Author: Franz Malten Buemann

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No matter what they say, people do judge emails by their subject lines.
In fact, 47% of marketers say they test different email subject lines to optimize their emails’ performance. That’s why it’s so important to craft subject lines that are compelling enough to get people to click through.

While they may seem like a small part of your message, they’re one of the very first impressions you have on your email recipients. And, they’re a marketer’s ticket for standing out in a crowded inbox.
Do you want your email content opened, read, and clicked? It all starts with the subject line. Read on for some tried-and-true tips to help jazz up your subject lines and boost your email engagement.

What makes a good email subject line?
Before we get to our tips, let’s go over some fundamentals of what makes a great subject line. Regardless of your goals, these are the essential elements that your subject line should possess:
1. Urgency
Creating a sense of urgency is an efficient way to get people to take action. You can create a similar effect in your subject lines strategically.
By communicating a known start and end date to a special sale or promotion, viewers scrolling through their inbox will click to see what they can get in that window of time. This is also a good practice when done in a small series of emails counting down the window of opportunity — as long as you’re not flooding their inbox and coming off spammy.
2. Curiosity
Sometimes, subject lines work because of their ability to send the message, “You will benefit from opening this email.” But other times, it’s good to maintain some sense of mystery — especially if it pique’s the recipient’s natural curiosity and interest. Because they require opening the email to get more information, they can result in, well, a higher open rate. But make sure the subject line, while enigmatic, still aligns with your brand. Too obscure, and it could end up being seen as spam.
3. Offers
Here’s where that benefit of opening a given email comes in. At the end of the day, people love new things and experiences — especially when they’re free, or at least discounted. Open with that by including it in your subject line. Personally, I’m much more inclined to open my daily newsletters when there’s an offer or allusion for “free stuff” directly mentioned in my inbox.
4. Personalization
No two email subscribers are the same — and, sometimes, that means the emails you send to them shouldn’t be, either. At this point, marketers have never had more ways to learn about their subscribers’ preferences, jobs, or general (dis)likes. So when you send them content, on occasion, make it catered toward the individual.
5. Relevance and Timeliness
When we subscribe to an email list, it’s usually because we want to be kept informed, or at least learn more about a given topic (more on that later). Similar to piquing your audience’s curiosity, crafting email subject lines that incorporate trending topics or timely headlines can help you establish your brand as an authority within your industry — and can compel people to click to read.
6. Name Recognition
Let’s face it: We all have famous people who, at some point, we presently or previously have admired. And when you understand your audience’s preferences and interests, you can pique their interest by including the names of these admired, recognizable individuals by including them in your content — and mentioning them in your email subject lines. But take heed: This tactic really only works when it aligns with your brand, product, or service. So keep it relevant, rather than just throwing out a name for the sake of recognition.
7. Cool Stories
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here’s another place where curiosity comes into play. By front-loading your email subject line with a compelling allusion to a story — but can only be read if opened or clicked — your audience is likely to become intrigued, and want to learn more. Again, make sure the story is relevant to your brand. Otherwise, it might just confuse your readers and prevent them from opening the email.
Now that you know the fundamentals, let’s dive into email subject line best practices.
Email Subject Line Best Practices
1. Learn from successful email subject line examples.
Whenever we’re scratching our heads wondering what to make our subject line, we often look to examples for inspiration. Seeing clever use of wordplay or emojis on one of our favorite newsletters can help us think of new ways to approach our subject line.
To help you do the same, we’ve compiled a list of 100 email subject lines from real businesses. We hope you’ll be just as inspired.

