Top Gear: Useful Internet Marketing Strategies & Tips to Move You Forward: Increase Your Open Rates with Sizzlin’ Summer Subject Lines

Friday, 13 May 2016

Increase Your Open Rates with Sizzlin’ Summer Subject Lines

If you run an outdoor pool or an ice cream parlor, summer is a booming time for business. But even without summer-themed products and services, you can still add a splash of excitement to your marketing.

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and as people are starting to spend more time grilling and soaking up the sun, how can you capture their attention with your email subject lines? Remember, a subject line is just as important as the email itself because it’s the first thing people see in their inbox. Use these summer subject line ideas to get your emails the attention they deserve.

1. Draw attention with summer words and phrases

How are you celebrating summer at your business? Let it shine through in your email subject lines, but remember to keep it short and attention-grabbing. Use common summer words and references like these suggestions:

Celebrate summer with a heat-wave sale
Provide solutions to summer problems like mosquitoes and sunburn
Make a list of lawn maintenance tips or suggestions for a fun family grill-out
Talk about summer must-haves, summer safety, or summer places
Use summer words and phrases like fun in the sun, beat the heat, high temps, and dog days of summer

2. Promote a summer sale

An easy way to tie your email to summer is to promote a seasonal sale. Craft an exciting line that encourages customers to open the email immediately. Tell them exactly what they’ll see when they open it. For example, “Don’t miss out on the big summer sale — Promo codes inside.” You could also tie your sale to a summer holiday, from Memorial Day to the 4^th of July or Labor Day.

3. Create a calendar of local events

People will look forward to your emails if they know they’re getting more than just an in-your-face promotion. Everyone wants to know about the hottest and most popular summer events, so add a calendar of local events to your emails. Give your customers something to get excited about, from local fireworks to the best farmers markets around town.

4. Use common sense

Your email subject lines should be fun and personal. If you wouldn’t send it to a friend or family member, you shouldn’t send it to current or potential customers either. But don’t go overboard. Stay away from emoticons if using them doesn’t align with your brand. All caps and excessive punctuation should also be avoided. Keep your email professional.

5. Create content people want to read

Your customer wants an answer to the question, “What’s in it for me?” That means it’s important to give them relevant and engaging content in each email. One way to do this is with a summer-themed educational list. If you sell clothing, try talking about the top five summer trends. Or if you run an auto repair shop, list helpful ways to keep your car running smoothly. And don’t be afraid to add a bit of humor. Bonus points if you make your customers laugh.

Don’t let all that hard work on your email marketing campaigns go to waste. Use these tips to keep your open rates up and your business growing all summer long.