email writing : blitz these 20 spam words from email subject lines
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Read this blog here: http://www.o2-v2.com/en/blog/email-writing-blitz-these-20-spam-words-from-email-subject-lines HOW THE NIGERIAN PRINCE AFFECTS OUR EMAIL WRITING Every email that goes unseen is a missed opportunity to gain new leads or sales. So getting the email subject line right is crucial, as this is the one thing that is always seen by every mail recipient, and prompts them to open your mail. We've all seen the 'Nigerian Prince' email scam, right? I'd like to think that no one reading this is crazy enough to actually give a scammer their bank details, but in fact as marketers we can learn a lot from the classic spam email like this! Why did you know that this was a spam email? It's all about the subject line. When you receive a mail making a grand proposal about transferring millions of dollars to you, it looks fake, and indeed is fake and a scam! Instead of opening it, you delete it immediately! Therefore you know that using SPAM words could make the difference between writing email subject lines that prompt your recipients to open the mail, or to ignore it; and it's this aspect of email writing that I'm delving into in this blog... Get started on writing an amazing business blog in English which can attract more overseas leads and sales by downloading our FREE E-Book here: http://www.o2-v2.com/better-business-blogging-for-chinese-companies-masterclass-ebook Follow us on Pinterest here: http://www.pinterest.com/Oxygen_2Point0/ See more blogs on social media marketing, blogging, and business in China here: http://www.o2-v2.com/en/blogTRANSCRIPT
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Email Writing? Blitz These 20 SPAM Words From Email SubjectLines
How The Nigerian Prince Affects Our Email Writing
Every email that goes unseen is a missed opportunity to gain new leads or sales. So getting the email subject lineright is crucial, as this is the one thing that is always seen by every mail recipient, and prompts them to open yourmail.
We've all seen the 'Nigerian Prince' email scam, right?
I'd like to think that no one reading this is crazy enough to actually give a scammer their bank details, but in fact asmarketers we can learn a lot from the classic spam email like this!
Why did you know that this was a spam email?
It's all about the subject line.
When you receive a mail making a grand proposal about transferring millions of dollars to you, it looks fake, andindeed is fake and a scam! Instead of opening it, you delete it immediately!
Therefore you know that using SPAM words could make the difference between writing email subject lines that promptyour recipients to open the mail, or to ignore it; and it's this aspect of email writing that I'm delving into in this blog...
Some Words Just Don't Belong In Email Subject Lines
Certain words will turn off your clients and make them ignore your mail, or may also get your mail automatically sentinto spam boxes.
This is bad.
It doesn't matter how long you have spent crafting an excellent email. If no one opens it, then you have wasted yourtime.
Don't fall into the same email writing trap that has claimed so many marketers (and the Nigerian prince) beforeyou; avoid these 20 words and more people will want to read your email!
1. FREE
Free is probably the most cliched and overused 'sales' word. People use it thinking that readers will want to open themail as they like something for free, but in fact it's a turn off as it's just spammy. For that reason, it may also get yourmail delivered directly into spam folders.
2. % OFF
% off should be avoided for the same reason as 'free.' It's spammy, and overused. People know instinctively to avoidemails saying this.
3. Save
Save is just so boring. Almost everyone gets sent mails with save in the subject everyday, and they become numb tothem.
4. $5.99
Prices will be likely to trigger spam filters, and come across as too 'salesy.'
5. Words In ALL CAPITALS
Perhaps this is how your Nana writes an email, but caps lock has no place in a business email subject line.
6. Using Someone's Name
This is quite cheesy, and being very personal can come across as fake because you don't know the person in alllikelihood.
7. Last Chance
Once again, last chance, is a very overused phrase. It is also usually in the subject line of a 'follow-up' email, and ifsomeone has either read, or ignored that first mail, then they're not going to welcome being reminded once again withyet another mail clogging up their in box.
8. Medicine Names
No thank you! There are far too many spam emails sent out offering medicines like viagra, xanax, cialis, etc. We've allseen, and ignored them before!
9. Debt
Dodgy loan, or debt repayment scheme? Anyone?
10. Lose
Lose weight, weight loss, lose pounds...they're just so boring, and too many spammy weight loss schemes are sentout by quacks to make these trustworthy.
11. Buy
No one likes a pushy salesman!
12. Cheap
In today's world cheap is no longer synonymous with a bargain. Rather, it's now associated with poor quality.
13. Proposal
Unless the recipient is expecting a business proposal from you, sending out emails with proposal is a turn-off,because people are not expecting, nor welcoming one. This is where the Nigerian prince went wrong, as he wasmaking a proposal that he thought no one could refuse!
14. Your Family
This screams 'cheesy way of marketing,' as the sender is trying to leverage the recipient's fond feelings towards theirfamily in order to get the mail read. Most people are too wise to be suckered into it though.
15. Approved
Ever received an email claiming that you have been approved for a special loan rate or something similar? Spammy.
16. Do You...
Another cheesy trick. Asking, 'do you want to..?' Or similar, smacks of desperate selling.
17. LOL, WTF, Totes, Amazeballs, etc
Oh dear. Internet slang may be popular when you're texting, but it just looks unprofessional in a business email!
18. Donate
No one likes begging emails, and being pushy about it won't win you any fans.
19. Dear (name)
Only a salesy email's subject will begin with "Dear ..." A more professional email will just have a concise andinformative subject, and not begin like a hand-written letter.
20. Money Back Guarantee
Probably one of the all time classic spam phrases! While whichever product or service that you are so badly trying tosell may indeed have a money back guarantee, people have seen it far too often to be attracted by it.
I have selected these spammy words from the SPAM Assassin wiki . It's a great resource that has many hundreds ofuseless words that shouldn't be used in subject lines when writing emails. Take a look for even more words to zap!
Extra Email Writing Tips
It's not just words that will get your email banished to the spam folder. There are several shady practices that need tobe avoided too!
Leaving your subject line blank
Beginning the subject with re: when it isn't a reply (people aren't stupid)
Overuse of exclamation marks!!!
Trying to fool spam filters, eg. Gr8 P0rn
Making subject lines incredibly long
Your Turn...
Can you suggest any more spam words that have no place in an email's subject line? Have you seen, or even used(!), any of these words before? Was it a success, or not? Let me know by leaving a comment please.
Every great email has great content within it that will either help, or interest your readers. A great place to start wouldbe by sharing some of your best blogs in an email newsletter!
Are you blogging for business in English?
If the answer is no, then you're missing out on a great way to get more leads and sales from foreign customers! Don'tworry though, it's never too late to start, and Oxygen 2.0 have written a blogging E-book that will guide you throughhow to set up, write, and share your very own English business blog!
Click below to get yours today (it's free!):
Posted by Adrian Leighton on Sun 28 Sep, 2014
Adrian has been in China for 7 years! He is experienced in all things social media, blogging, and SEO.When not working he enjoys weight-training, reading, watching TV shows with his wife, and baking!
Find me on:LinkedIn
Topics: Business English • writing emails