Download the Free Email Subject Lines Examples Guide
2. Keep it short and sweet.
Email subject lines will get cut off if they’re too long, particularly on mobile devices. And with up to 46% of email opens taking place on mobile, we recommend using subject lines with fewer than 50 characters to make sure the people scanning your emails read the entire message.
If you’re struggling to keep your subject lines short, think about which words matter less and where you can remove a frivolous detail. For example, if you’re sending an order confirmation, doesn’t “Your order is being processed” look better than “Order #9435893458358 is being processed”?
The same goes for your regular emails: Don’t waste your time including the word “update” or “newsletter” in the subject line. Some studies even suggest these words can decrease the message’s open rate since it tells readers the email is associated with a series, and therefore they can catch the next one.
3. Use a familiar sender name.
That name recognition we mentioned earlier doesn’t just apply to the famous — it applies to the familiar. When setting your sender name, be as human as you can. Olivia@yourcompany.com is both inviting and unintimidating to people when they open their inboxes.
If you’ve already met your recipients from a previous conversation, use your own name as the sender’s address — even if the email is technically coming from the company as a whole. The best impression you can make on your customers is that they’re working with you, the individual — not the entire business.
“If the ‘from’ name doesn’t sound like it’s from someone you want to hear from, it doesn’t matter what the subject line is,” explains Copy Hacker’s Joanna Wiebe. Ultimately, people are busy, and they simply don’t bother with you if you don’t sound like someone who would make for an easy (or at least friendly) conversation.
4. Avoid the ‘no-reply’ sender name.
Thanks to the amount of spam people get these days, most people hesitate to open emails from unfamiliar senders. And, even fewer people like talking to a robot. Think about when you call a company and can’t get a hold of an actual person. It’s frustrating, right? This goes for email, as well.
Never use “noreply@company.com.” I repeat: Never use this email address. Not only does it make it look less personable, but it also stops people from adding your email to their address book.
Instead, avoid using a generic email address and send the email from a real person. For instance, we once found that emails sent from “Maggie Georgieva, HubSpot” performed better in terms of opens and click-through rate than emails sent from just “HubSpot.” (HubSpot customers: Learn how to personalize the “From” name and email address here.)
5. Use personalization tokens.
Remember the personalization we mentioned earlier? Using personalization tokens — like name or location — in the subject line adds a feeling of rapport, especially when it’s a name. Everyone loves the sound of their own name. Plus, it increases clickthrough rate: In fact, research has shown that emails that included the first name of the recipient in their subject line had higher click-through rates than emails that did not.
One example of how brands affix this information to subject lines is the dog-walking company, Wag! who does this with dog names. Here’s one such email that a HubSpot writer received:

That’s great personalization and great timing.
Another personalization tactic that works is to tailor subject lines to the recipient’s location — things like lists of their respective cities’ best outdoor bars and restaurants.
Just don’t go overboard with the personalization here. That can be a little creepy. But little personalized touches show that you know more about your recipients than just their email address. However, if you can’t (or don’t want to) use personalization tokens in the subject line, use “you” or “your” so it still sounds like you’re addressing them directly.
6. Segment your lists.
While email blasts that go out to your entire list might be relevant and helpful to some people, it won’t be to others — and could cause confusion or frustration. Why is this restaurant sending me a list of the best local steakhouses when I’m a vegetarian? Why is this company sending me case studies when I just signed up for its email list yesterday?
Personalize the experience using information from the actions your customers have already taken — from which forms they’ve filled out, to which industries they’re in, to what their personal preferences are. In email marketing, you can personalize your recipients’ experience using a little thing called list segmentation.
7. Don’t make false promises.
Your email subject line is making a promise to your reader about what you will deliver in your message. Make sure that you make good on that commitment — and do not try to get your email opened by making false promises. This will irk your audience, and they’ll learn not to trust your subject lines, resulting in a lower open rate and a higher unsubscribe rate.
8. Do tell them what’s inside.
Speaking of making promises, if your visitor has downloaded an offer and you’re delivering it via email, it’s a great idea to use a subject line that says something like, “Your new ebook inside!” or, “Your guide awaits!” This works better than a simple “thank you” in the subject line because it makes it clear that something is waiting inside the email.
9. Time it right.
Sending an email at the right time with the right subject line can make a huge difference in open and click-through rate. A prime example? When food publication Eater sends at 6:45 P.M. on a Wednesday evening that said, “Where to Drink Beer Right Now” — just in time for happy hour. Nailed it.
Another favorite example is a classic email from Warby Parker with the subject line, “Uh-oh, your prescription is expiring.” It was sent two weeks before the recipient needed to renew his prescription. By sending an email at the right time, Warby Parker increased the chances of their email getting opened — and included a relevant call-to-action about getting a glasses upgrade, too.
10. Use concise language.
Keep in mind that people scan their inboxes very quickly — so the more clear and concise your subject line is, the better. It’s usually a lot better to be concise than it is to use complex and flowery language — unless you’re going for an elusive subject tone to entice your recipients.
When you’re going for a concise subject line, think about how your email will benefit your recipients. You’ll want to make that benefit very clear. For example, “Increase your open rates by 50% today” is more appealing than “How to increase open rates.”
11. Start with action-oriented verbs.
Subject lines are similar to calls-to-action, in that you want the language to inspire people to click. Subject lines that begin with action verbs tend to be a lot more enticing, and your emails could be drastically more clickable by adding a vibrant verb at the beginning.
Actionable subject lines will inspire people to click on your email by instilling urgency and excitement. For example, in an email inviting people to a hockey legend dinner, the email subject line might read, “Dine with Bruins legend Bobby Orr,” rather than a more generic (and less actionable) “Local Boston Sports Legend Meal.” The former email uses “Dine” to help the reader envision themselves at a dinner table.
12. Make people feel special.
The psychology of exclusivity is a powerful thing. When people feel like they’re on the inside, it gives them a sense of belonging which builds loyalty and compels them to convert on your emails.
The right phrasing can make your recipients feel special — and the effect can be magical. A few ideas for phrasing include:

