60 Follow-Up Email Subject Lines + Tips & Templates

Thanks to AI-driven tools, sending bulk emails has become easier than ever. But, is sending an email enough? Well, studies say otherwise. FYI, 80% of sales take place between the 5th and 12th follow-up email. 

Now that you know, let's jump into how to write one. The subject line is the trickiest part of a killer follow-up email. Imagine, what can you possibly say after rewriting the same piece of content 3 times already? 

Cough…cough…that’s my cue. I have listed down the most effective follow-up email subject lines. Now, please stop scratching your head and pick one. 

When to Write a Follow-Up Mail?

As I mentioned, you must keep following up patiently to make the sender reply. Before diving into examples of follow-up subject lines, let me tell you when and how many times you should follow up.

Following-Up for                 Number of Days after Sending the First

First time                           3 day

Second Time                     5 days

Third time                          8 days

Fourth time                       10 days

Fifth time                          15 days

Sixth time                         20 days

Seventh time                   30 days

After the seventh time, keep sending follow-ups with good email content every month. Note that this works mostly on prospect and sales emails. 

For one-on-one networking messages, you can stop after the fifth follow-up mail. Also, it depends on your personal choice. If the potential network is very important, keep going at it with shorter emails. 

Additional tip: Stop following up when they say no. 

Benefits of Following Up

Following up is crucial in email marketing campaigns. If you intend to stop sending the initial email, I suggest you skip email marketing altogether. Here’s why you should always keep writing to your potential customers (within healthy intervals):

  • Increased Open rates: Following up with helpful content will increase open rates dramatically. The receiver might ignore the first, second, and even third email messages but open the fourth. So, stay put and keep going at it. 
  • Increased Brand Awareness: Following up with the right content will increase your brand awareness. This point is crucial for new companies in the market. 

If someone doesn’t buy your product or service, they will remember your brand’s name. This way, if they need such services in the future, they will think about your business. 

  • Increased Email Deliverability: Providing informative resources/info can improve your email deliverability rate. As a result, your bounce rate and spam rate will decrease significantly. 

To do this successfully, always keep the content related to the email recipient’s field of interest.

  • Increased Sales Rate: As you already know, emailing is the most preferred channel in content marketing. But, here’s a catch. The strategy works only if you keep following up and building a trustworthy relationship with your target audience.

You can start a newsletter if sending random information doesn’t seem right to you. FYI, around 81% of B2B marketers use email newsletters as a form of content marketing.

60 Follow-Up Email Subject Lines to Increase Open Rates

We write follow-ups to cold email campaigns, networking messages, customer support emails, etc. We write such mails every day, and that too with various intentions. You must have the right words to stay away from the spam folder. So, here’s a categorized list of subject lines for following up. 

SALES or Promotional Emails

  • 5 mins date? 
  • Message deleted 
  • Hello again here from {company’s name}
  • Take the next step
  • I noticed you…
  • {Name} here from {company’s name}
  • Get 30% off on Premium Plan + Land Gigs in Style
  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Congratulations on taking on the new challenge...
  • Great job on {achievement}!
  • Did you know {so-and-so product} can do {this}?
  • Is ABC a goal for your company?
  • We helped {company} reach {goals}
  • How do you feel about {a recent development}?
  • {Name of the offer} just for you

PROSPECTING EMAILS

  • Get 20% off on Premium Plan + 5x Revenue Increase
  • {Company} featured in Forbes. You can too
  • Is {goal} a priority for your company?
  • Let's cut to the chase
  • December collaboration?
  • I think {an update} is great! 
  • Imagine a 5x increase in revenue 
  • Congratulations on reaching {so-and-so achievement}!
  • I noticed your company recently {achievement}
  • I saw your competitor {business name} in the news for {achievement} 
  • Quick question about {prospect's pain point}
  • Chat about {business name}
  • Wanna feature in Forbes?
  • Here’s what {business name} did for {propect’s problem}
  • We helped {business name} reach {goals}

