Terrible Subject Lines That Make People Want to Unsubscribe (Examples + How to Fix)

As the first line of defense in capturing the attention of your subscribers, the subject line of an email is crucial. A poor subject line can be the difference between a recipient opening an email or marking it as spam. In this blog post, we will cover some examples of terrible subject lines, and provide tips on how to improve them.

Examples of Terrible Subject Lines

ALL CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!

Using all caps and exclamation points in your subject line is a surefire way to make your email look like spam. It comes across as screaming, desperate, and unprofessional.

Ambiguous or Vague

Subject lines that are too broad or don’t accurately reflect the content of the email can lead to confusion and frustration for the recipient. For example, “Important Update” or “Check This Out” are not clear and can cause the recipient to overlook or ignore your email.

Misleading

Subject lines that are misleading or clickbait-y can harm your credibility and make recipients less likely to open your emails in the future. For example, “You won’t believe what happened next!” or “Exclusive offer for you!” are examples of misleading subject lines.

How to Fix Terrible Subject Lines

Keep it simple and straightforward

Your subject line should be brief, clear, and accurately reflect the content of your email. Avoid using puns, jokes, or insider language that only a small subset of your subscribers would understand.

Personalize it

Personalizing the subject line with the recipient’s name or other details specific to them can increase the likelihood that they will open your email. For example, “John, don’t miss out on this week’s sale” is more likely to grab John’s attention than a generic subject line.

Be descriptive

Your subject line should provide enough information for the recipient to know what the email is about. For example, “Get 20% off on your next purchase” is a clear and descriptive subject line.

Avoid spam trigger words

Words like “Free,” “Win,” “Congratulations,” and “Special Promotion” can trigger spam filters and cause your email to be marked as spam. Try to avoid using these words in your subject line.

In conclusion, a well-crafted subject line can make the difference between your email being opened and read or ignored and deleted. By avoiding terrible subject lines, personalizing your subject lines, and being descriptive, you can increase the chances that your subscribers will open and engage with your emails.