33 replies
.. That's the subject title I just received from someone (spam I think).. and guess what I did.. yep I opened it straight away without even thinking about it.

Then it struck me.. wow.. something so obvious and simple got me to open an email from someone I don't know. I wonder if anyone in our community has tested this subject title before, because I'm tempted to split test it myself, but only for emails that are actually.. important.

I've seen subject titles like: Important Video.. or Important Blah.. but never a simple straight forward: IMPORTANT!

Grabbed my attention anyway.
#important
  • Profile picture of the author Elle Holder
    That one little word made me check your thread, and I'm fairly choosy about what I take the time to read.

    Clearly, some words are more powerful than others.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kirimanjaro
      haha! thats so true... some words are truely more powerful than others. I also checked this thread simply because i was curious to find out what this important thing was. haha! shock.. important was so important after all! I wonder, can the powerful simplicity of such words be put to good use in online marketing? I suspect they can!
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  • Profile picture of the author raycowie
    Michael Jones (The Affiliate Code) has a new 'theme' for his email subjects, i.e. 'You have a sale...'

    Now who wouldn't open that? (Even if it is a bare-faced lie!!)

    Ray.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
      Originally Posted by gateway2 View Post

      Michael Jones (The Affiliate Code) has a new 'theme' for his email subjects, i.e. 'You have a sale...'

      Now who wouldn't open that? (Even if it is a bare-faced lie!!)

      Ray.
      I really hate those
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      “The first draft of anything is shit.” ~Ernest Hemingway

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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Louise,

      It was the combination of title and poster that made me open this thread. If I hadn't recognized your name, I'd have passed.

      And to those who believe any title is okay, as long as it gets you to open - that tactic is only going to be effective once. If the content is poor or irrelevant to the title, don't count on any further attention.


      Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author Sandor Verebi
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        ...It was the combination of title and poster that made me open this thread. If I hadn't recognized your name, I'd have passed.
        Same here.

        And to those who believe any title is okay, as long as it gets you to open - that tactic is only going to be effective once. If the content is poor or irrelevant to the title, don't count on any further attention...
        Agreed. Anyway, I'm not annoyed already if I receive email titled like this, because I toughened up during the times. I find the deletion button promptly.

        Have a nice weekend,

        Sandor
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    • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
      Originally Posted by gateway2 View Post

      Michael Jones (The Affiliate Code) has a new 'theme' for his email subjects, i.e. 'You have a sale...'

      Now who wouldn't open that? (Even if it is a bare-faced lie!!)

      Ray.
      I think people are confusing getting emails opened with building a business and making sales.

      People who use these subject lines are just kissing customers goodbye.

      It's a cheap trick and will piss off most people.
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      nothing to see here.

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      • Profile picture of the author John Pawlett
        Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

        I think people are confusing getting emails opened with building a business and making sales.

        People who use these subject lines are just kissing customers goodbye.

        It's a cheap trick and will piss off most people.
        I'm with Andy on this, I have had about 15 emails today starting with Re:, I opened them all and then unsubscribed.

        They all came from very well known marketers who should know better ... or do they!

        We as seasoned marketers don't like this kind of thing but judging by some of the names that use these tricks I would have expected them to test their opening rates with different subject lines so with lack of evidence I will give them the benefit of doubt and assuming it's working for them.

        Sometimes we can't see the woods for the trees, I would love to see some factual data on the opening rates using these (to me unethical) techniques.

        John
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        • Profile picture of the author ozduc
          Any misleading subject lines not only get the unsubscribe button from me now but also the spam button first, regardless of whether I signed up to their list or not. This is in direct violation of the CAN-SPAM act.
          So it had better be damn well important.
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    • Profile picture of the author Profit Devil
      Banned
      [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author Bicycle Cat
    Maybe get a better spam filter?
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  • Profile picture of the author awbarton222
    got me. nice.
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    i pledge to thank your replies and educational posts and hope you will do the same for me!

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  • Profile picture of the author Lou Diamond
    Hello,
    that is a very strong word to use, I use it on my kids in as this is important you must listen to this.
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    Something new soon.

