Get Noticed: 100+ Cold Email Subject Lines to Skyrocket Responses

There’s only one weapon in a cold emailer’s hand at the start of the campaign: having a strong, well-researched, to-the-point, and spam-proof cold email subject line. 

So, of course, we need to use it wisely. But there are some things you should know beforehand. And that is why we wrote this blog for you.

Cold email is a useful tool for reaching out to your desired prospect. However, due to a lack of knowledge about writing the perfect cold email subject line, many emails end up in spam or are not opened. 

Email Subject Line: Table of Content

• Top 5 Criteria That Define A Well-Written Cold Email Subject Line. 
• Cold Email Subject Line Example List.
• Email Subject Lines for Business Outreach
• 12 Strategies to Perfect the Subject Lines.
• Email Subject Lines to Get a Job
• Additional Advice to Build Effective Cold Email Subject Lines.
• Powerful Insights by Saleshandy’s Experts
• Bonus
• Conclusion
• FAQs.

Quick Subject Line Strategies

Do you know that the average open rate for a cold email is around 24%? That’s right! So, we should do something to increase our chances of getting that email opened. 

We have added a few statistics to help you understand cold email metrics and their importance. 

1. Nearly 35% of email recipients open the emails on the subject line. 
2. You can increase your open rates by nearly 50% using personalization in your subject line. 

(The numbers shown above are to give you an idea only, as the numbers using personalization can improve with time and practice.)

3. A good cold email subject line length is between 30 to 60 characters. The Shorter, the better.

Top 5 Criteria That Define a Well-Written Cold Email Subject Line. 

Here, we have mentioned a sort of checklist that you can use before finalizing your cold email subject line. Make sure you do not skip any point, as all of them play a crucial role in making an effective cold email subject line.

1. Personalize It.
2. Keep It Short.  
3. Don’t Be Spammy.  
4. Consider the reader’s overall experience. 
5. Keep It Relevant. 

Here’s the ultimate cheat sheet you can use to draft the most catchy cold email subject lines ever. 

We have divided the cold email subject lines into two categories: 