NETWORKING Email Subject line

  • Coffee date? 
  • {Your name} again
  • 10 mins date? 
  • Knock! Knock! A fan mail
  • Hello from upside down
  • November collaboration?
  • Let’s reach the next level
  • {Name of mutual connection} insists we meet
  • I disagree with your article on {topic}
  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Hey, meet again? 
  • {Name of common acquaintance} suggests we collaborate
  • Did you know {so-and-so product} can do {this}?
  • I can help with {problem}
  • I disagree with your views
  • I am a fan
  • I have something for you

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

  • Help is coming 
  • I am there for you
  • Give us 15 mins 
  • Knock! Knock! Tech Support here
  • Incoming help
  • Hey from upside down
  • All okay?
  • Let me help you
  • {Name of staff} is reaching you
  • What do you think about {product/service}?
  • I see that you recently got {purchase}
  • Need help with {product/service}
  • How’s it going
  • I can help with {problem}
  • I have something for you
  • Gentle reminder
  • Friendly reminder

4 Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Follow-Up Subject Lines

Bribe them

More than 300 billion emails are exchanged every day. The receivers of your email are busy people who receive 5 or 6 dozen messages daily. They don’t have the time or desire to go through every mail in their email inbox.

So, bribe them. Tell them you have something to give in the subject line itself. For instance:

  Get 20% off on Premium Plan + 5x Revenue Increase 

This subject line is great for 3 reasons: 

  1. Solving a pain point–client’s budget issues
  2. Using a keyword
  3. Showing scope for growth

First, you’re solving a pain point–budget. Most potential buyers/customers, especially small businesses and start-ups, don’t respond because of their tight budgets. Second, you’re using a keyword related to your product–” Premium plan”. And, third is that you’re showing scope for growth. 

There’s one problem with these types of subject sentences. They work only for sales follow-up emails. But, don’t worry! There are other ways of bribing your reader: 

I can help with {problem}.

This will work for sales, cold mailing, networking, and also for customer support. You can mention how you can ease their job with your service/product in the email body. In case you’re not selling anything, you can also come up with advice or observation which will benefit them professionally. 

I can help increase sales by 5x. 

Knock the Curious Door

Sentences used for subjects also work if they’re thought-provoking and can make the email lists curious enough to open them. The best way to do this is to ask a simple question in a conversational tone:

Wanna feature in Forbes?

Or

Is XYZ a goal for your business?

The intention is to intrigue them. So, if statements work best for you, you can go ahead.  

We helped {competitor’s name} achieve 10x clients.

You can also use absurd subject lines to write a funny email, such as:

Message deleted

Or 

Forget me not

Play Reverse Psychology 

The subject of email playing reverse psychology is one of the most successful ways to catch the recipient’s attention. Some subject line examples are: 

Do not open this message

Or

Look away

Personalize

While curiosity can increase open rates, personalized mails will increase response rates. Use AI-based tools like Smartlead to gather potential clients’ professional information while sending mails in bulk

Some examples of personalized follow-up messages are: 

  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Congratulations on taking on the new challenge...

Additional tip: Write on the email thread of the original email. 

Follow-Up Email Templates

For Cold Emails:

SUBJECT: We helped {competitor’s name} reach {goals}

Hey {recipient’s first name}, 

What’s your process for {event}?

Last month, {competitor’s name} achieved {goals} in the XYZ area. Our {service/product} helped their {so-and-so process}.

Do you have any plans in place for addressing it?

I have a few suggestions. Let’s schedule a call to discuss this further.

Best, 

{Your name} 

{Designation} 

{Company’s name} 

{Contact info}

 

For Networking Mails:

SUBJECT: Did you know {fact} about {topic}?

Hi (Recipient's first name),

It was a pleasure meeting you at (venue name) and learning about (topic). I must say your views influenced me deeply. 

After our chat, I found the attached (piece of content) on (topic) while researching. I thought you might be interested.

I look forward to knowing your views on this. Let’s be in touch. 

Thanks again,

{Your name} 

{Designation} 

{Company’s name} 

{Contact info} 

Final Thoughts

Dear readers, take an oath to follow up. Be it sales or networking, following up with relevant information will open new gates for your business/career. 

In addition to establishing your brand name, it will also increase open rates and response rates. I hope the subject lines work for you. 

