The Fact-packed Email Subject

For important email messages, try to see how much content you can get into your subject line. I don’t mean you should try to see how long a subject line you can write – 60 or 80 characters should be the maximum. No, but sometimes you want to get your message across through the subject line alone, so the recipient can get the urgent news even before reading the whole message.

For example, if you’re organizing a Toastmasters meeting, try something like, “Tech-Talk Toastmasters, Friday noon, Jim’s Restaurant.” But you say, “If I put too much in the subject, nobody will read the rest of the email.” Then make it “Friday’s Toastmasters meeting agenda.”

What subject line do you use when “cold-calling,” or sending an email to someone who doesn’t expect it? Use specific details that a spammer wouldn’t. For example, If you want to discuss a new paint thinner with a professional painter in your rainy town of Oakhurst, use an email subject such as “Better paint thinner for Oakhurst humidity”.

If you’re contacting someone upon the recommendation of someone else’s, put the recommender’s name in the subject line.

Even if the email is unsolicited, the details are authentic enough, and the product benefits are real enough, that your subject line may convince the painter to open the email.

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