“For our beloved customers only”
“An exclusive offer for you”
“My gift to you”
“You’re invited!”
“Private invite”

13. Create a sense of importance.
There’s a phrase that, for many of us, is reminiscent of classic infomercials: “Act now!”
And while we wouldn’t encourage using that exact language in your content, we do agree that communicating urgency and scarcity in an email subject line can help compel readers to click (or act) — when phrased creatively and strategically.
But because you don’t want to be known as “the brand that cried wolf,” use these subject lines sparingly, and try to limit them to when the occasion genuinely calls for immediate action.
14. Use numbers.
A lot of businesses send emails with vague statements in their subject lines — which is why using data and numbers is a great way to get your emails noticed, demonstrate a clear and straightforward message about your offer, and set the right expectations.
Just like with blog titles, using numbers in your subject line is an effective email marketing best practice. You might use numbers to refer to the title of your listicle, the page length of an offer, a specific discount, or the numerical benefit of a particular resource you’re providing — like “Join more than 750 others at this event!”
15. Pose a compelling question.
Asking a question in your subject line can also draw readers in — especially if you’re asking a question you know is relevant to your recipients’ buyer persona. This is just one way to pique that curiosity we mentioned earlier. For example, you might try the following: “Are you making these SEO mistakes?” or “Do you know what your website is doing wrong?”
Zillow once sent an email with the subject line, “What Can You Afford?” that linked to a website showing apartments for rent. A subject line like this is both encouraging and a touch competitive: While it gives hope that there are apartments out there that’ll fit within your budget, it also pits your cash against what the market offers.
Another example comes from DocuSign. It sent an email late in the lead nurturing process, with the subject line, “What are your customers saying?” The body of the email contained a bunch of case studies that were meant to help the recipient move closer to actually purchasing DocuSign. This was a smart move: Folks who are further down the funnel are likely more receptive to hearing customer testimonials.
16. Don’t be afraid to get punny.
Most people love a good pun. It’s a great way to delight your recipients and spice up your emails. Some of the best punny email subject lines come from JetBlue, with subject lines like “Land wander-ful low fares now!”
Quirky — a community-led invention platform — worded one of its email subject lines like this: “Abra-cord-abra! Yeah, we said it.” That second part is conversational and self-referential — and exactly what most people would say after making a really cheesy joke in real life.
If you’re the least bit punny, think about small ways you can slip them into your emails when it’s appropriate. Just don’t overdo it. And remember the rule: When in doubt, ask a coworker.
17. DON’T USE ALL CAPS or overuse exclamation points!!!
A subject line that says, “OPEN NOW AND RECEIVE A FREE TRIAL” or, “50% off coupon today only!!!!!!!!” isn’t going to get your email opened. If anything, it’ll probably get your email ignored.
Why? People don’t like to be yelled at, and using all caps and/or a lot of exclamation points can rub people the wrong way.
Not only are these tactics disruptive, but they look spammy. So instead of using disruptive tactics like these to stand out in people’s inboxes, try personalizing your emails, establishing relevance, and using catchy and delightful language.
18. Don’t include a question and exclamation in the same subject line.
Here’s a subject line that can automatically wind up in a recipient’s spam folder: “Want a solution fast? Act now!”
The fast solution isn’t the problem in the example above. It’s also not “act now” — although those are known email marketing spam words. It’s both phrases together. This is a classic email saboteur, and it comes in many forms. All you need is to ask and yell at the same time.
Oftentimes webservers flag emails as spam if they contain both a question mark and an exclamation mark in the subject line. The example above is a common one. A good solution? Don’t do that!
Not only is this format overdone, but it’s alienating to your audience. Open-ended questions are a show of ignorance; any good marketer knows their leads better than that.
19. Use engaging preview text.
While preview text isn’t technically part of your subject line, it does appear right near the subject line — and it certainly deserves your attention.
Preview text provides recipients with a peek at the content inside your email, which email clients like the iPhone Mail app, Gmail, and Outlook will display alongside the subject line. (The exact amount of text shown depends on the email client and user settings.)

