Personalize *every* single email subject title?

12 replies
Hi all warriors,

Is it better to personalize (With their name) every single email subject title that you send to your subscribers? I know personalize title is good, but can I do it for all emails I send?

Thanks!
#email #personalize #single #subject #title
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Originally Posted by kkcoolz View Post

    Hi all warriors,

    Is it better to personalize (With their name) every single email subject title that you send to your subscribers? I know personalize title is good, but can I do it for all emails I send?

    Thanks!
    The ONLY way to get the right answer is to split-test
    a personalized and un-personalized subject line for YOUR
    list with YOUR copy.

    Then count heads and see which wins.

    Anyone else who says they know which is best for
    your list is frankly guessing.

    Amateurs guess. Pros test.

    Dedicated to mutual success,

    Shaun
    Signature

    .

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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by kkcoolz View Post

    I know personalize title is good
    I "know" the opposite, with all my lists: it's actually better for me not to personalize at all.

    This depends on your customer demographics. A lot of my customers and potential customers feel that when you personalize your autoresponder emails, you come across like "someone selling insurance" and they dislike that: typically, they feel it makes you look "like a marketer" rather than "like a valued source of information".

    I asked them - last year. I sent out a broadcast to all of my lists, inviting feedback on the subject. I learned from the responses, which were a real eye-opener to me, as well as far more numerous than I'd expected.

    I found it a really valuable thing to learn, because some experience has taught me that if you ask only for an email address, rather than for an email address and a name, you can build much bigger lists (and if you're not going to personalize the outgoing email series, obviously you don't need to ask for their names).

    I know that some marketers dismiss this reasoning because they believe that "if people won't give you their first name, they're not going to become customers anyway". I don't believe that, at all.

    "Your mileage may vary."
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    • Profile picture of the author Coby
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I "know" the opposite, with all my lists: it's actually better for me not to personalize at all.

      This depends on your customer demographics. A lot of my customers and potential customers feel that when you personalize your autoresponder emails, you come across like "someone selling insurance" and they dislike that: typically, they feel it makes you look "like a marketer" rather than "like a valued source of information".

      I asked them - last year. I sent out a broadcast to all of my lists, inviting feedback on the subject. I learned from the responses, which were a real eye-opener to me, as well as far more numerous than I'd expected.

      I found it a really valuable thing to learn, because some experience has taught me that if you ask only for an email address, rather than for an email address and a name, you can build much bigger lists (and if you're not going to personalize the outgoing email series, obviously you don't need to ask for their names).

      I know that some marketers dismiss this reasoning because they believe that "if people won't give you their first name, they're not going to become customers anyway". I don't believe that, at all.

      "Your mileage may vary."
      Yup Yup!

      Same here!

      Not only did my opt-in rate increase by only asking for the email address my results went up as well...

      But this depends on YOUR niche and YOUR list...

      In my niche people often use fake names (sometimes even derogatory) so any value that I might have gained is quickly negated by the impact of calling someone "Scooby Doo" (or much worse)...

      Then again like Shaun Said...

      Amateurs Guess. Pros Test.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    My experience is pretty much the same as Alexa's.

    My opt-in rate increases when I only ask for the email, and personalization wasn't increasing my open or CTR's of my emails.
    Signature

    -Jason

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    • Profile picture of the author kkcoolz
      Wao! Thanks so much for your important information Alexa Smith, I will work according to your suggestion!
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        You've gotten excellent advice so far, so I won't parrot it back at you again.

        What I will say, based on what I've learned, is that once you've decided on a direction for personalizing subject lines or not - Be Consistent. Don't flop back and forth randomly for a regular mailing. You want people to instantly recognize your emails (assuming that's a good thing ) and open them when they see them.

        Here's something to think about, though. Look at your own personal correspondence - emails from family and friends, not business associates. How many of those are personalized? If your inbox is anything like mine, the answer is 'not many'...
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        • Profile picture of the author Ralf Skirr
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Here's something to think about, though. Look at your own personal correspondence - emails from family and friends, not business associates. How many of those are personalized? If your inbox is anything like mine, the answer is 'not many'...
          Wow, that's an interesting way to look at it. Usually personalization is said to be good because it makes you look like a close friend.

          But you're right, I have a hard time finding any personal email that has my first name in the subject line.

          So actually, personalization of subject lines makes you look less like a friend and more like a marketer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I used to use personalization in all of my subject lines, but not anymore. However, I still use it from time to time. My basic rule is that their name would have to sound very natural in the subject line; if it doesn't sound right, then no personalization is used.

    That being said, I open all of my messages with a "Hi FIRST_NAME," because that's how I would greet them if I saw them on the street. I dont use the "FIRST NAME" tag in the e-mail body too often, but if it sounds right then I will use it.

    All the best,
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      I used to use personalization in all of my subject lines, but not anymore. However, I still use it from time to time. My basic rule is that their name would have to sound very natural in the subject line; if it doesn't sound right, then no personalization is used.

      That being said, I open all of my messages with a "Hi FIRST_NAME," because that's how I would greet them if I saw them on the street. I don't use the "FIRST NAME" tag in the e-mail body too often, but if it sounds right then I will use it.

      All the best,
      Michael
      ^^^^^^^ This.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Tyler
    You should personalize, but you shouldn't on every email you send. You know, people know about the personalize technique and it isn't working as wonders today as before.

    When it sound right, sure, when not, not.

    Mike Tyler.
    Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author winseosoft
    Don't exaggerate doing that...
    The best way to know how is best is to make a test to your list and see the difference.
    Sometimes people will feel more "important" when you do that but like I said do not exaggerate and better test it.
    Also depends on service/product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny Optimo
    I'm sure it depends on your list and it could go either way.

    in my experience, I do better without the personalized titles. My theory is that, just like with banner blindness, people have caught on to the fact that the 'personalization' is just automated, and that when they see this it's usually going to be some kind of advertisement rather than helpful stuff.
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