95+ Best Action Required Email Subject Lines [2024]

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

If you're looking to boost your email open rates and increase sales, your email subject line is the first (and most important) step in achieving those goals.

Did you know that 33% of email recipients open emails because of an engaging subject line?

That's why it's critical to craft a catchy email subject line that will get you the traffic and conversions you deserve.

We've put together a list of 95+ best action required email subject lines [2024].

Some are proven examples from other successful campaigns, and some are creative ideas to inspire you.

Creative Email Subject Line Ideas

THIS is: High-performance ✅ sustainable ✅ already our best seller ✅ (Frank and Oak)
Ryan Levesque: “Seriously, Who Does This?”
Fabletics: [Name], item(s) in your cart are selling fast!
"1,750 points for you. Valentine's flowers & more for them."
AllSaints: There’s still time!
"👻Trip or treat! Up to $300 off ends tomorrow" - EF Tours
Crate and Barrel: We’ve held your cart for a limited time only.
Mary Fernandez: “? your detailed results…”
Sam from The Hustle: “I love you”
"🔥 Hot freebie alert! 15 free gifts, you pick 5."
"Electrify your next night out. Trending party dresses are now on sale." - Wish
Eat This Not That: “9 Disgusting Facts about Thanksgiving”
"What Did You Think? Write a Review."
Bonnie Fahy: “Mary, do you remember me?”
Kimra Luna: “I didn’t see your name in the comments!?”
Warby Parker: “Uh-oh, your prescription is expiring”
Guess: “Mary, check out these hand-picked looks”
STAT: Machine issue on line #3 requires immediate action
Syed from OptinMonster: “300% increase in revenue with a single optin + a neat growth trick from my mastermind!”
Jon Morrow: “Quick favor?”
Digital Marketer: “[URGENT] You’ve got ONE DAY to watch this…”
"Black Friday shoppers are the worst customers"
"Don't Open This Email"
"China Falls, Sleepy Unicorns, And The Deals Aren’t Bigger In Texas"
They did WHAT with a pair of Crocs? (Crocs)
Revolution Tea: “Thanks for helping us”
"As You Wish"
"Generous PTO and summer Fridays" - Mediabistro
"Important Weather Advisory"
Thrillist: “What They Eat In Prison”
"Google sees smartphone heroics in Oreo. It's The Daily Crunch."
Zillow: "What Can You Afford?"
"I got Botox—& THIS is what it looked like"
Digital Marketer: “Your 7-figure plan goes bye-bye at midnight…”
Chubbies: “Hologram Shorts?!”
NTN: Thank you cards have been sent to all attendees
"🐶 Want a Custom Emoji of Tullamore & 6 Months FREE Walks? Book a Walk Today for Your Chance to Win!"
Refinery29: “10 bizarre money habits making Millennials richer”
Sweaty Betty: Don’t miss out!
You’re Invited (Birchbox)
ACT: Please complete and return the attached form by 6/1/2014
Jersey Mike’s Subs: “Mary, Earn double points today only”
"Smoldering red lipstick" - Chanel
Subject: "It's scary outside." Preview text: "Here's $5 to stay in" - Drizly
Have You Seen Sheep Dance? (Allbirds)
Harry’s: “Two razors for your friends (on us)”
Rent the Runway: “Happy Birthday Mary – Surprise Inside!”
Digital Marketer: “Is this the hottest career in marketing?”
GrubHub: “Last Day To See What This Mystery Email Is All About”
"DO NOT Commit These Instagram Atrocities"
Digital Marketer: “Check out my new “man cave” [PICS]”
Buffer has been hacked - here is what's going on"
Guess: “Tonight only: A denim lover’s dream”
"Everything you wanted to know about email copy but were too afraid to ask"
"Watch Out for This Amazon Phishing Scam."
Bring portable LCD project to staff meeting tomorrow :EOM
It’s Arrived. (Huckberry)
JetBlue: “You’re missing out on points.”
Shhh… Don’t tell anyone (ESQIDO)
NRN: Attached is the budget copy you requested
"Claim your UNLIMITED free photo book + pages and more" - Shutterfly
"Not Cool, Guys"
When life gives you cupcakes… (Johnny Cupcakes)
James Malinchak: “Crazy Invitation, I am Going to Buy You Lunch…”
Mary Fernandez: “? a surprise gift for you! {unwrap}”
"Corelle. (Enough said.)" - Wayfair
What you’ve been waiting for 🌈 (Away)
MAC Cosmetics: View Your Cart Now Before It Expires!
"Best of Groupon: The Deals That Make Us Proud (Unlike Our Nephew, Steve)"
UrbanDaddy: “You’ve Changed”
The Hustle: “A faster donkey”
"Uh-oh, your prescription is expiring"
Too Faced: “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone” -Your Basket
Manicube: “Don’t Open This Email”
Is it your lucky day? (Death Wish Coffee)
You can’t come in (Glossier)
Brooklinen: “Vanilla or Chocolate?”
John Lee Dumas: “Are you coming?”
Influitive: “So I’ll pick you up at 7?”
"👗 Free (Cool!) Clothes Alert 👖"
"Abra-cord-abra! Yeah, we said it."
Huckberry: Just a couple left…
Zalando: Lucky you! An item in your shopping cart is now on sale
"Where to Drink Beer Right Now"
JRINK: Uh oh, your cart is about to sell out.
FYI: Updated company holiday calendar attached.
"Do you know how important this is?" - Allstate
Mary Fernandez: “you free this Thurs at 12 PM PST? [guest blogging class]”
You’ve never seen a suit this color… (Shinesty)
"The timer’s going off on your cart!"
Digital Marketer: “[WEEKEND ONLY] Get this NOW before it’s gone…”
"Rock the color of the year"
ASICS Tiger: Get it before it’s gone…
they said it couldn’t be done (Recess)
Your hair care routine is missing something… (Function of Beauty)