When you don’t set the preview text yourself, the email client will automatically pull from the body of your email. That can look messy depending on your email content, and it’s also a wasted opportunity to engage your audience. (HubSpot customers: Click here to learn how to set the preview text of your emails.)
20. A/B test your subject lines.
Although these tips and best practices are a great place to start, what works best for some companies may not work as well for others. It’s all about figuring out what works best for your specific audience. That’s where A/B testing comes in.
While it can be tempting to use your intuition to predict what subject line language will make people click on your emails, you should always A/B test your highest-stakes subject lines, and tweak the wording according to your results. What works best for your audience: Long or short subject lines? Including numbers or not including numbers? Questions or statements? (HubSpot customers: Learn how to A/B test emails in HubSpot here.)
Now that we’ve gone through our best practices, let’s review the steps to creating good email subject lines.
How to Write Good Email Subject Lines
Step 1: Identify the purpose of the email.
Why is the email being sent and how does that inform the subject line? Identify the true purpose or intention of the email and use that as the foundation to build upon when brainstorming your subject line idea.
Step 2: Determine the call to action.
What will make the user click on the email? A discount? Something free? Important information? What is enticing enough to make them want to see or learn more about your offer? Having a call to action with an incentive yet to be seen is tempting.
Step 3: Draft multiple subject lines.
Write similar subject lines that use varying words and tones. You want to have a few ideas to choose from, so you’re not stuck stewing over the same sentence for long.
Step 4: Get feedback.
Have colleagues review the subject lines to give their feedback on which they preferred. Having a second opinion can help you see it from a different perspective.
Step 5: Test your subject line.
As mentioned earlier, perform an A/B test to see which subject line performs best. After you’ve conducted the test, take the most effective email subject line and use it in your upcoming email marketing campaign.
Now that we’ve gone through the steps to create a good subject line, let’s examine some effective examples.
Examples of Catchy Email Subject Lines
To give you some added inspiration, here’s a quick list of the most intriguing subject lines we’ve seen recently.
EF Tours: “👻 Trip or Treat!”

This subject line from EF Tours has tasteful use of a quirky emoji, coupled with a sense of urgency from a time-bound sale. These two tricks create an email subject line that would stand out from the rest of your inbox.
Chanel: “Smoldering Red Lipstick”

This example from Chanel is simple but effective. Viewers can visualize a beautiful red lip, and feel enticed to click to see if the product really achieves a “smoldering” look.
Wish: “Electrify your night out.”

Wish helps the reader to see how much more fun their night could be in one of its dresses. With this imagery, they’ll want to see how fun their selection of dresses could be — especially if it’s discounted.
Drizly: “…here’s $5 to stay in.”

This subject line is more unique than others — it makes you question what Drizly means by the first half and explicitly gives you an incentive to open the email.
Shutterfly: “Claim your UNLIMITED free photo book”

While we mentioned earlier to be careful with CAPS lettering, it doesn’t overwhelm this Shutterfly subject line and makes an interesting offer.
Mediabistro: “Generous PTO and Summer Fridays”

The viewer can envision themselves taking advantage of work perks like these from Mediabistro, and will feel inclined to read more on the subjects presented.
Catch more Clicks with Catchy Subject Lines
At the end of the day, if your emails aren’t getting opened, they’re not getting seen. By using some of our tips, we hope you can come up with creative and engaging subject lines of your own. You already have great content to share — now, prove it in your subject line.
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in July 2018 but has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Gantt charts. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, or can’t live without ‘em, they’re a reality of a marketer’s life. But how do you make yours stand out from the rest?
I’ve gathered some of the best examples around, along with some free templates to get you started. Dive in below and find your favorite. But first …

The elements within a Gantt chart can be grouped into four categories: resources, milestones, tasks, and dependencies.

Resources: Project managers must have insight into what resources are needed for tasks outlined in a Gantt chart, in order for each to be completed on time.

Milestones: Along your timeline, there will likely be milestones, both small and large, that must be hit in order to keep your project on track. A milestone for a blog launch might be, “Blog post draft due on 5/30.”

Tasks: There are specific things that need to be completed along the way of your project. In our blog post example, a task might be, “Edit blog post.”

Dependencies: Tasks on your Gantt chart will be related to each other, for example, the editor won’t be able to complete her task of editing the blog post until the writer has met their milestone and submitted their draft on 5/30. These are dependencies and should be noted in your chart.