With this, I bid you farewell for today! See y'all! 

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60 Follow-Up Email Subject Lines + Tips & Templates

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November 14, 2022

Thanks to AI-driven tools, sending bulk emails has become easier than ever. But, is sending an email enough? Well, studies say otherwise. FYI, 80% of sales take place between the 5th and 12th follow-up email. 

Now that you know, let's jump into how to write one. The subject line is the trickiest part of a killer follow-up email. Imagine, what can you possibly say after rewriting the same piece of content 3 times already? 

Cough…cough…that’s my cue. I have listed down the most effective follow-up email subject lines. Now, please stop scratching your head and pick one. 

When to Write a Follow-Up Mail?

As I mentioned, you must keep following up patiently to make the sender reply. Before diving into examples of follow-up subject lines, let me tell you when and how many times you should follow up.

Following-Up for                 Number of Days after Sending the First

First time                           3 day

Second Time                     5 days

Third time                          8 days

Fourth time                       10 days

Fifth time                          15 days

Sixth time                         20 days

Seventh time                   30 days

After the seventh time, keep sending follow-ups with good email content every month. Note that this works mostly on prospect and sales emails. 

For one-on-one networking messages, you can stop after the fifth follow-up mail. Also, it depends on your personal choice. If the potential network is very important, keep going at it with shorter emails. 

Additional tip: Stop following up when they say no. 

Benefits of Following Up

Following up is crucial in email marketing campaigns. If you intend to stop sending the initial email, I suggest you skip email marketing altogether. Here’s why you should always keep writing to your potential customers (within healthy intervals):

  • Increased Open rates: Following up with helpful content will increase open rates dramatically. The receiver might ignore the first, second, and even third email messages but open the fourth. So, stay put and keep going at it. 
  • Increased Brand Awareness: Following up with the right content will increase your brand awareness. This point is crucial for new companies in the market. 

If someone doesn’t buy your product or service, they will remember your brand’s name. This way, if they need such services in the future, they will think about your business. 

  • Increased Email Deliverability: Providing informative resources/info can improve your email deliverability rate. As a result, your bounce rate and spam rate will decrease significantly. 

To do this successfully, always keep the content related to the email recipient’s field of interest.

  • Increased Sales Rate: As you already know, emailing is the most preferred channel in content marketing. But, here’s a catch. The strategy works only if you keep following up and building a trustworthy relationship with your target audience.

You can start a newsletter if sending random information doesn’t seem right to you. FYI, around 81% of B2B marketers use email newsletters as a form of content marketing.

60 Follow-Up Email Subject Lines to Increase Open Rates

We write follow-ups to cold email campaigns, networking messages, customer support emails, etc. We write such mails every day, and that too with various intentions. You must have the right words to stay away from the spam folder. So, here’s a categorized list of subject lines for following up. 

SALES or Promotional Emails

  • 5 mins date? 
  • Message deleted 
  • Hello again here from {company’s name}
  • Take the next step
  • I noticed you…
  • {Name} here from {company’s name}
  • Get 30% off on Premium Plan + Land Gigs in Style
  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Congratulations on taking on the new challenge...
  • Great job on {achievement}!
  • Did you know {so-and-so product} can do {this}?
  • Is ABC a goal for your company?
  • We helped {company} reach {goals}
  • How do you feel about {a recent development}?
  • {Name of the offer} just for you

PROSPECTING EMAILS

  • Get 20% off on Premium Plan + 5x Revenue Increase
  • {Company} featured in Forbes. You can too
  • Is {goal} a priority for your company?
  • Let's cut to the chase
  • December collaboration?
  • I think {an update} is great! 
  • Imagine a 5x increase in revenue 
  • Congratulations on reaching {so-and-so achievement}!
  • I noticed your company recently {achievement}
  • I saw your competitor {business name} in the news for {achievement} 
  • Quick question about {prospect's pain point}
  • Chat about {business name}
  • Wanna feature in Forbes?
  • Here’s what {business name} did for {propect’s problem}
  • We helped {business name} reach {goals}

