In the past 4 years, I’ve cut my teeth strategizing & writing award-worthy, revenue-increasing, results-snatching copy. And what really lights my fire is writing for woman-owned and BIPOC-led brands. I’m talkin’ the first day after a braiding appointment type of excited! Energizing them to go big with their bold ideas so that when launch time happens, the world thinks “OMG FINALLY, I’ve been waiting for something like this.” And giving them the tools to diversify the market.
Picture this: You wake up, check your phone and BAM! Your inbox is flooded with messages. Now, be honest, how many of those do you actually open? If you’re like most people, you’re probably more selective than a bouncer at a VIP club. That’s where killer email subject lines for sales come in! They’re like the VIP pass that gets you past the velvet rope and into your subscribers’ attention.
And trust me, you want that attention. Why? Because email marketing is the MVP of the digital world. Half of marketers are out here saying it’s their most impactful channel. And for every dollar you spend on email marketing, you’re looking at an average return of $36 (Forbes).
So get ready to dive into the world of subject lines for your sales emails at every stage of your marketing funnel.
The 411 on Subject Lines and Meta Text
Before we get into the juicy stuff, let’s break it down:
Your subject line is like the headline of your email. It’s that one-liner that gives your subscribers a sneak peek of what’s inside.
Meta text is the wingman to your subject line. It’s that extra bit of text that shows up next to the subject line in the inbox. Use it to add more context and make your email irresistible to open.
TL;DR: Use your subject line to grab attention, and let your meta text give a little preview of the goodness inside.
What Makes a Subject Line Attract Eyes and Clicks?
A good subject line will do one (or more) of these things:
Open a loop — sparking curiosity and not satisfying it, so they have no choice but to open the email for more information
Shock your readers (in a good way)
Provide social proof — like statistics and factual information, positive reviews, what you did to address negative reviews,
Spark FOMO (fear of missing out) — because people don’t want to feel like they’re losing a good thing, even if it that’s learning something new that could help them solve a problem.
Promise value — give them a reason to click by telling them the beneficial outcome of reading the email. That could be learning a good piece of new information, entering a draw for a prize, or claiming an exclusive discount
Even then, not every subject line will get results — that’s why you need to A/B test them. Send the same email with different subject lines to segments of your subscribers, and see which performs better!
Getting people to consistently open your emails is a science. And getting them to read the entire email, and every subsequent email you send, is like quantum mechanics — a whole other level that requires a lot more brain power.
But for now, let’s focus on those attention-grabbing, click-worthy email subject lines for your sales emails ⬇️
61 Subject Line Formulas You Can Steal Right Now
Education:
[Insert shocking statistic here]
[State a common problem]
Did you know this? 👀
The 🔑 to [insert benefit they want]
[Group of people] agree that [insert fact]
[One-liner from the email]
This might shock you, %FIRST NAME%
Pre-Promotion:
Want to [achieve benefit]?
You asked for [solution]. We answered 👀
I can’t keep this from you any longer, %FIRST NAME% 🤭
You deserve the best [benefit], %FIRST NAME%. And it’s coming 🗓️
The [type of product/service] you’ve been searching for 👀 is coming 👀
Your [problem] should [action]. Starting [date], it can.
From [problem] to [solution]. And it all starts [date]
We’ve been working on something you’ll love, %FIRST NAME% 🚧
Mariah Carey whistle It’s tiiiiiiiime 👀⏰
Launch & Promotion:
Introducing [name of product/service]
[Tagline or main benefit of product]
Want [main benefit]?
[Benefit they want] just got easier
Who [name of product/service] is perfect for
I made [name of product/service] for you, %FIRSTNAME%
Is [name of product/service] right for you? Let’s find out ➡️
Have [problem]? Then you’ll love [name of product/service]
Meet [name of product/service]: [tagline or main benefit of product]
Slay Objections:
3 [name of product/service] FAQs, answered ➡️
Still have questions about [name of product/service]?
Not sure if [name of product/service] is right for you?
What [3 reviewer names] are saying about [name of product/service]
[One-liner from testimonial]
“[Name of product/service] is too expensive”. Here’s why ➡️
“[Name of product/service] is too good to be true”. Are you sure? ➡️
It should be a crime to get all this for [price]
Don’t trust us? Trust [social proof point]
“Will I regret this?” Find out ➡️
“[Name of product/service] isn’t worth it” Let us prove you wrong ➡️
All the things you can do with [discount/benefit they’ll achieve]
Spark Urgency:
🚨LAST CHANCE🚨Grab/Join [name of product/service]
[Name of product/service] sale ends in #x HOURS 😱
Doors to [name of product/service] close in #x HOURS🏃♀️➡️
Grab [name of product/service] before it’s gone!
🚨#X HOURS 🚨to Grab/Join [name of product/service]
Going… going… [name of product/service] is almost gone!
FOMO is the worst. Here’s how to avoid it ➡️
How much is [benefit] worth to you?
[Discount] ends TONIGHT!
Abandoned Cart:
You left this in your cart, %FIRSTNAME% !
Did you forget something, %FIRST NAME%?
Did your internet cut out, %FIRST NAME%?
Still wondering if you should get [name of product/service]?
Future you will thank you. Grab [name of product/service] now!
Price making you go 😬? Grab [name of product/service] for x% off!
Post-Promotion Nurturing:
[Name of product/service] is here 🛍️
Your [name of product/service] awaits!
Your [name of product/service] is here!
Thanks for grabbing [name of product/service], %FIRST NAME%!
Prepare to [achieve benefit], %FIRST NAME%!
Ready for [benefit]? Your [name of product/service] is here to help!
Want a $x gift card? Answer this quick survey 🗳️
Why didn’t you buy [name of product/service], %FIRST NAME%?
It’s because it’s [problem], isn’t it?
Wrapping It Up
There you have it! 61 email subject lines for your sales emails. But know this: the key to nailing your email subject lines is to keep testing and optimizing. What works for one audience might not work for another, so don’t be afraid to mix it up!
And if you’re ready to take your email game to the next level, keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming Top to Bottom Funnel Sales Email Sequence Template Bundle dropping at the end of October. It’s gonna be 30 emails of pure sales-boosting magic that’ll have your subscribers saying “take my money!”