Quick Subject Field Tips

When you open your inbox, you first look at who the emails are from. Next, as we scan, we look at the Subject field to decide which emails to prioritize.

This is why it is so important to ensure the Subject field accurately reflects the content and context of your email and is given the appropriate level of importance.

Here are some quick tips to ensure your Subject is all about the “Subject at hand.”

A Short Phrase Will Do

The Subject field should be only a handful of words that clearly convey your message.

Choose Your Words Carefully

Make sure your word choice is clear and concise. The last thing you want to do is misrepresent the email’s content or overstate emotions.

Guide to the Content Within

The Subject field is not the place for your message, URL, or any actionable information. It is a guide to the content within.

Don’t Be Spammy

Refrain from being too general or overreactionary. One-word subject fields are spammy and do not relay what your message is about.

The word help, in particular, is used by spammers to instill urgency and get you to open their spammy emails, which could cause spam filters to block your email. You also don’t want to be the boy who cried wolf by lacking clarity.

Start a New Email

Don’t use an old email with an old Subject that doesn’t represent the current conversation.

Don’t Send Blanks

Always include something in the Subject field. Again, without a subject line, you risk your email being labeled spam and landing in the recipient’s junk folder.

Subject: Short, sweet, and unemotional — that’s how to get your Subject across and your emails opened.