Benefits of Using a Gantt Chart
The main goal of a Gantt chart is to track the timeline and completion of a project. It’s beneficial for project managers who need to keep team momentum on campaigns with many moving parts, like product launches or marketing events. Here are some additional benefits of using Gantt charts: 

Visual tracking gives an overarching view of projects and their timelines, helping DRIs understand progress and assign responsibility accordingly. 
Clear project timelines aid with resource planning, as you’ll know which tasks require which tools and exactly when DRIs will need those tools.  
Visual understanding of which project elements rely on each other for completion so PMs can inform responsible individuals of high-priority tasks. 
Increased transparency, as all involved parties are aware of expectations and how individual progress impacts team progress.

You can create Gantt charts in Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets, and more, and this tracking method can be used in a variety of industries, from marketing to construction, and even design.
So, what does that look like? Let’s dive in with some beautiful Gantt chart examples, below. Prepare to geek out.
Gantt Chart Examples
1. Gantt Chart in Excel
Creating Gantt charts in Excel is a common practice and one you’ll likely come across in your work. Excel doesn’t have a predefined Gantt chart, but the “Stacked Bar” feature is your friend, once more, allowing you to show project progression. Here’s an example of an Excel Gantt chart. Download it free, here.
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And here’s a helpful “how-to” video for the excel-challenged among us <raises hand>.
 

2. Gantt Chart in PowerPoint
Want to include a Gantt chart in your next PowerPoint Presentation? Use this PowerPoint example as your guide. PowerPoint doesn’t have a built-in Gantt feature, but you can build and edit a chart inside of the platform using their “Stacked Bar” feature.
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How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint
When using the above template to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, consider these pro tips: 

Leverage the task bars to your advantage and adjust their length in accordance with your plan. This template is also flexible, so you can shorten or increase the length of tasks if things come up during your project execution process. 
Make unique color-codes for each specific task so you can place a corresponding milestone image when completed so you can monitor your progress and immediately understand what color means what. 

3. Gantt Chart in Word
What’s that? You’re not familiar with Microsoft’s “Stacked Bar” feature yet? Well, if you’re getting friendly with Gantt charts, you’ll be using this go-to feature quite a bit.
If you’re creating a Gantt chart in Microsoft Word, you’ll stack bars once more. But if you’ll be updating and tweaking your Gantt chart regularly, Excel or PowerPoint may give you better flexibility.
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How to Make a Gantt Chart in Word
When using the template above, leverage the stackable bars feature to create an interactive Gantt chart to clearly demonstrate task progress and monitor your accomplishments. 
In addition, create a daily check-ins schedule on your chart so you can move the “Today” line forward as each day goes on, helping you stay on track and understand what’s to come.
4. Gantt Chart in Google Sheets
If Google Sheets is where you spend most of your time, this is the Gantt chart for you. G-Sheets makes it easy to build customizable Gantt charts you can edit as needed — all using a few simple formulas.
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How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets
If you’re creating a Gantt chart in Google Sheets, use the above template and circulation table for automated chart creation. Simply input the information specific to your business, and the chart will be created automatically. 
You have less creative freedom with this chart, but it is great for those hesitant to create a chart from scratch.
5. Gantt Chart in Google Docs
Want a Gantt Chart you can share and collaborate on with colleagues? Consider creating your chart in a Google Document. Save it to your Google Drive and share as normal. Google offers “Stacked chart” options in their “Chart Editor,” so getting started is a breeze.
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How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Docs
In Google Docs, use the timeline template documents to your advantage and give yourself an overview of your project progress. It’ll help with visualization, staying on track, and allowing you to see how you’re progressing over time so you can share information with relevant stakeholders, internal and external.
6. Gantt Chart for Editorial Calendar
Take your editorial calendar up a notch with a Gantt chart. Include publication dates as your milestones, add subgroups for each phase of content creation, and add tasks to your chart.
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7. Gantt Chart for Project Management
Project management is one of the most common verticals relying on Gantt charts. These charts help project managers identify the tasks involved in each project, create a timeline for each task, and assign dates, tools, and progress updates for each of the tasks within the project.Image Source
8. Gantt Chart for Marketing Campaign
There are many tools available that help marketers create Gantt charts especially for marketing campaigns. This example, from GanttPro offers ready-made campaign templates with predefined tasks, subtasks, and milestones. Image Source
9. Gantt Chart for Design Projects
Designers, you can use Gantt charts, too. Plan design launches, track brainstorming, and share draft progress with a carefully organized chart, like the example below.
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10. Gantt Chart for Product Launch
Product launches have many moving parts. Keep track of research, budgets, team roles, and even risk assessment in a customizable Gantt chart like this one. You can even set dependencies and assign tasks to certain people.
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11. Gantt Chart for Social Media Campaign
When you’re mapping a social media marketing campaign using a Gantt chart, make sure to include the tools you’ll need, the content you’ll be sharing, and the assets used on each channel. We loved this example, from Fabrik. 
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12. Gantt Chart for Event Marketing
From outreach prior to the event to “Thank you” emails once it’s over, planning an event requires high levels of organization. Use a Gantt chart like this one to keep track of your strategy, team progress, and key actions before, during, and after your event.
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When you’re ready to begin creating your own Gantt chart, refer to the high-quality examples on this list and download our free Excel template to get started. 

