An average job seeker gets hundreds of emails from recruiters weekly. While some of them are well-made, others are pretty annoying. The way such emails are formulated has a direct impact on user perception and conversion. In other cases, floppy emails get lost, among others, and become messages that readers never open and move to the trash. This spoils open rate metrics and scares readers away.
As a marketer, you can’t take this big a risk.
A subject line is one of the email components to focus on when aiming to boost interaction with your messages. It has been found by Finances Online that 64% of users decide whether to open or delete emails based on subject lines.
Tips for your subject line
So, you’re determined to clear up ineffective subject lines. What do you start with? Here is the roadmap to enhance email efficacy and be seen as a worthy recruiter.
Personalization is key
Each of your readers is a unique person, and the last thing they want is to be addressed as a gray mass. Use emails to make your candidates feel special. This requires little effort. Often, phrases such as „Our offer for you” or the mention of their first name make the necessary effect.
Use collected data about your potential employee to send emails that match their interests and previous searches. Be specific about their qualifications and backgrounds. To be more successful at outreach on LinkedIn, try out the Snov.io LinkedIn automation software. Lately, this tool has become a brilliant way to personalize emails.
Brevity wins
The length of subject lines affects how often emails are opened. So keep email text concise. Cutting on extra words will make them more readable.
Besides, if you include clues about what the email contains, the line will be even more informative. Sound positive and highlight the actual use a recipient will get. At the same time, stay away from empty promises or exaggerated claims.
Beware of SPAM trigger words
There is a specific set of words and phrases that makes the odds of your email ending up in spam skyrocket. Spammy emails provide no real use and can be identified by words such as money, earn, join, etc. In fact, they never pass through spam filters, especially in combination with too many exclamation marks. In addition, a message will surely look twice as suspicious if sent from the no-reply address.
Start a dialogue with the candidate
Aim for two-way communication and lay the foundation for trust between you and the candidate. Let a conversation precede your job offer. Many employees use questions in their subject lines to draw attention and spark interest and then continue the dialogue to make them fall for suggested positions.
Introduce scarcity and create urgency
It has been proven that the human brain works by putting more value on what can be lost. So, why not use this fact? Common sense should still be your guide. Examples of subject lines urging readers to open emails and go for what’s inside may include phrases like ends tonight or for a limited time.
Keep in mind, though, that with such subject lines, moderation is vital, and you should avoid sending them too often.
Appeal to what they value the most
Your potential employees have their outlooks and values. Show your company from a positive perspective and emphasize that it promotes a healthy working environment and balance. Appeal to different values: professional and personal growth, lifelong learning and career growth, mental health, and overall well-being. Automated data collection results will hint at which points to cover.
Intrigue them with your subject line
We are all curious in some way. That is why we love a good story with a mystery component. Another piece of advice we recommend is to write an intriguing subject line. If you do it right, the reader will click to open the mail even before they think simply because they get hooked. This is an emotional factor influencing the decision. Make them think you want to share exclusive information (and actually share it, unless you want to lose them hopelessly).
Use words that inspire action
Action words are tricky. On the one hand, most recommendations say you shouldn’t overspam with such. Yet, the right number of verbs to inspire action is key. There is a variety of verbs to include: help, discover, change, etc.
Use flattery effectively
As a part of personalization, it makes perfect sense to pay candidates a compliment. Why? Because they are hard to resist and make readers feel good about themselves. Lines that say We need your advice on … or Become a leader of our … office directly praise their competencies and invite them into the team.
Make it creative
Whenever possible, use references to personalities, events, and media files. Images and videos in the headline section work brilliantly but make sure your emails fit all screen sizes and load well. Emails with images give a 10% boost to open rates.
Use humor and fresh ideas, and provide clear explanations of what a reader can expect if they open the message.
Best recruitment subject line examples
To illustrate the tips we mentioned above, let us see two examples of successful and well-functioning subject lines. These are simple and easy to recreate.
- [Company Name] is now hiring [jobs] in [location].
- The team at [Company Name] is excited to welcome you [first name].
Both lines sound straightforward and clear. They disclose the actual reason for sending an email and show either a relevant vacancy or a specific employer. By aiming for such lines, you can come to better email marketing as a result. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Progress takes time, so make sure you practice the tips we provided in this short guide.
Wrap up
Subject lines are the face of emails. To encourage your readers to see you positively and open your emails more often, work on your emailing routine. Make subject lines short and informative, address the reader by name and include a personal message, create a hook in the subject line, praise their skills, and encourage participation by luring them to support your values.
Good luck with crafting the best emails for your future employees.
Guest writer.