1. Cold email subject lines for companies 
2. Cold email subject lines for Jobs.

Cold Email Subject Lines Examples

1. {{First name}}, your time is not for everyone. So pick us fast.
2. Hello {{First Name}}, A magical message awaits you. Click and enjoy.
3. Hoping for closing that (Project)? We can help.
4. Marketing is an art, just what your customers deserve {{First name}}
5. Don’t worry; be working; we’ll find what you are looking, {{Company Name}}
6. Transform data from the size of a Dinosaur to Daisy.
7. Why have shapeless data? We give your data the desired avatar.
8. Over 50% of your {{Product}} is wasted.
9. There’s a better way to use your {{Service}}.
10. {{Company Name}} your employees are missing this.
11. Why did your ad perform only 20% of its potential {{Company Name}}?
12. Reels only 35% of your total content {{Company Name}}?
13. Facing issues in managing more than 200 employees? Open to get help.
14. Struggling with WFH? Use {{Product Name}} for speed and accuracy.
15. That (Product Name) you bought yesterday, {{First Name}}…
16. We have doubled what we said{{First Name}}
17. Only half of them are available. 
18. Your campaign did worse than that…
19. The revenue from the recent ad. It could have been…
20. All of your data problems require just this…
21. Looked at a brand new HRMS system. It promises…
22. Your 20% storage usage is underutilized🤐. Fix It quickly.
23. Nearly ¼ of your profit goes to operations. There’s a better way…
24. Did Packaging costs increase by 10% 😱? There’s a better solution.
25. Not working out even after hefty marketing budgets?
26. 50% drop in prospects finding? The market is big and waiting…  
27. Can’t solve salary calculations on time? ⏰Use {{Company Name}}
28. Can’t track meetings, or are you tired of writing MOMs? Use {{Product Name}}
29. Your competitor’s {{Product Name}} is doing wonders. Have a look.
30. Did you know about this market trend 💹?
31. Your (Industry) is facing many issues due to this update. 
32. Are Reels the way to go or podcasts? Your answer inside.
33. Your market share can increase by 10% with a new trend. 
34. Same revenue, half the company size❓How? Here’s How.
35. This security threat concerns everyone in (Industry).
36. In just 2 days, you will lose track of {{Product Name}}
37. Only the last few of your favorite {{Product Name}} left.
38. (Service) will cost you 70% more after 2 days. 
39. Our premium package is 20% less for the next 3 hours only 🤑.
40. Working with influencers? Save 10% with {{Company Name}} today.
41. Save your leaky buckets and gain in retention with (Feature) 15% less today!
42. Our tech geniuses are available only for today 🤓. Grab your seat now!
43. Facing issues in your {{Product Name}}, {{First Name}}?
44. Not getting enough closers? This will help
45. (Features) problem increasing each day? Action plan to solve it inside.
46. Marketing leads are not converting into customers, {{First Name}}
47. Not finding quality prospects even after having a good product.
48. Not being able to solve that gap in policies and execution? Try this.
49. Need more help in developing  (Feature)? We can help.
50. {{First Name}}, know (Name)? We understand your standards.
51. Attended (Event Name) recently?
52. Going to go for (Conference) coming week, {{First Name}}
53. We recently won the Best Marketing Agency of the Year award!🏆
54. We attended the top voices of the (Industry) event with you.  
55. 6 out of 10 people in your city choose us for {{Feature}}.
56. (Name), we admire your team’s working style. Let’s collaborate on (Topic).
57. Don’t waste your time on (Issue); we are here.
58. Want to achieve (Goal) next quarter? Do this.
59. Save 30% of your time using this hack!
60. Managing the daily chores of marketing should not be your focus!
61. Don’t waste time on daily follow-ups with prospects. We can do it for you.
62. Want to crack the code of managing (Number) human resources? Know here.
63. Admin duties are something you can delegate to us!
64. We don’t have anywhere to hide our faces. (Out of Excitement)
65. Want to know who fell off the stairs? 😝
66. Nooo! Don’t look. I am hiding this from people! 😅
67. Our email writer is on leave. Deal with this subject line. 😒
68. Why can’t we write as well as we write for our clients? 😭 
69. Our marketing sucks, 😒 but our product is a gem 😎
70. On duty, Ma’am! Where’s my broom? 😛
71. This (Change) is coming next week. Know it before anyone!
72. Don’t relax just yet {{First Name}}! Solve this first.
73. Did the government change it? 
74. They no longer accept this digital behavior {{First Name}}.
75. You can now do (Enhancement)  2X as per the new rule! 
76. Hey, {{First Name}}. Stop this before you invite trouble in your life.
77. This is ruining your growth targets for the quarter, {{First Name}}.
78. Something wanted, needed, and demanded is here for you. (Unasked)
79. 100s demanded, but only you got it.
80. You won our hearts. So, we want to treat you with (Offer)
81. The Marketing expert everyone wants is yours for today!
82. Open to finding 5 prospects we found for you As a present. 
83. 1 year’s worth of premium, with this card!
84. Your current plan is upgraded. As a thank you for choosing us. 💛

(Continue to read to find more examples in the blog)

Email Subject Lines For Business Outreach 

Your goal is mainly to penetrate your reader’s psyche and hack their mind so that we know exactly what to write to get your email opened. 

Don’t worry. We have already considered it on your behalf and curated a detailed list of 12 strategies that you can use to construct the perfect subject line for your prospect. 

After reading these 12 strategies, you will be able to easily get your emails opened and know what kind of subject lines you need to write in the future, too. 

12 Strategies to Perfect the Subject Lines.

To understand the subject lines, we will divide them into industry-specific examples. So, from the list below, you can choose the one that suits your requirements or choose a generic one. 

1.  Engaging (Standing Out)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Engagement here stands for standing out in the crowd. Your prospects must receive a bunch of cold emails every day. 

“So, your only chance is to write an amazingly engaging subject line that engages them and forces them to open your cold email.”

Generic Examples 

• {{First name}}, your time is not for everyone. So pick us fast.
• Hello {{First Name}}, A magical message awaits you. Click and enjoy.
• Hoping for closing that (Project)? We can help.

 Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Marketing is an ART, just what your customers deserve {{First name}}
• Don’t worry; be working; we’ll find what you are looking, {{Company Name}}

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• We will take your data from a dinosaur into a daisy shape. Manage big data with us. 
• Why have Shapeless Data? We are here to give the desired Avatar to your Data.

When to use?

This type of cold email can be sent when you have a generic product and usually face issues with subject lines that feel similar to your competitors.

2. Amazed (Insightful)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

How can your customers be amazed by your subject line? It’s easy: Share something they have not known so far. Share your insights about their business, which can be really helpful for them.

Make sure the insights you share are well-researched; otherwise, they can read your subject line and know you have nothing interesting or insightful to say in the email.