A look at the elements that make up a high-converting signup form, and some amazing signup form examples.
Do you want to grow your email list? 
The first (and simplest) step to attracting more subscribers is to optimize your email signup form. This form is more than a routine necessity to collect email addresses; it’s an opportunity to make signing up for your emails feel easy and good.
An optimized signup form reduces friction in the signup process and can lead to more subscribers. On the other hand, a poorly engineered signup form can feel like a barrier for potential new subscribers and decrease signup rates. 
In this article, we’re explaining the 10 best practices for building a successful email signup form, and looking at some amazing signup form examples.
10 elements of a successful signup form (with examples)
1. Start with goals
You can’t create a successful strategy for anything (including your signup form) without clarity around your end goals. 
Why do you want to collect email addresses and grow your email list? Who do you want to attract to your list? Why do you want them to join? What do you hope they will get out of joining your email list? 
Answering these questions will help you design a signup form that attracts the right subscribers and primes them to engage. On the practical side, knowing your goals will guide which fields you ask subscribers to fill out and the messaging you use for your form. 
For example, nebo, a digital agency, includes a signup form prominently on their website. Their goal with their signup form is to attract potential paying clients, not just subscribers. To this end, they…

Make their form as frictionless as possible so as to not harm conversions
Include a field asking about the subscriber’s project to indicate that the type of person to subscribe should be interested in working with this agency
Add copy that speaks to the possibility of an ongoing relationship (“Let’s get started!”)

For a different example, let’s look at Zendesk’s email signup form. Zendesk offers a free demo in exchange for signing up to their email list. This likely means that their goal is to nurture new subscribers via email to eventually convert them into paying customers (rather than asking them to become paying customers right away, like nebo does). 
To support this goal, Zendesk…

Strategically offers a demo as their email capture to ensure new subscribers are at least somewhat interested in the paid product 
Reduces friction with a simple, three-field form
Asks specifically for the subscriber’s “work email” to ensure that their emails reach the subscriber at work, when they make software purchasing decisions

2. Design that counts
Your email signup form is a key touchpoint with people new to your brand. As such, it’s important that you design the form in line with the rest of your visual branding. Consistent branding has been shown to inspire trust with consumers and even increase revenue by as much as 33%. 
When it comes to your signup form, consistent branding means choosing fonts, colors, and a design style that matches the rest of your online presence. 
One person who aligns her email signup form with the rest of her branding is anti-racism educator Monique Melton. Her signup form uses her signature bright pink brand colors, no-nonsense font, and upbeat messaging:

3. Less is more
It can be appealing to ask for lots of information from subscribers because more information might lead to a better ability to segment or nurture your subscribers. However, we recommend a “less is more” approach when it comes to collecting information in your email signup forms. 
Venture Harbour’s 2021 roundup of the latest studies on form length revealed that, in general, shorter forms performed better than longer forms. However, there were instances where the reverse was true. In some cases, longer forms converted better because the fields were fun to engage with. In others, longer forms led to more engaged subscribers, presumably because those who joined were those who wanted to join so badly they were willing to fill out multiple fields. 
Bottom line? The length of your form will depend on who your subscribers are. Adopt a “less is more” mindset with your signup form, and if you include multiple fields, make sure it’s for the benefit of the subscriber and not only for your benefit.
For instance, this signup form example from Star Trek fan website Trekland adds a question about the subscriber’s favorite Star Trek. Though not “needed”, this is a field that subscribers will delight in answering and so contributes to a positive user experience.

4. Keep it simple
Keep the messaging related to your signup form as simple as possible. 
Marketing Experiments tested whether adding more persuasive copy to a nonprofit’s donation form would increase donations. Though it might seem like sharing more about the benefits would drive up conversions, the result was the opposite. The form with more copy had a 28% lower conversion rate than the donation form without any persuasive copy. 
One organization keeping it simple is the Los Angeles Conservancy. Their signup form is presented with the need-to-know information in a short paragraph at the top.

