Posted On 09 Apr 2017

Headlines represent arguably the most important aspect of any email marketing campaign.

They’re easy to screw up as you can only work with so few words at once.

Thankfully we’ve outlined 11 headline ideas that you can plug in to any autoresponder series to keep your leads hungry and asking for more. 

If you put one hundred master copywriters in a room and asked them “what is the most important aspects of any given sales pitch or marketing message,” chances are they’d all have the same answer.

Headlines.

Take it from marketing revolutionary and millionaire mastermind David Ogilvy, who noted that five times as many readers will read a headline versus any body copy.

For marketing messages, you can almost view your headline or subject line as 80% of the work, with the body and other elements representing the final 20%.

Sounds like hyperbole, doesn’t it? However, the numbers don’t lie regarding how much headlines can ultimately make or break any marketing campaign.

For starters, consider the following regarding email subject lines:

• Approximately 70% of readers report emails as spam based on subject line alone (on the flip side, 35% of recipients will open emails based one solely the headline)
• According to MailChimp, today’s readers are savvy to subject lines: anything perceived as cheesy or overly “salesy” will have a lower rate of engagement (think: “Buy Now! Deals! Deals! Deals!”)
• From length to localization, even the smallest details of your subject lines can have a significant impact on open and click-through rates

The importance of a proper headline cannot be overstated.

After all, juicy headlines will hook readers from the word “go;” however, flat headlines will cause our messages to get ignored entirely (or perhaps worse: end up in the spam folder).

This is especially crucial when creating email autoresponders, which are vital to any sales funnel but extremely easy to overlook.

But what if there was a repository of proven headline strategies based on previously successful marketing campaigns you could simply plug in to your next series?

Well, you’re in luck.

Remember first and foremost the ultimate goals of your headlines in terms of your autoresponders.

When you keep these principles in mind, you’ll find that your headlines are much less daunting to craft.

The purpose of your headlines should be to do a combination of the following:

• Grab the attention of your audience at a glance
• Pique their curiosity and encourage them to read more
• Show that you’re paying attention to your readers’ wants and needs

Don’t let your autoresponders get stuck in the trash.

Bear in mind that some of these will perform better than others based on your industry.

It always pays to do some competitive analysis to see what your neighbors are up to; however, consider any of the following as fair game.

 “Hey ____.”

 While it’s easy to overthink your autoresponder headlines, remember that sometimes simplicity is key.

After all, shorter headlines tend to have a high open rate versus those which drones on and on.

Likewise, lengthy subject lines can get cut off by mobile devices if you’re not careful.

There’s plenty of power in a simple greeting message: saying “hey” to your customer not only makes you seem more human but also makes your email seem like less of a sales pitch.

Also, personalization is a surefire way to encourage engagement.

“My favorite trick. You should try it, too.”

Your messages aren’t all about you or your brand: they’re about your audience and what they need.

“You” is one of the sweetest words your leads could possibly hope to hear.

After all, subject lines containing “you” typically get more opens and click-throughs, although it’s not a strategy you should abuse.

In short, this subject line also works to pique your readers’ curiosity and gets them asking questions.

What’s the trick?

Is it simple?

Why is it your favorite?

They’ll find out when they click.

This simple subject line is loaded with implications, including the fact that you’re sharing valuable information with your audience and have other tricks up your sleeve (therefore positioning yourself as an expert and resource).

When using such a subject line, however, make sure that whatever is in the body copy delivers on the subject line (an awesome trick, in this case).

“I was broke until I learned this.”

Marketers should always strive to give tidbits of information and education to their base.

Additionally, empathizing with your audience’s struggles works to create an emotional connection that tugs at your leads’ heartstrings.

Talking about money or status, for example, is a huge psychological trigger that helps your readers relate to you and understand that you were once in their shoes.

With this message, potential riches are only a click away in the eyes of your readers.

Photo Credits: Kopywriting Kourse

“This one’s just for you.”

Your audience wants to feel special, plain and simple.

This subject line ticks the box of exclusivity marketing, implying that the information you’re providing is only out there for your subscribers.

Such a headline is short, sweet and makes your reader feel like a million bucks.

Whether the information or offer is truly being exclusive is moot: what matters is making your subscribers feel like they’re part of your inner circle.

“The clock is ticking, _____.”

Urgency represents one of the top triggers is marketing that drives your readers to act sooner rather than later.

This subject line not only sparks interest in whatever you’re offering but also creates a subtle fear of loss which can be an incredibly powerful motivator.

After all, your prospects could be receiving hundreds of emails per day: think about how such a subject line could help you stand out from the crowd.

Amplify your urgency copy by linking your emails to a landing page with a countdown timer for an added sense of rushing your reader to convert. You can create landing page like this with the help of ClickFunnels. All you need to is to go to your funnel, create a new step, design your landing page and drag and drop the countdown timer element. It’s that easy!

“Only ____ spots left. Do you have yours?”

Beyond urgency, scarcity can also be used to drive engagement as your readers are forced to decide on the spot.

Limited time offers are a tried-and-tested means of getting users to act.

Additionally, the question posed at the tail of this subject line represents a sort of invitation which further entices the reader to get on the ground floor of your offer.

“This works about 90% of this time.”

Another important aspect of headlines is including numerical values, which are easy for the brain to process in an instant.

This headline not only gets your reader asking questions but sets relatively realistic expectations for your offer or information.

Not all systems or strategies are going to work 100% of the time: your prospects know this.

However, 90% of the time is damn good and worth considering, isn’t it?

“How I stopped worrying and saved my business.”

If you have opt-ins, chances are they want some sort of problem solved.

In the case of this example, it’s monetary woes which plague just about everyone starting out in the business world.

Don’t neglect power words such as “worrying” and “saved” which spark immediate emotional images.

Since you must be incredibly economical with your copy, make every word count.

“Does this sound like you, _____?”

Questions go a long way regarding headlines.

Regardless of the content of such a message, your reader is naturally curious as to what you’re talking about.

Feel free to pose such questions to your base if you have a relatively short, non-offer related message or simply want to pick their brains.

“Did you hear the big news?”

Sometimes you need to break some news if you want to catch your readers’ attention.

While your goal shouldn’t be to trick your prospects, there are tons of angles you can take with this one.

From a steep offer to a newsjacking piece which touches on current events, strive to be creative with the direction of your deals and body copy.

 

Photo Credits: Creative Content Company

 “____, you’re missing out.”

Nobody wants to feel like they’re on the outside looking in.

As noted earlier, fear of loss can drive your leads in just about any direction.

This subject line encourages your reader to want to be part of the crowd while simultaneously piquing their curiosity.

Such a headline would be the ideal of a free informational offer or hack to help them out.

 What Headlines Perform Best for Your Funnel?

There are millions of examples out there regarding headlines that make your readers act.

The 11 outlined above can easily be plugged into just about any sales funnel in any industry if you’re looking for results.

Whether you feel like you’re in a creative dry spell or simply need some inspiration, review the list above again and start brainstorming.

If you’re still feeling iffy about creating your own headlines or you do not have the time or budget to hire a copywriter, then give Funnel Scripts a try!

So, what types of headlines are you using your autoresponders?

What are the some of your personal favorites you’ve seen pop up in your inbox?

Let us know!