Top Business Email Subject Field Mistakes

Don't make these mistakes with your business email subject field.

With more people working remotely than ever, there is more email volume. Consequently, your Subject field becomes even more essential—to stand out and help keep everyone more organized.

Who knew that you could make mistakes using 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.

I wrote a short dos and don’ts about Subject fields here. Afterward, I received many emails asking if I could concentrate more on the common mistakes to avoid. You ask, I write!

Common Subject Field Mistakes

Businesses often make several common mistakes with email subject lines that can negatively impact clarity, open rates, and overall email campaign effectiveness. Here are some of the top mistakes to avoid:

Being Too Vague: Subject lines that are not specific can confuse recipients and fail to grab their attention. Ensure your subject line conveys the email’s content.
Overusing Capital Letters: Using all caps can come across as shouting and may deter recipients from opening the email. It’s also a common trigger for spam filters.
Using All Lower Case: All lowercase letters make you appear unprofessional, look like a spammer, or lack education.
Using Spammy Words: Words like “Free,” “Buy Now,” “Earn Money,” and excessive exclamation points can trigger spam filters and reduce deliverability.
Being Misleading: Promising something in the subject line that isn’t delivered in the email can frustrate recipients and lead to unsubscribes or no replies.
Making It Too Long: Subject lines that are too long may be cut off, especially on mobile devices. Aim for 50 characters or less.
Ignoring Mobile Users: Many people check emails on their phones. Ensure your subject lines are optimized for mobile viewing by keeping them short and impactful.
Not Personalizing: Failing to personalize subject lines can make emails feel generic and less engaging. Including the recipient’s name or relevant details can increase open rates.
Not Testing: Skipping A/B testing in business email campaigns means missing insights into what subject lines work best with your audience. Regular testing helps optimize your approach.
Overloading with Emojis: While emojis can make a subject line stand out, using too many can appear unprofessional and cluttered. Use them sparingly and appropriately.
Failing to Convey Value: Subject lines that don’t communicate the benefit or value of opening the email are less likely to grab attention. Highlight what’s in it for the recipient.
Repetitiveness: Repeatedly using the same subject line can lead to email fatigue. Mix up your subject lines to keep your audience interested.
Ignoring Segmentation: Sending the same subject line to your entire list without considering different segments can reduce relevance. Tailor your subject lines to different audience segments when possible.

Also, keep in mind…

Never Leave 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.

Don’t Use a Previous Unrelated Email

Never keep the old unrelated Subject in place when typing about something new. 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. Add contacts to your address book so you can add them to a new email with just one click.

Question in the Subject of a Blank Email

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 and 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 appears when you send emails, the Subject field is the primary indicator of whether your message is received and whether it will be opened.

Don’t underestimate the power of the Subject field. Your Subject is your primary means of conveying the message you desire to those you want to do business with, forming partnerships, and building long-term relationships.

Avoiding these common mistakes can help improve your email open rates and overall email marketing success.

Top Business Email Subject Field Mistakes