Generic Examples 

• More than 50% of your {{Product}} is wasted.
• There’s a better way to use your {{Service}}.
• {{Company Name}} your employees are missing this.

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Why did your ad perform only 20% of its potential {{Company Name}}?
• Reels are only 35% of your total content {{Company Name}}?

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Facing issues in managing 200+ employees? Open for help.
• WFH is getting tough? Use {{Product Name}} to save time and achieve accuracy.

When to use?

This type of Cold email can be shared when you have data-packed/insightful information about your ideal customers and are willing to help them improve. 

3. Confused (Half Information)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Many times, when you reach out to your customers, you have some generic information that might not excite them much. 

In such situations, you can write your subject line in a way that you gives them half the information and makes them curious. Always keep them guessing about the rest. 

The human psyche is such that people will be so intrigued after reading the half-information that they will not be able to stop themselves from opening your email and reading it.

 Generic Examples 

• That (Product Name) you bought yesterday, {{First Name}}
• We have doubled what we promised {{First Name}}
• Only half of them are available now. 

  Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Your campaign did worse than that…
• The views from the recent ad. It could have been…

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• All of your data problems require just this…
• Looked at a brand new HRMS system. It promises…

When to use?

You can use this type of subject line when you have something less interesting or not so important to share. For example, you can come up with generic information but write it in a way that only shows the readers half the details and keeps them intrigued. 

4. Convinced (Numbers/Social Proof)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Convincing a manager or someone with business authority is quite a task. Usually, their brains are trained not to agree on things easily without getting enough details.

It is not possible to include too much information in the subject line, but you can always choose the right numbers to trigger the instinct to click on the email. 

Generic Examples 

• Your 20% storage usage is underutilized. Fix It quickly.
• Nearly ¼ of your profit goes into managing only operations. There’s a better way.
• Did packaging costs increase by 10%? There’s a better solution.

  Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Not working out even after hefty marketing budgets?
• 50% drop in prospects finding? The market is big and waiting.

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Can’t solve salary calculations on time? Use {{company Name}}
• Can’t track 50% of your meetings and are tired of writing MOM’s? Use {{product Name}}

 When to use?

You can use this subject line when you have some really useful numbers or some kind of social proof. The data should make real sense to the readers; otherwise, they’ll ignore your email from the subject line. 

5.  Curious  (Market-Driven/Competitor’s Details)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Curiosity is a tricky point to crack. When you have been in a business for a long time, you already have a ton of knowledge about your domain. So, it becomes tough to get you curious about things easily. 

Businesses are usually curious to know about their competitors’ details or market trends at all times. If you have enough data in that area, you can ingest curiosity in your client’s head. 

Generic Examples 

• Your competitor’s {{Product Name}} is doing wonders. Have a look.
• Did you know about this market trend?
• Your (Industry) is facing many issues due to this update.

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Are reels the way to go or podcasts? Your answer inside.
• Your market share can increase by 10% with a new trend. 

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Same revenue, half the company size. How? Here’s How.
• This security threat is concerning everyone in (Industry).

When to use?

You can use this type of email subject line when you have some really good data about the market or crucial information about their competitors. 

6. Worried (Time-Sensitivity)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Note that we are not talking about using spammy words here. Still, your content can create a sense of urgency in your customers’ minds for the time. 

Make sure not to sound salesy or pushy but to genuinely warn them about a possible benefit/loss. 

Generic Examples 

• In just 2 days, you will lose track of {{Product Name}}
• Only the last few of your favorite {{Product Name}} left.
• (Service) will cost you 70% more after 2 days

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Our premium package is 20% less for the next 3 hours only.
• Working with influencers? Get it at 10% lower than others with {{Company Name}} today.

  Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Save your leaky buckets and gain in retention with (Feature) 15% less today!
• Our tech geniuses are available only for today. Grab your seat now!

When to use?

You can use this type of information when you are offering something or giving time-sensitive details that will be useless if checked after some time.

7. Helpful (Pain Points)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Who doesn’t like a friend, right? So, if you have knowledge of the exact pain points your prospects are currently facing and have the solutions for them, Problem solved! Go and connect with them directly. 

Businesses are always looking for people who can identify their issues and be there in their place to solve them. It saves them time, and they can focus on more crucial projects. 

Generic Examples 

• Facing issues in your {{Product Name}}, {{First Name}}?
• Not getting enough closers? This will help
• (Feature’s) problem increasing each day? Action plan to solve it inside.

 Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Marketing leads are not converting into customers, {{First Name}}
• Not finding quality prospects even after having a good product?

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Not being able to solve that gap in policies and execution? Try this.
• Need more help in developing  (Feature)? We can help.

When to use?

You can use this subject line when you have information about your customers’ current struggles and a solution that could save their efforts.

8. Connected (Mutual People)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Our favorite way to attract customers is by using some mutual connection. Someone who is common, whom both of you trust, can be a game changer to help you crack that deal.

If you don’t have anyone in common, that’s ok too. You can have events, meetings, seminars, or even as small as liking the same artist you can discuss. 

Generic Examples 

• {{First Name}}, know (Name)? We understand your standards.
• Attended (Event Name) recently?
• Going to go for (Conference) coming week, {{First Name}}

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• We recently won the Best Marketing Agency of the Year award!
• We attended the top voices of the (Industry) event with you.

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• 6 out of 10 people in your city choose us for {{Feature}}.
• (Name), we admire your team’s working style. Let’s collaborate on (Topic).

When to use?

You can use this email subject line when you have a past connection with the customers. The relationship can be about people or events that are of mutual interest.

9. Ambitious (Time Saving)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Businesses are ambitious about their growth, but hiring too many employees is always a task for a company. Usually, they are trying to avoid hiring and find a way they can’t outsource a task or a project.

If you have something you can use to save time and make life easy for them, they will easily connect with you. 

Find ambitious businesses and offer them how you can save their time and let them focus on crucial things. 

Generic Examples 

• Don’t waste your time on (Issue); we can help.
• Want to achieve (Goal) next quarter? Do this.
• Save 30% of your time using this hack!

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Managing the daily chores of marketing should not be your focus!
• Don’t waste time on daily follow-ups with prospects. We can do it for you.

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Want to crack the code of managing (Number) human resources? Know here.
• Admin duties are something you can delegate to us!

When to use?

You can use this email subject line when you connect with ambitious prospects, and you know how to save their time or help them accelerate their growth. 

10. Joyful (Humorous)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Boring cold email subject lines are the most unwanted email lines, too. If your client’s job requires them to read hundreds of emails daily, give them a break with a laugh. 

It will not only be refreshing but also interesting for the reader. An email with a creative and humorous subject line usually signals to the reader that the main content will also be fun to read.

Generic Examples 

• We don’t have anywhere to hide our faces. (Out of Excitement)
• Want to know who fell off? 😝
• Nooo! Don’t look. I am hiding this from people! 😅

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• Our email writer is on leave. Deal with this subject line. 😒
• .Why can’t we write as well as we write for our clients? 😭

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Our marketing sucks, 😒 but our product is a gem 😎
• On duty, Ma’am! Where’s my broom? 😛

When to use?

You can use this email subject line when you have nothing special to offer or share but just bond with your prospect. Here, no facts, statistics, or details are mentioned, but you can only use some humor to attract your customers. 

11. Attentive (Awareness)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Suppose you have any futuristic knowledge about your customer that can spread awareness about potential benefits/losses. In that case, those details can be easily attention-grabbing to write in a cold email subject line. 

Any new technology, government policy, or audience trends of your customer is a gold mine of information with you. So, use it wisely. Use it in your cold email subject line. 

Generic Examples 

• This (Change) is coming next week. Know it before anyone!
• Don’t relax just yet {{First Name}}! Solve this first.
• Did the government change it? 

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• They no longer accept this digital behavior {{First Name}}.
• You can now do (Enhancement)  2X as per the new rule! 

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• Hey, {{First Name}}. Stop this before you invite trouble in your life.
• This is ruining your growth targets for the quarter, {{First Name}}.

When to use?

You can use this type of email subject line when you have some information that is crucial for the prospect to be aware of. If you are dealing with consultancy and you have learned about some government policy changes, then you can be aware of your prospects about this topic using this kind of subject line. 

12. Delighted (Incentivized)

How Does it Work Psychologically?

Imagine you are having a very boring day at the office. Suddenly, you open your inbox and see an unexpected offer/benefit sitting around waiting for you to open it. How would you feel? 

Delighted, right? Everyone likes surprises and perks, so make sure you mention them in your subject line to highlight them.

However, many businesses overdo it. There is a fine line between giving surprises and spamming with unwanted offers that don’t make sense to your clients.

