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[R275]Resume Email Subject Line

by Kelly J. Watkins, Mba, Kel

Be Creative

Using a subject line that's specific is most appropriate when corresponding with people who know you or with people who are expecting your message. How do you get the attention of someone who doesn't know you or who isn't expecting anything from you?

The answer is ? be creative. Writing a subject line that's creative is an excellent method for improving chances that your email message will be opened.

In this instance, the subject line isn't used to describe the contents of the message. Instead, the subject line is used to convey some other type of information.

What kind of information? It will vary with each message you send, and it depends on the recipient. The key question is ? what can you tell the recipient that will convince him/her to open this message and read it, instead of deleting it? In some cases, you'll need to be quite creative.

There are numerous types of information you can provide in the subject line to help convince the receiver to open the email message. Here are a few examples.

(Uses for the subject line): Identify who you are
(Sample wording): Lawyer

(Uses for the subject line): Tell how you met this person
(Sample wording): Chamber Networking B'fast

(Uses for the subject line): Tell why you are contacting this person
(Sample wording): Animal shelter fundraiser

(Uses for the subject line): Find things that set you apart
(Sample wording): E-commerce lawyer

(Uses for the subject line): Find common bond with recipient
(Sample wording): Fellow IU grad & lawyer

Subject Lines: Formatting and Style

There is another challenge you must overcome when crafting an effective subject line. This involves the length of the subject line.

The new message box you view on your screen for the subject line will allow you to type as many words as you want. But, the receiver's screen has limited space. Only a small portion of the wording will be viewed by the recipient.

How much appears on the recipient's screen for the subject line? It varies, depending on the person's system and how he/she has the screen setup. A safe guess is that approximately 25 to 35 characters will appear.

Definition
Pay careful attention here. This approximation doesn't mean 25 to 35 words. It means ?characters.?

A character is defined as a letter, space, or punctuation. For example, any time your cursor moves one space, that's considered one character.

Phrases
Since the space is so limited in the subject line, you don't need to type a complete sentence. Use a phrase or series of words instead of a full sentence.

This is one time when an incomplete sentence is appropriate. Leave out the little words, and get to the point.

Capitalization
The only ?rule? regarding capitalization in the subject line is to be consistent. For example, you may choose to capitalize only the first word. Or, you may decide to capitalize every word.

Remember not to use all uppercase (CAPITAL) letters. This is considered shouting. Shouting at a person would certainly not be the best way to convince him/her to open your message.

Always remember that the creativity, style, formatting and length of your subject lines are important factors to consider before you send an email. Be conscientious of the image you project to your customers and colleagues by using effective subject lines.

Looking to spice up your e-mail marketing campaign? Need that special something, something snazzy, stand apart, and attention grabbing for your subject line? The subject line is the most important, and often undervalued, aspect of an e-mail. Here are a few ways to give it that spice that you're looking for.

Create an approach to your subject line that isn't going to go unnoticed. Think of successful newspaper headlines – in a short space, you capture the essence of an entire article. From a newspaper headline, you can get the gist of a story and the angle all at once. That should be the aim for your subject line. Make sure the most important words are used at the beginning of the line, in case it gets cut off in different e-mail services. These key words could be dates for ending offers, an early-bird special, or a sneak preview. These types of subject lines will entice a viewer because they are being given a unique chance at something special for them.

Make your reader feel like he or she is being addressed personally, not among thousands of others who will get the same message. The moment customers get the feeling that a message is just another generic sales attempt among many others; they won't even click the message to open it. It will go straight to SPAM or trash. When a customer receives a message that seems tailored to him or her, it is more likely to be opened. Insert a first name, such as: “Janet, 1 Day Left of Bargain Prices.”

To further personalize, use other details you may have about your clients to make the subject line specific. If you know what city or state customers live in, insert that information if it fits with your subject. For instance, “Jack, Find Affordable Apartments in Springfield.” A client would be happy to see that detail, and perhaps more convinced to open it. If you have their birth date, you can send a special offer and wish them Happy Birthday on this day.

It's also important to mention the most critical information at the beginning of your subject line. Subject lines usually allow a space of about 50 characters, although this can vary from service to service. The safest way to avoid any discrepancies is to be sure to mention the most important keywords, dates, prices, offers or events right at the beginning of the subject line. This way, the reader is guaranteed to see the information that is at the crux of your message.

The subject line is the first thing the reader will see – it's important to give it that time and attention when you are crafting it. Make it so they can't resist opening it. Try several different options that work for your e-mail, and test them by sending them to a sample group. You can gauge which subject lines work best from the response and use the same concept for future campaigns.

Article Source : How To Get My Email

About Author

Both Kelly J. Watkins, Mba & Karrie Beth are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Kelly J. Watkins, Mba has sinced written about articles on various topics from Music, Email Marketing and Marketing and Communications. By email expert Kelly J. Watkins, MBA. Sign up for a f.r.e.e. Mini-Workshop. Discover practical tips & techniques to make your email messages more effective. Click here:. Kelly J. Watkins, Mba's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Karrie Beth has sinced written about articles on various topics from Website Traffic, Marketing and Email Advertising. Karrie Beth is a best practices activist and advocate for Benchmark Email ( http://www.benchmarkemail.com ), a leading Web and permission-based service. Karrie Beth's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.