Perhaps one of the most important parts of your email is the subject line. This is often the first thing a reader notices, and can make the difference between their reading the email right away, sending it to their clutter folder, or letting it sit until later.
Here are a few tips to consider as you craft a meaningful subject line:
- Your subject line should at least be descriptive of the content of the email (for example: "request from student club"), but you may also want to use it to highlight your call to action--the response you want from the reader (for example: "Volunteers needed for Friday event!").
- Be specific if possible. "The info you requested" doesn't let readers know what info is being sent (unlike something like "The student transfer data you requested"). Users might even assume that generic or ambiguous subject lines are a sign that an email is spam or a scam. You're not spoiling the email by revealing its purpose in the subject line; you're just making it more likely the reader will identify its purpose right away.
- Make it easily found using search. Users often search through their email for past emails on specific topics. Try to imagine the words someone might use to search for the email you're writing, and then use those words in the subject line and/or the body of the email.
- Don't ever mislead your reader with an intentionally unclear subject line. Readers can be quick to disregard emails from what they believe to be untrustworthy sources, and once your email address has been blocked, you may be unable to reach this person in the future.
