60 Examples of Subject Lines for Follow Up Emails that Guarantees Responses

Subject lines can make or break your follow-up emails. In fact, emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened, according to Campaign Monitor.

This guide offers 60 powerful examples of effective subject lines for follow-up emails that are designed to grab attention and guarantee responses.

Why Subject Lines Matter in Follow-Up Emails

1. Captures Attention in a Crowded Inbox

Think about how many emails you get each day. Now, imagine how hard it is for someone to notice your follow-up email among dozens of others. A strong subject line helps your email stand out.

Research shows that 47% of people open emails based on the subject line alone. That’s almost half! If your subject line is boring or unclear, your email might never be opened.

Here’s how you can grab the reader's attention here:

• Keep it short and to the point, around six to ten words.
• Add a personal touch by including the recipient’s name or mentioning a recent meeting.
• Create urgency by hinting at something important, like "Let’s Wrap This Up" or "Your Feedback Needed Today."

A follow-up email can nudge the recipient during their decision-making process.

2. Re-Engages Prospects with a Personal Touch

A follow-up email should feel like a continuation of a previous conversation. Using the right subject line helps remind the person of your last interaction and keeps the relationship warm.

Imagine you met with a prospect, and now you want to continue the discussion. A subject line like, "It Was Great Meeting You – Let’s Talk Next Steps," reminds them of the meeting and encourages them to respond.

Here’s how you can re-engage prospects:

• Mention the last email, meeting, or call. For example, “Following Up on Our Call Last Week.”
• Use friendly language that feels personal, like “Just Checking In” or “Quick Follow-Up.”
• Show that you care about their needs by offering solutions or next steps in the subject line of blog post.

Use your follow-up email as a friendly reminder of your previous conversation.

3. Sets the Right Tone for the Discussion

The great subject line gives the first impression of your email. It tells the reader what the email is about and how you want to communicate.

If your subject line is too formal, it might seem stiff. If writing subject lines, it’s too casual, it may come off as unprofessional. The right tone encourages the reader to engage.

Here’s how to set the right tone:

• Match the subject line with the relationship you have. For example, "Following Up on Our Conversation" works well after a meeting.
• Use friendly language but keep it professional. Something like "Let’s Chat More About Your Ideas" feels approachable but respectful.

4. Avoids the Spam Folder with Clear Phrasing

Your follow-up email is useless if it ends up in the spam folder. Certain words in subject lines can trigger spam filters, like "Free," "Discount," or "Urgent." These words make your email look like spam, even if it’s not.

Here’s how to avoid the spam folder:

• Avoid using all capital letters or excessive punctuation (e.g., "!!").
• Stick to clear, direct language. Instead of "Act Now – Special Offer Inside," try something like "Let’s Schedule a Time to Talk."
• Make sure your subject line matches the content of your email. If your subject line says "Next Steps," your email should discuss next steps.

Examples of Subject Lines for Follow-Up Emails

1. Personalized Subject Lines for Building Rapport

Personalized subject lines help create a connection with the recipient. They show that the email is meant specifically for them, which makes it more likely to be opened.

Why it’s important: Building rapport is key to establishing trust and maintaining relationships. People are more likely to open an email if they see their name or a personal detail.

How to: Use the recipient’s name, reference a recent meeting, or mention a shared interest to make the subject line feel personal.

Examples:

1.[Recipient’s Name], Let’s Continue Our Conversation from Last Week

2.Great Chat, [Recipient’s Name]—Next Steps?

3.It Was Nice Meeting You, [Recipient’s Name]!

4.Following Up on Our Meeting, [Recipient’s Name]

5.[Recipient’s Name], I Have an Idea to Share with You

6.Here’s What We Discussed Yesterday, [Recipient’s Name]

7.[Recipient’s Name], I’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This

8.[Recipient’s Name], Let’s Pick Up Where We Left Off

9.Thought You Might Like This, [Recipient’s Name]

10.Just for You, [Recipient’s Name]—Let’s Continue the Discussion

Personalized subject lines show that the email is tailored to the recipient's interest, making it more likely to grab their attention.

2. Urgency-Driven Email Subject Lines to Encourage Action

Urgency-driven subject line conveys a sense of urgency that prompts the recipient to take action quickly. These subject lines make people feel like they need to respond or act immediately to avoid missing out.

Why it’s important: By encouraging a fast response, urgency-driven subject lines help you close deals or get quick feedback. People are more likely to act when they feel they might lose out on an opportunity.

How to: Use time-sensitive words like “now,” “today,” “urgent,” or “last chance” to push the recipient to act fast.

Examples:

1.Last Chance to Review—Need Your Feedback Today!

2.Can We Schedule This Today?

3.Only a Few Spots Left—Let’s Confirm Now!

4.Urgent: Time-Sensitive Information Inside

5.Limited Time Offer—Act Fast!

6.Hurry, [Recipient’s Name]—We Need Your Decision by Tomorrow!

7.Let’s Wrap This Up Today—Time is Running Out!

8.Don’t Miss This Opportunity—Reply Today!

9.Final Call for Your Input—Urgent!

10.Act Now, [Recipient’s Name]—Time’s Almost Up!

Urgency-driven subject lines motivate the recipient to respond or take action before it’s too late, helping you move the conversation forward quickly.

3. Casual Follow-Up Subject Lines for a Friendly Touch

Casual subject lines make your emails feel less formal and more like a natural conversation. They’re great for staying in touch without putting too much pressure on the recipient.

Why it’s important: Being friendly can encourage responses by making your email approachable. If you want to keep the conversation going or maintain a warm relationship, a casual subject line helps.