GUIDE: How To Write A Great Subject Line

As we mentioned above, crafting a catchy subject line is critical to the performance of your email campaign.

While just a few words may seem like a small piece of your overall message, this is the first impression your audience will have before they decide whether to open your email.

If your subject line isn't engaging or appealing enough, there's a chance it could get buried in your reader's inbox.

Let's go over the proven tips on how to craft a subject line that boosts engagement:

What makes a great subject line?

First, let's discuss the fundamentals of creating a great subject line:

Spark interest and curiosity
A clear and urgent call to action
An offer/intriguing discount
Personalization (this can be done by sending out different versions of emails to subscribers based on their preferences)
Relevance - make sure your subject line covers the current trends and topics within your industry

5 Tips To Crafting a Great Subject Line

Now, let's dive into the specifics of how to create a great subject line for your next campaign:

1. Use a familiar sender name

Although this may seem obvious, it's a piece many marketers miss the ball on.

Your readers want to feel like your email is coming from a human and not a corporation or automated system.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by changing the sender's name to YOUR name or someone in the company that is well known.

Here's a great example of this from Marketing Examples

Pro Tip

Avoid the "no-reply" sender name at all costs. This makes your email feel unfamiliar, unapproachable, and less personable.

2. Keep your subject short and to the point

If your subject line is too long, it will get cut off, which could impact your reader's chances of opening your email.

The rule of thumb (for both mobile and desktop) is to keep your subject line under 50 characters.

3. Add personal touches to your subject line

If you have access to information about your subscriber (ie. name, location, etc), you can use this to benefit your subject line and catch your readers attention.

It's important not to go overboard here, but adding even the simplest touch such as their name can build trust and rapport.

Here's a great example of a personalized email + offer I received from BarkBox with my dog's name in the subject line:

4. Avoid making any false promises

Your subject line makes a commitment to your reader, so it's important you don't stretch the truth just to simply get more opens and clicks.

In the grand scheme of things, making false promises will end up hurting your open rate as your readers will lose trust in you.

5. Give them a sneak peek of what's inside

Telling your subscriber what is inside helps with open and clicks.

For example, if you're providing your reader with a free guide or e-book, consider making your subject line something along the lines of:

"Your FREE marketing e-book awaits!"

Conclusion

If you want your email campaign to perform well, it all starts with your subject line.

Think about the emails you receive in your inbox and what makes you click vs what gets buried - odds are, the same habits go for your customer.

We hope you enjoyed our guide + list of 95+ best action required email subject lines [2024].

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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