137+ Best Retention 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 137+ best retention 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

You can share this with your boss
Is XYZ Company still welcome in your inbox?
{{firstname}}, we miss you!
Check out what’s next in 2019
Check out our client success stories
Sweet! Thanks for being our customer
A good deal is always good news (in your inbox)
Have You Tried/Discovered [Feature] Yet?
We noticed you’ve been a little distant lately
We get it. We want you get it too
Like it, love it, hate it. We want to know more
You’ll hate to miss this one
Did you catch that?
We still miss you. (And you still have 20% OFF!)
Happy first anniversary to us
Let’s try that again
Just tried calling. Is email better
$15 to get over the hump 🐪
This mail can change everything
Did you forget about us?
Fabulous choice!
Thanks for Being You
20% off. Because we miss you ❤️
How Many Stars Would You Give [Product]?
Are you the right person for product name or service
Your relationship with XYZ Company is important to us
Check Out These User Tricks and Tips
Thanks a lot for selecting us
Hey, where did you go?
There’s More. So Much More.
Where Does It Hurt?
Here’s what you’ve missed, <Name>
You’ve Hit a Milestone, [Name]!
Thanks for being our customer
A quick favor. Please
Why outsourcing ( service name) is a better choice
It makes us happy that you have selected us
Did you get my previous email?
Waiting patiently for you and your friend
Smart ways to leverage ( your product or service)
Don’t let someone else snatch up your items!
We got it. Good decisions take time
Nice of you to stop by
Awesome, Glad you found something you like
We’ve Added a New Feature You Might Like
Long time no see, {{firstname}}
We are glad to have a customer like you
We appreciate you as a customer
Are we on the same page?
Can we talk by Thursday?
This is the start of something awesome
Thanks for checking us out
We’d hate to miss your birthday 🎂
<Name> , what’s next?
Can we talk about 7 mins?
We Want You Back!
You picked up! That’s cool
You’re Missing the Best Part, [Name]
Thank you for choosing us
{{firstname}}, it’s been a while…
It is still in the cart.
You haven’t read our recent messages. Should we stop emailing you?
Nice, We are glad to see you as a customer
I can support you to impress your boss.
We dare you to have another look
Don’t keep it to yourself only
We Want Your Opinion
Here’s a Little Token of Our Affection
Thinking about you
Let’s Catch Up….
Welcome Back, {{firstname}}!
Unlimited (products) are just a few steps away
I promise to keep this short
Your Weekly [Product] Stats/Report
Let me know if you are still interested.
Is your purchase is up to your expectations
Want the (product/pass) for free?
Thanks! So glad you found us
Are you still deciding?
Not quite sure?
No pressure from our side but this sale will end in 24 hours.
We have noticed your interest in ( product or service name)
Welcome back to XYZ
Join us for another webinar.
We’re wondering…
Do you still want to hear from us?
Give Us Another Chance
How Can We Help You Get Started?
Thanks a lot from the bottom of our hearts
Checking in with you, <Name>
Long time no see, <Name>
We offer free shipping right to your office or home.
5 strategies worth your time
Sign up for your free trial today
Read this email in 200 seconds or less. We timed it
We miss you, <Name>
Enjoy your purchase
7 strategies that will boost your sale
This is what our customers are saying about us
This email could be worth $4 or $400,000
Do you still want updates from us
Busy bee? Let us help.
A message to {{firstname}}
Give me 44 seconds of your time
5 ways to increase every business
Let’s talk about your product or service
We want to help meet your goals. Let’s reconnect.
Let me show how this works for our customers.
23 percent off for next 24 hours.
Having Trouble?
How Did It Go?
You might like these too
Hate to see you to leave without me
Keep ‘em coming
How we help the clients to boost ROI
You have a very good taste!
Do you have any questions?
Are you shopping around?
Here something different to consider
Why customer service still matters
Did you have any questions about your product or service
We want you to gain the benefits of product name
Thank so much for your order
$X/X% Off Your Next Order
Glad to have you back {{firstname}}
Thanks!
What Do You Think of [Product]?
Great choice
When we will be together again
Your New [Product] Account: How to Get Started
Are You Stuck?
It’s Been a While
✨ We miss you! ✨ We’re singling you out for this: 20% OFF expires TONIGHT
We Miss You, [Name]!
Are you sure you want to leave this behind?
Don’t leave a good thing behind
Just for you
How to gain more sales in 2019.

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 137+ best retention 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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