How to: Use simple language, keep the tone light, and show that you're genuinely interested in the other person. Phrases like “Just Checking In” or “Quick Follow-Up” make it feel like you’re reaching out as a friend.

Examples:

1.Just Wanted to Follow Up, [Recipient’s Name]

2.Quick Check-In—Any Updates?

3.Hope All Is Well—Let’s Catch Up Soon

4.Just Touching Base After Our Last Chat

5.Haven’t Heard from You, Thought I’d Check In

6.Just Checking In—How’s Everything Going?

7.Following Up—Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

8.Hey [Recipient’s Name], Let’s Pick Up Where We Left Off

9.Hope You’re Doing Well—Let’s Talk Again

10.Wanted to See How You’re Doing—Let’s Reconnect

These subject lines feel personal and informal, making the recipient more comfortable responding.

4. Value-Focused Subject Lines That Highlight Benefits

Value-focused subject lines focus on what the recipient will gain by opening the email. They emphasize the benefits of the conversation or offer.

Why it’s important: People are more likely to open emails that clearly show value. Highlighting what’s in it for them makes it clear why they should respond.

How to: Focus on how the email can help the recipient, whether it's offering useful advice, sharing a resource, or moving a specific project further forward. Use action words and show the benefit right away.

Examples:

1.Unlock New Solutions for [Recipient’s Pain Point]

2.Here’s How We Can Save You Time on [Specific Task]

3.Maximizing Your Results—Here’s What’s Next

4.How We Can Help You Achieve [Specific Goal]

5.[Recipient’s Name], Here’s How to Improve Your [Process]

6.Let’s Boost Your [Metric]—Here’s the Plan

7.I’ve Got a Solution for Your [Problem]

8.How Our Conversation Can Benefit Your [Project/Business]

9.Let’s Improve Your [Outcome] Together

10.Your Key to Success in [Area]—Let’s Discuss

These compelling subject lines quickly show the recipient how engaging with your own email campaigns will benefit them, which increases the chances of a response.

5. Curiosity-Piquing Email Subject Line

Curiosity-piquing subject lines make the reader curious, leading them to open the email because they want to know more.

Why it’s important: When your subject line stirs curiosity, it engages the reader’s interest. People tend to click on things that make them wonder.

How to: Use questions, tease information, or suggest there's something valuable inside the email without fully revealing it in the subject line.

Examples:

1.You Won’t Believe What I Found for You

2.I’ve Got News—Are You Ready?

3.Can We Talk About This Idea?

4.Guess What Happens Next...

5.Do You Have a Minute? This Could Help

6.There’s Something You Should See

7.What Do You Think of This Plan?

8.Surprising Insight from Our Last Conversation

9.Want to Know the Next Step?

10.This Might Just Change Everything

A subject line that sparks the recipient’s curiosity can significantly improve open rates. These subject lines make the recipient curious enough to open the email to learn more.

6. Follow Up Subject Lines after Sales Meetings

These subject lines are specific to following up after a sales meeting. They keep the conversation going and build on the connection made during the meeting.

Why it’s important: After a sales meeting, a follow-up is critical to maintaining momentum and staying top of mind. A strong subject line ensures your initial email still gets noticed and helps push the deal forward.

How to: Refer back to the meeting, focus on next steps, and highlight key points that were discussed during the sales meeting.

Examples:

1.Following Up on Our Meeting—Next Steps

2.Great Meeting You! Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

3.Let’s Move Forward with Our Plan

4.Thanks for Your Time—Here’s What’s Next

5.Recap of Our Meeting + Next Steps

6.Here’s What We Discussed—Looking Forward to Moving Ahead

7.Glad We Met—What’s the Best Time for Our Follow-Up?

8.Our Meeting Recap + What We Can Do Next

9.Let’s Finalize the Details from Our Meeting

10.Continuing Our Discussion—Ready to Take the Next Step?

These subject lines make it clear that the conversation isn’t over and that action should be taken next, helping to move the sales process forward.

How Alore Enhance your Follow-Up Email Strategy

When it comes to optimizing your follow-up emails, having the right tools can make a significant difference. This is where Alore CRM comes into play.

Alore is a comprehensive email automation and CRM tool that streamlines your follow-up email campaigns, ensuring that your emails are not only timely but also personalized to each recipient.

How to Implement Alore for Follow-Ups:

• Automation: Use Alore’s automation to set up sequences of follow-up emails that are triggered based on recipient behavior, such as opening the previous email or clicking a link.
• Personalization: With Alore, every follow-up email can be tailored to include personal touches, like the recipient’s name, company, or even references to recent meetings or conversations, increasing the likelihood of a response.
• Analytics: Alore provides real-time analytics on email open rates, response rates, and engagement. This data helps you A/B test different subject lines and email formats, ensuring you optimize your follow-up strategy effectively.

Best Practices to Craft a Follow Up Subject Line

1. Keep it Between Six to Ten Words

A good follow-up email with good subject line should be between six to ten words. This range ensures that your subject line is short enough to be read quickly and long enough to give clear information.

Why It's Important:

Research shows that subject lines with six to ten words have the highest open rates. They’re short, easy to understand, and don’t get cut off in the recipient's inbox. This increases the chance your email will be opened, especially on mobile devices where space is limited.

How to Implement:

Use clear and direct language. Avoid extra words that don’t add value. Focus on the most important information in your email.

Think about the message from the reader’s perspective. What would make you curious enough to open an email?

2. Use Personal Touch with Mutual Connection or Previous Email

Adding a personal touch to your follow-up email subject line can grab the recipient's attention too. