Top 5 Subject: Field Mistakes

With more folks than ever working remotely — that means more email volume. Consequently, this makes your Subject: field even more important. Not only to stand out — but to help keep everyone more organized.

Who knew that you could make mistakes with the use of the Subject: field. But if you think about it, every little effort your make, or don’t make, will enhance or detract from your business communications.

Common Subject Field Mistakes

Leaving the Subject field blank.

When you leave the Subject: field blank, you increase the risk of your email being misidentified as spam. It could then land in the recipient’s trash or junk folder. Always take the time to type a short, concise, and accurate description of your email’s content.

Using a previous email.

To type about something new, and you keep the old unrelated Subject: in place. This approach reflects a lack of tech-savvy or extreme laziness.

It also makes communicating with you more difficult for those who organize their emails by Subject fields. Get in the habit of adding contacts to your address book so you can add them to a new email with just one click.

If you insist on using a previous email, delete the unrelated Subject:, update the old text with the new subject description relevant to your current message.

Typing in all lower case or all caps.

For every email that you send, type the Subject field in the proper case. I know; I can’t believe I’m still typing about “case” after all these years. But I still see this almost every day.

All lower case makes you look like spammers or that you lack education. All caps seem spammy and infer an elevated tone.

Typing cryptic phrases.

Avoid phrases that are not clear about the actual content of the email. Study after study shows that folks look to the Subject field to prioritize their emails.

More importantly, to determine even if they will open the email. Nothing but an honest, concise, and clear Subject: field will do.

Typing questions or your inquiry into the Subject field.

You type a one-line message in the subject field and leave the body of the email blank. Blank emails can also be misidentified as spam. Are you really that lazy that you can’t type an email?

It is the Subject field — not the “content” field. Type your questions and comments in the body of your email.

Your Subject: is the Window to Your Email

Besides how your name displays when you send emails, the Subject: field is the primary indicator that reflects your message, and even if your email gets opened.

Don’t underestimate the power of the Subject: field. Your subject is your primary means to get the message you desire to those you want to do business with, form partnerships, and build long-term relationships.