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    • Profile picture of the author grayambition
      IMPORTANT might get me to open an email, but if the content doesn't live up to the title, I'm gone, along with any trust the sender had previously built.

      Same goes for PERSONAL, URGENT!, and DEPOSIT NOTIFICATION (just got that little gem this morning). If it says DEPOSIT NOTIFICATION, there'd damn well better be money in my account.
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      Jan Weingarten
      Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. ~Mark Twain

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      • Profile picture of the author tush
        Originally Posted by grayambition View Post

        IMPORTANT might get me to open an email, but if the content doesn't live up to the title, I'm gone, along with any trust the sender had previously built.

        Same goes for PERSONAL, URGENT!, and DEPOSIT NOTIFICATION (just got that little gem this morning). If it says DEPOSIT NOTIFICATION, there'd damn well better be money in my account.
        Very true. The message has to be very important according to my analysis. If not, I will blacklist the sender, forever
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    It's the sort of headline that I would open and then immediately unsubscribe when I realised it was a lame trick.
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    nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author craigc1980
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      It's the sort of headline that I would open and then immediately unsubscribe when I realised it was a lame trick.
      Andy hit it on the head.
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    Was just going to send AWeber blast to my list of 5K, going to test "Important"
    Will let you know how it works !!! Of course I have some important information to send to my list.
    Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    If it turned out to be NOT IMPORTANT, straight to the unsubscribe link. I absolutely HATE that garbage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Louise Green
    Oh yeah.. it's gotta live up to the expectation.. but then again, what's important to the sender might not be so important to me, as a reader.. and vice versa.

    I think as marketers, we have to use everything we've got, as long as it's done in an ethical way. Which goes without saying. Yet I still said it.

    Hmm.
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    IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I'm currently on vacation & will answer all messages when I return - Happy Holidays!!
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  • Profile picture of the author SilentX
    They're a tricky breed of title. On the one hand you can get a lot of people to open your email. On the other hand they may feel severely betrayed at the content and refuse to read further and definitely not opt-in or open the url link. The best would be if you can use a word like that and keep it relevant as much as possible (obviously). That's the tricky part though =P
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Well, I looked at this thread, so it was at least effective on me.
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    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    Same as Andy, I would open it and unsubscribe immediately (did this when someone had used personal email in the title.

    I also opened on the title as well.

    Cheers,
    Mukul
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  • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
    Just got to thinking, has anyone ever split-tested saying "Please read this is IMPORTANT" and "Don't Read This!" ?

    I wonder how effective reverse psychology would be here...
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  • Profile picture of the author sunnygal
    It made me look at this thread, but I'd be a little cautious using it in my own emails that I send out.
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  • Profile picture of the author shoeb000
    Originally Posted by Louise Evans View Post

    .. That's the subject title I just received from someone (spam I think).. and guess what I did.. yep I opened it straight away without even thinking about it.
    yeah it does work,
    I usually read the introduction stated by mouse roll over on any thread, but guess what?
    I clicked directly without waiting for 0.5 seconds to display the roll over message in the thread.

    So i guess this tactic can get us some clicks for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author EvcRo
    Subject : Re: Support RESPONSE #18838

    Body : "I just wanted to let you know that
    I personally checked this out and it's
    very good. I highly recommend it.

    Heck, you can't go wrong for a buck.

    Click below to get your access password:"

    I clicked unsubscribe
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  • Profile picture of the author Chucks Ihebuzor
    Haha... good info!

    Just make sure to back it up with value ; you don't wanna stick in the mind of your readers as deceitful.

    To your success,
    Chucks
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  • Profile picture of the author Louise Green
    Since posting this I've received 2 more emails now with the subject title: IMPORANT!

    I did open them but only to unsubscribed from your lists. Sorry, I didn't post this to be used as a cheap trick.. poor show.
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    IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I'm currently on vacation & will answer all messages when I return - Happy Holidays!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jude.A
    'IMPORTANT'. Very Powerful word indeed. Made me click on your post and also made me know you now. But the effect could backfire on a marketer if he didn't have something truly important to say.
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