NETWORKING Email Subject line

  • Coffee date? 
  • {Your name} again
  • 10 mins date? 
  • Knock! Knock! A fan mail
  • Hello from upside down
  • November collaboration?
  • Let’s reach the next level
  • {Name of mutual connection} insists we meet
  • I disagree with your article on {topic}
  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Hey, meet again? 
  • {Name of common acquaintance} suggests we collaborate
  • Did you know {so-and-so product} can do {this}?
  • I can help with {problem}
  • I disagree with your views
  • I am a fan
  • I have something for you

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

  • Help is coming 
  • I am there for you
  • Give us 15 mins 
  • Knock! Knock! Tech Support here
  • Incoming help
  • Hey from upside down
  • All okay?
  • Let me help you
  • {Name of staff} is reaching you
  • What do you think about {product/service}?
  • I see that you recently got {purchase}
  • Need help with {product/service}
  • How’s it going
  • I can help with {problem}
  • I have something for you
  • Gentle reminder
  • Friendly reminder

4 Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Follow-Up Subject Lines

Bribe them

More than 300 billion emails are exchanged every day. The receivers of your email are busy people who receive 5 or 6 dozen messages daily. They don’t have the time or desire to go through every mail in their email inbox.

So, bribe them. Tell them you have something to give in the subject line itself. For instance:

  Get 20% off on Premium Plan + 5x Revenue Increase 

This subject line is great for 3 reasons: 

  1. Solving a pain point–client’s budget issues
  2. Using a keyword
  3. Showing scope for growth

First, you’re solving a pain point–budget. Most potential buyers/customers, especially small businesses and start-ups, don’t respond because of their tight budgets. Second, you’re using a keyword related to your product–” Premium plan”. And, third is that you’re showing scope for growth. 

There’s one problem with these types of subject sentences. They work only for sales follow-up emails. But, don’t worry! There are other ways of bribing your reader: 

I can help with {problem}.

This will work for sales, cold mailing, networking, and also for customer support. You can mention how you can ease their job with your service/product in the email body. In case you’re not selling anything, you can also come up with advice or observation which will benefit them professionally. 

I can help increase sales by 5x. 

Knock the Curious Door

Sentences used for subjects also work if they’re thought-provoking and can make the email lists curious enough to open them. The best way to do this is to ask a simple question in a conversational tone:

Wanna feature in Forbes?

Or

Is XYZ a goal for your business?

The intention is to intrigue them. So, if statements work best for you, you can go ahead.  

We helped {competitor’s name} achieve 10x clients.

You can also use absurd subject lines to write a funny email, such as:

Message deleted

Or 

Forget me not

Play Reverse Psychology 

The subject of email playing reverse psychology is one of the most successful ways to catch the recipient’s attention. Some subject line examples are: 

Do not open this message

Or

Look away

Personalize

While curiosity can increase open rates, personalized mails will increase response rates. Use AI-based tools like Smartlead to gather potential clients’ professional information while sending mails in bulk

Some examples of personalized follow-up messages are: 

  • I see that you recently got {achievement}
  • Congratulations on taking on the new challenge...

Additional tip: Write on the email thread of the original email. 

Follow-Up Email Templates

For Cold Emails:

SUBJECT: We helped {competitor’s name} reach {goals}

Hey {recipient’s first name}, 

What’s your process for {event}?

Last month, {competitor’s name} achieved {goals} in the XYZ area. Our {service/product} helped their {so-and-so process}.

Do you have any plans in place for addressing it?

I have a few suggestions. Let’s schedule a call to discuss this further.

Best, 

{Your name} 

{Designation} 

{Company’s name} 

{Contact info}

 

For Networking Mails:

SUBJECT: Did you know {fact} about {topic}?

Hi (Recipient's first name),

It was a pleasure meeting you at (venue name) and learning about (topic). I must say your views influenced me deeply. 

After our chat, I found the attached (piece of content) on (topic) while researching. I thought you might be interested.

I look forward to knowing your views on this. Let’s be in touch. 

Thanks again,

{Your name} 

{Designation} 

{Company’s name} 

{Contact info} 

Final Thoughts

Dear readers, take an oath to follow up. Be it sales or networking, following up with relevant information will open new gates for your business/career. 