5. Mobile friendly
Ensure your form is easily completed on a mobile device. In 2020, 61% of all website visits occurred on a mobile device, so it’s likely that many subscribers will be filling out your form from their smartphone. 
A mobile-friendly form is responsive, adapting to the screen size on which it’s being read, so the subscriber doesn’t have to zoom in or scroll around to see all the fields. To make this easier for your development team, opt for a simple single-column design. 
The LaBelle Foundation uses a responsive form design that adapts from their desktop version to render clearly on mobile.
Desktop form:

Mobile form:

6. Good incentives
Consumers are used to being asked for their email address daily from different organizations and may be wary of providing their email without a good reason to. So, it’s crucial that you offer a great incentive, otherwise known as a lead magnet, in exchange for a subscriber’s email address. 
Common incentives include a discount, a free gift, a free download (such as an ebook), a quiz, or a content upgrade. 
For example, e-commerce website FarmGirl Flowers offers a 10% discount as an incentive for subscribing to their list:

7. Clear dropdowns or multiple choice
Dropdown or multiple-choice option fields offer a way to collect additional information from subscribers while making it as easy as possible for them to respond. 
Also, offering multiple-choice selections means that you control what information the subscriber inputs, which makes it easy for you to segment them accordingly into predetermined categories.
For example, Role Models does this well on their email signup form. They include multiple-choice options for subscribers to select the age range of their child. Role Models can then easily segment the subscriber into a particular age range and target them with emails that will be most beneficial to that age range.

8. Submit buttons
The submit button is the last step in the conversion process. It’s a great opportunity to make signing up for your list feel fun, on-brand, or urgent — anything other than feeling like filling out a boring form. 
So, we don’t recommend using the text “submit” on your submit button. Instead, optimize this final conversion step with something that appeals to the subscriber and makes them feel excited about completing the signup process. 
For example, in this signup form example, copywriting company Damn Write features button text that reads “BRING IT ON!” to create a sense of excitement to signing up for her email list:

9. Double opt-ins
A double opt-in is when you ask subscribers to confirm their email addresses before officially adding them to your list. 
Including a double opt-in after someone subscribes via your form reduces the possibility of getting spam email addresses on your list and increases your engagement rates later on. The extra step of confirming their email address means that only people who genuinely want to be on your list end up on your list. 
Usually, the double opt-in occurs via email after the signup form. For instance, Shopify sends this double opt-in email:

10. Easy to find
Make sure your signup form is easy to find on your website. Instead of hiding your signup form in your footer, we recommend placing your signup form in a more prominent place, such as…

In your website header
In your website navigation
As a popup
In a noticeable section mid-webpage

For instance, podcast The Enlightened Executive includes their form in a large standalone section on their podcast webpage where it’s unlikely to be missed:

Wrap up
Your email list growth depends on the strength of your email signup strategy, which includes your signup form. 
To create a winning signup form that drives conversions and attracts engaged subscribers, start by optimizing these 10 elements. 
When you’re ready to create your own custom email signup form, try our seamless signup form builder.
The post The Anatomy of a High-Converting Signup Form (with Examples!) appeared first on Campaign Monitor.

Do you ever wish you could unsubscribe from a conversation? As an introvert, I do, quite often. Though unsubscribing from a conversation with another person isn’t always possible (and could potentially be seen as rude), unsubscribing from emails is perfectly acceptable behavior.
As a consumer, the unsubscribe button can feel like a gift from the divine when your inbox is overflowing. As a marketer, the unsubscribe button can be standing between you and your email marketing goals if your list undergoes a mass exodus faster than you’re able to bring in new leads.

