A subject line is the first thing your audience sees in their inbox. It determines whether they will open your email or ignore it. By A/B testing subject lines, you can:
Thoughtfully designing your survey questions is crucial to receiving the best results from your audience testing. When it comes time to develop your audience questions, consider the
Multiple choice: Which of the following subject lines would most likely make you open the email?
Rating scale: On a scale of 1-5, how compelling do you find this subject line?
Likert scale: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: "This subject line clearly communicates the email's content."
Binary choice: Would you open an email with this subject line?
Open-ended: What are your first impressions of this subject line? Please explain in a few words.
Ranking: Please rank these subject lines in order of effectiveness (1 being most effective, 5 being least effective)
Image selection: Which image best represents how you feel about this subject line?
Hypothetical scenario: Imagine you received an email with this subject line during a busy workday. How likely would you be to open it immediately?
A/B Testing: Which of these two subject lines do you prefer?
To create an effective email subject line survey, it's crucial to identify the key elements that can be tested and optimized. Here are some critical factors to consider:
The ideal length of a subject line can vary depending on the audience and device used to read emails. Testing different lengths (e.g., short and punchy vs. longer and descriptive) can help determine what works best for your audience.
Personalized subject lines, including the recipient's name or other relevant information, can increase open rates. However, the effectiveness of personalization can vary across different industries and audience segments.
The tone of your subject line should align with your brand voice and resonate with your audience. Testing formal vs. informal language can help identify which style generates better engagement.
Subject lines that create a sense of urgency or exclusivity (e.g., "Limited time offer" or "Exclusive invitation") can motivate recipients to open emails. Testing these elements can help determine their impact on your specific audience.
Implementing A/B tests allows you to compare two different subject line variations to see which performs better. This method can be applied to any of the factors mentioned above or to test entirely different approaches.
To make the most of your email subject line survey, it's essential to analyze the results effectively.
Here are some common metrics to consider:
Open rates: This is the primary metric for subject line effectiveness. It measures the percentage of recipients who opened the email.
Click-through rates: While primarily influenced by email content, click-through rates can also be affected by subject lines that set accurate expectations.
Conversion rates: Ultimately, the goal is to drive action. Tracking how different subject lines impact conversion rates can provide valuable insights.
Unsubscribe rates: Subject lines that are misleading or too aggressive might lead to higher unsubscribe rates.
Additionally, Helpfull’s built in A/B testing tools and metric analysis tools are there to give you immediate feedback on your toughest business concerns.
Avoid overly complex subject lines. Clear and straightforward subject lines are more likely to be understood and opened by your audience.
Consistency is key when conducting A/B tests. Ensure that all other elements of your email, such as the content and design, remain the same. This will help you isolate the impact of the subject line on your results.
Keep a record of your A/B tests and their results. This will help you identify patterns and trends over time, allowing you to make more informed decisions in the future.
A/B testing is an ongoing process. Continuously test new subject lines and iterate based on your findings. This will help you stay ahead of changing trends and preferences in your audience.
Helpfull is the easiest way to get feedback from thousands of people in minutes. Our online focus group platform provides a pool of qualified panelists to give you their real detailed opinions helping you make better, more informed decisions.