In addition to establishing your brand name, it will also increase open rates and response rates. I hope the subject lines work for you. 

With this, I bid you farewell for today! See y'all! 

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

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  • svsv

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Author’s Details

Rajnish Das

Rajnish is a Staff Writer at Smartlead.

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Edited by:

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Frequently asked questions

General Questions

Can I import a CSV file into an already running campaign?

Yes, you can import a CSV file into an already running campaign. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to the campaign that you want to import the CSV file into.
2. Click on "Edit campaign" to access the campaign settings.
3. Look for the option to upload a CSV file and click on it.
4. Choose the CSV file from your computer that you want to import.
5. Map the fields and Choose/associate a client. The system will process the CSV file and import the data into the campaign.

By importing a CSV file, you can update the campaign with new leads without interrupting the campaign's flow.

Is it possible to connect Outlook via OAuth?

Yes, it is recommended to connect Outlook via OAuth. OAuth (Open Authorization) is an industry-standard protocol that allows applications to access user data on various platforms, including Outlook, without requiring the user to share their login credentials. By connecting Outlook via OAuth, you enhance security and ensure a seamless and secure integration between your application and Outlook.

How can I connect Outlook using OAuth?

To connect Outlook using OAuth, follow these steps:

1. Open your email accounts module in Smartlead
2. Look for the option to add accounts and select it.
3. Choose Outlook as the email provider you want to connect.
4. Clicking on the Outlook logo will redirect you to the Outlook login page.
5. Enter your credentials and log in to your Outlook account.
6. Follow the prompts to authorize the application to access your Outlook account using OAuth.
7. Once the authorization is complete, your application will be connected to Outlook via OAuth, enabling secure access to your Outlook emails and data.

By following these steps, you can establish a secure and authenticated connection between your application and Outlook, ensuring seamless integration and access to your email account.

Why am I experiencing delays in fetching emails from my ESP to MI?

If you are experiencing delays in fetching emails from your Email Service Provider (ESP) to the Master Inbox (MI), there could be a few reasons for this. It is important to note that fetching emails from the ESP to the MI can take some time due to various factors such as network latency, ESP server load, and the size of the email inbox. Here are some points to consider:

1. Time interval: The Master Inbox usually fetches emails at regular intervals, which can range from 5 to 55 minutes. This interval allows the system to retrieve and process new emails periodically.

2. Fetch replies button: If you need to fetch replies immediately, you can use the "Fetch replies" button available in the Master Inbox. Clicking on this button triggers an immediate fetch of replies from your ESP's email inbox folder.

If the delays persist or you encounter any issues with fetching emails, it is recommended to reach out to the Smartlead support team for further assistance.Please note: 

Filtering or rules: Review any filtering or rules set up in your ESP that could potentially affect the delivery of emails to the MI. Ensure that emails are not being automatically sorted, archived, or blocked based on certain criteria.

Why doesn't categorizing leads, such as "Not interested," stop campaigns for them?

Categorizing leads, such as marking them as "Not interested," does not automatically stop campaigns for those leads. The purpose of lead categorization is to classify and organize leads based on their specific attributes or actions. However, categorizing a lead as "Not interested" does not halt the campaign because the system relies on replies from leads to determine if a campaign should be stopped.

In most cases, when a lead categorizes themselves as "Not interested," they may choose not to reply to the email or take any further action. As a result, the campaign continues until it reaches its completion or encounters other stopping conditions.

It's important to note that when a lead does reply to an email, the system recognizes the response and stops the campaign for that particular lead. Therefore, replies from leads serve as the primary trigger to stop campaigns rather than lead categorization alone.

In some cases,A lead might have to be categorized for various reasons even if they do not intend to reply, such as organizing their inbox or indicating their preference. Such categorization does not automatically stop the lead from receiving further emails in the campaign. In such cases the emails have to stopped manually

What type of business can use Smartlead?

No, you get access to unlimited email accounts and warmup accounts without having to pay per account. This will let you scale your email outbound and without paying a penny more.

Powerful Automated Email Marketing that Drives Sales.

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