My client told me my email subject lines sounded like spam bots

I was sending out newsletters for a local bakery in Austin and my open rates were stuck at like 12%. A client straight up said "your subject lines look like those emails my grandpa forwards about free iPads". That hit different. So I stopped using all caps and exclamation points and started writing subject lines like a normal person talking to a friend. Now my open rates are around 28% after three months. Anyone else get called out for sounding robotic? What fixed it for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley_adams7d ago

I once got told my voicemails sounded like ransom notes.

the_diana6d ago

28% is decent but is that really the victory you think it is? I see bakery newsletters in my inbox all the time that sound friendly but still get ignored. @wesley_adams at least ransom notes get opened. Maybe the real question is whether your content is worth reading at all. Subject lines only get you so far if the email itself is boring.

wendyprice6d ago

I mean, are we REALLY overthinking an email subject line this much? Like yeah, rude subjects get opened but so does a car crash and nobody calls that good marketing. I get emails from my dentist with "Your teeth are in trouble" and I open it, doesn't mean I'm EXCITED about what's inside. Seems like people are acting like this is some big hack when really it's just basic human curiosity.