Generic Examples 

• Something wanted, needed, and demanded is here for you. (Unasked)
• 100s demanded, but only you got it.
•  You won our hearts. So, we want to treat you with (Offer)

Examples for B2B

Examples for marketing/Lead generation companies. 

• The Marketing expert everyone wants is yours for today!
• Open to finding 5 prospects we found for you As a Present. 

 Examples for IT/SaaS companies.  

• 1 year’s worth of premium, with this card!
• Your current plan is upgraded. As a thank you for choosing us💛.

When to use?

You can use this subject line when you have something to offer the client that they are not expecting—a surprise element. 

Email Subject Lines To Get A Job

How To Write An Effective Cold Email To Get A Job?

• Keep it short and to the point.
• Make your interest clear.
• Proofread 
• Add your important details

 Examples

1. Hello {{First Name}}, I am interested in your recent post. 

2. Hi, Your recent post on Linkedin is a perfect fit for me. 

3. Looking for a (Position) in {{Company Name}}.

4. Hey, I would love to connect and know more about (The Role) you posted on Linkedin.

5. My skills match your description. Let’s connect {{First Name}}

6. I got a reference for this vacancy at {{Company Name}}.

7. We are a perfect match. Applying for the (Position).

8. Greetings. My resume was looking for your inbox. Applying for the position of a writer.

9. The perfect candidate exists in this email.

10. Looking for a videographer? I am here.

11. Times Up! Hire me now.

12. Hey, are you looking for a colleague in the HR position? I fit the ask.

13. Not everyone can do sales, But I can. Open and know me.

14. Hello, {{First Name}}. I am (Name). I solve your current need to find a coder.

15. Finding someone who can lead (Team Name)? I am here. 

16. Finding someone who can build your team? HR’s resume is attached inside.

17. A culturally fit candidate is here. Skills included.

18. The resume of your ideal candidate is waiting in the inbox. Open and hire.

Additional Advice

Find more ways to optimize your cold email subject line in this section.

1. Mobile Optimization

Optimize for mobiles with A/B testing.

Today’s world probability is that more than 40 to 50% of people read your cold email via mobile. As that is a huge number, optimizing your content to become mobile UI-friendly is non-negotiable.

How do you test that? It’s easy; you can use saleshandy’s A/Z testing feature to test many variants of your copy and choose the one that performs the best. 

2. Plan the Whole Sequence

The target is not to open a single email. The target is always to open the whole sequence and keep getting opened in the future, too. For that, planning the whole sequence in advance is very important.

Only when you know your next five steps can you decide whether your 1st step landed. 

Plan your sequences in advance and execute them easily using our sequence management tool. This comprehensive tool helps you be prepared for the big picture of the business. 

Powerful Insights By Saleshandy’s Experts

Linkedin Post – Subject lines variant with 65%+ open rates

Youtube – 5 Best Cold Email Subject Lines for 2024

1.  Match the subject line with preheaders.
2. Don’t be salesy or overdramatic. Keep it real and think about the person’s reaction after reading it. He should be willing to open your next email whenever you send it to him again.

Your Bonus Is Here

These are the best email lines, which forced me to open emails myself. (sharing screenshots of my favorite subject lines from different industries)

Conclusion

It’s difficult to wrap up the blog in a few words, but here you go. Cold emailing is a very useful tool if used wisely. 

The first step in effective cold emailing is to crack how to write the perfect cold email subject line that can increase the number of open rates. If you get more opens, your chances of getting your prospects or cracking that dream job get higher. 

There are a few things that you can take care of while writing that perfect cold email subject line mentioned here. Choose the type of content you have and choose an inspiration from the sample subject lines mentioned in the blog. 

FAQs

1. What’s a good subject line for an email?

A good cold email subject line helps you get more open rates. That is the main purpose of writing a good cold email subject line. However, there are a few things that you can check while writing, and that is to keep it short, relevant, not spammy or salesy, and not make any grammatical or factual errors. 

2. How do you write a catchy cold email?

Catchy or attention-grabbing subject lines are a mix of uniqueness and facts. So, if you can write differently from your competitors and give them value with it, congratulations—you have your catchy email subject line. 

3. How long should cold email subject lines be?

On average, the best cold emailing and lead generation tools, suggest keeping your subject line under 60 characters or less. 

4. What are spammy subject lines?

Spammy email subject lines bombard the receiver with unuseful, untargeted emails. Email subject lines with words like Hurry, Offer, Free, Urgent, And similar will be considered spammy.