Good cold email subject lines are short (about 2 to 6 words), specific to the reader, and look like a note from a person rather than a newsletter. Use their company name, a mutual contact, or the problem you solve. Avoid all caps, exclamation marks and spam-trigger words.
Treat these as patterns, not scripts. Swap in your details and test two at a time.
Revbound sorts every reply, answers interested leads with your free times and books the meeting.
Try it free for 3 days3 days free, every featureQuestion subject lines
- Quick question about [company]
- Still handling [task] manually?
- Open to a new [channel] idea?
- Who owns [area] at [company]?
- Worth a look for [team]?
- [Goal] this quarter?
- Is [problem] on your list?
- Thoughts on [topic]?
Personalised subject lines
- [First name], idea for [company]
- Saw [company] is hiring [role]
- Congrats on [funding / launch]
- [Company] + [your company]
- Re: your post on [topic]
- For [first name] at [company]
- Loved [their content]
- [City] [industry] teams
Referral and mutual-connection subject lines
- [Mutual contact] suggested I reach out
- Introduction via [name]
- [Name] said you're the right person
- Fellow [community] member
- Met at [event]?
- Recommended by [customer]
- [Partner] customer?
- From [shared group]
Problem and outcome subject lines
- Fewer [pain] for [team]
- [Result] without [cost]
- Cutting [task] time
- A faster way to [job]
- [Number] fewer [problem]
- Help with [problem]
- Fixing [issue] at [company]
- Your [process], simplified
Follow up subject lines
Most follow ups should stay in the same thread, so the subject reads "Re: [original]". When you start a new thread, try:
- Closing the loop
- One more idea for [company]
- Should I stop reaching out?
- Different angle on [topic]
- Last note on [topic]
- Bad timing?
- Still relevant?
- Picking this back up
Rules for writing your own
- Keep it short so it fits on a phone screen.
- Use lowercase-style plain text, not title case for every word.
- Match the subject to the first line of the email.
- No fake "Re:" or "Fwd:" on a first email.
- Avoid all caps, "free", "guarantee" and multiple exclamation marks.
Score any subject line with the free subject line tester and check the body with the email spam checker.
Great subject lines earn replies. Revbound answers them with your free times and books the meeting.
Try it free for 3 daysFAQ
What is a good subject line for a cold email?
Short, specific and personal, such as "Quick question about [company]" or "[Mutual contact] suggested I reach out".
How long should a cold email subject line be?
About 2 to 6 words, so it shows in full on a phone.
Should cold email subject lines be personalised?
Yes. The company name, a mutual contact or a recent event make the email look written for the reader.
What words should you avoid in cold email subject lines?
All caps, "free", "guarantee", "act now" and multiple exclamation marks can look like spam.