However, the unsubscribe button in your emails doesn’t have to be feared. In fact, when leveraged wisely, the unsubscribe button can be a powerful tool that helps you curate an engaged email list of your ideal customers who are ready and willing to hear your message.
Let’s break down the ins and outs of the email unsubscribe button, and how to set it up in a way that helps your business.
What is an unsubscribe button?
An unsubscribe button is a link or button module typically found at the bottom of a marketing email that gives email subscribers the chance to opt-out of future messages with one simple click.
Why Have An Unsubscribe Button
I know, the idea of subscribers leaving your list may prompt a bit of panic, especially if you have aggressive list-building goals. However, having an unsubscribe button or link can be to your benefit. One of the most important email marketing metrics you should measure is your open rate or the percentage of people on your list who actually open (and likely read) your emails.
If you have a large number of subscribers who are on your list but don’t want to be, that can significantly drive down your open rates (and negatively impact your click-through rate). Having a large email list isn’t valuable if your audience doesn’t actually want to engage with your emails, because that could indicate they are even less likely to buy your products.
Having an unsubscribe button makes it easy for those who are uninterested to opt-out of communication, freeing up space for potential subscribers who are genuinely interested in your message and product.
Do you have to have an unsubscribe button in your emails?
You may be wondering, “Do I have to have an unsubscribe button in all of my emails?”
The short answer is yes, yes you do.
In the US, the CAN-SPAM Act requires all businesses using email to include clear instructions on how to opt-out on all email communications and these opt-out requests must be honored by law. Businesses that violate the CAN-SPAM Act can face hefty fines for each email violation, so it’s in your best interest to make sure you give your subscribers a chance to opt out in every email communication you send.
Beyond the CAN-SPAM Act, there are global email marketing regulations that are designed to protect consumers and ensure they’re able to opt out of communications they no longer want to receive. People unsubscribe from emails for a number of reasons, and it’s important for businesses to honor that decision.
Unsubscribe Button Best Practices and Ethics
Now let’s cover unsubscribe do’s and don’ts.
1. Make sure your unsubscribe button uses clear language.
Avoid using confusing language or making your unsubscribe button or link difficult to understand. Doing so can be a CAN-SPAM violation. Your unsubscribe option should be clear and easy to understand for the average person.
2. Don’t hide your unsubscribe options or make them difficult to see.
Your unsubscribe button or link should be visually accessible for readers. Companies that purposefully hide or make the unsubscribe feature difficult to see can also be subject to fines and legal repercussions so avoid using fonts or colors that make your unsubscribe options hard to find or visually inaccessible.
3. Offer the option to update email preferences.
If your email service provider gives you the option, allow subscribers to update their email preferences. Perhaps they don’t want to opt out of all communications but would prefer to receive messages about specific topics or want to hear from your company less often. Doing so can help spare unsubscribes while fostering trust with your readers.
4. Avoid using negative language.
Though it may not violate any laws, having rude or whiny language in your materials when people unsubscribe can come across as needy and unprofessional, and can be a big turn-off. Honor your contact’s decision to unsubscribe, and focus on those who want to engage with your content and products.
5. Don’t require a login to unsubscribe.
Ideally, the ability to unsubscribe should be one to two simple clicks away for most users. Requiring contacts to retrieve login information or gating the unsubscribe process creates friction and can lead to frustration.
6. Include links to your company’s social media profiles.
While having a user on your email list gives you more control over when and how your company is able to communicate with them, having contacts unsubscribe doesn’t mean that’s the end-all-be-all of them interacting with your company. Make sure your emails include links to your company’s social media profiles so users who would rather keep in touch on those platforms can easily follow along.
Unsubscribe Button Examples
Looking for unsubscribe button inspiration? Check out these options.
Marketing Brew

Marketing Brew is an email newsletter by The Morning Brew that focuses on marketing-related news and content. In this email footer, subscribers can easily edit their email preferences to specify how often they’d like to receive emails or unsubscribe altogether.
The Hustle

The Hustle, a HubSpot media company, has a daily tech and business newsletter where readers can offer real-time feedback about that day’s issue. The footer of each daily email has a cheeky unsubscribe button that’s easy to understand and may make the reader think twice before unsubscribing.
The Skimm

The Skimm has several variations of its popular newsletter. The Skimm Money newsletter has easy-to-understand language in the footer to empower readers to take control of their email preferences. Again, the reader could see they have subscription options that could better suit their needs which could prevent them from unsubscribing.
Lavendaire

Self-care content and stationery company Lavendaire has a gentle message for those looking to unsubscribe, emphasizing the importance of having an engaged list.
HeyDay

HeyDay, a company that offers skincare services has an unsubscribe message that is incredibly on-brand, comparing clogged pores to full inboxes. This brand also provides a great example of giving readers the option to modify their subscription or unsubscribe completely.
When it comes to email marketing, having users unsubscribe is a natural occurrence. By making the process as straightforward and simple as possible, you can create a better experience for your contacts and brand.

I have a large range of friends, and wanted a way to regular send messages to people in groups (Hey, just checking in, hope you are well?) etc. Ideally 10 mins a day to check 10 accounts and fire off messages. Goal is just to be a good friend socially.
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SAINT LOUIS, MO, September 23, 2021 — Polaris Software, a leading provider of sales and marketing software, announced today that the company has surpassed 1 million users through its global base of over 25,000 customers. Growth has been spurred by the demand from SMBs to market online and through strategic acquisitions. Polaris Software revenue grew…
The post Sales and Marketing Software Leader, Polaris Software, Doubles-Down on Customer Interactions, Surpasses 1 Million Users appeared first on Benchmark Email.

https://digitalthoughtz.com/2021/09/18/how-to-use-linkedin-for-beginners-in-2021/
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