon’t hesitate to test different email subject lines to observe what really captures your prospects’ attention. Everyone reacts differently, so try several approaches to understand what works best. By testing, you can find the tone that attracts your prospects and adjust your message accordingly.How to analyze your test resultsAnalyzing your test results helps you know what works and what doesn't. Indicators like the opening rate or the click rate will give you a precise idea of ​​the effectiveness of your objects. It's not just a question of numbers, but also of understanding why one object attracted attention and another did not. It is also important to see the action that your prospects take after opening the email.A few things to keep in mind:

• The click rate after opening the email
• The actions your prospects take (responses, downloads, etc.)
• Responsiveness after a relaunch

Tips for continually improving your itemsContinuous improvement is just as important. If an object worked well, you need to understand what made it effective and reproduce that for future shipments. Don’t hesitate to constantly adjust and test to see if a small change can make a big difference.Some ideas to explore:

• Personalization objects according to the specific needs of prospects
• Curiosity sparked by mysterious objects, but always relevant
• Emergency or added scarcity to encourage immediate action

In summary, a good email subject line is never a simple sentence. It’s an opportunity to capture attention, arouse curiosity and initiate a relevant conversation. By testing, analyzing, and optimizing your objects, the effectiveness of your campaigns can reach a whole new level.The key indicator is open rate. It reflects the impact of your efforts, but should not be the only criterion. A good open rate with uninteresting content doesn't necessarily make sense...When it comes to strategy, every little adjustment can make a difference. Pay attention to every detail: wording, tone, etc.With a little practice and a good dose of creativity, your emails will no longer just be opened. They will become messages that generate real interactions and concrete results.​In any case, we have a great tool to recommend to you for writing your email subject lines... 👇