Avoid Spammy Business E-mail Subject: Lines

If you do spammy things — spammy as identified by software that is installed to minimize spam, adware, spyware and viruses — your e-mail risks getting blocked and returned. The Subject: field is just one criteria that software and networks look at to rate an e-mail’s spam potential. Not being aware of your Subject: field “spamminess” can cause your e-mails to get deleted, return or not even opened!

Things to keep in mind when it comes to your Subject: field:

In a recent survey, 35% of respondents cited the “Subject” line as the most important factor motivating them to open e-mails. Do things in the Subject: field that spammers are known to do (you know what they are — you see it all the time in your inbox) and you could be misidentified with that bunch. How you structure your Subject: field can in fact set off spam flags.
Never leave the Subject: field blank. Always include a short and relevant Subject.
Avoid using the recipient’s name in the Subject: line. If your name is not recognized you could be perceived as a possible spammer.
Use proper punctuation and capitalization where necessary. Do not use multiple !!! or ???.
Refrain from using Help, Hi or Please Respond type comments in your Subject: field.
When replying, take the extra step to type REPLY: at the start of the Subject: field for a extra hint of professionalism and detail letting the recipient know you are replying to their specific inquiry and are not a spammer.
Do not put your message in the Subject: field leaving the message box blank. The Subject: field is for a short, sweet and concise overview of what your message will include — not the message itself!

The above tips if followed consistently will help to ensure your e-mail does not get incorrectly identified as spam and deleted before read.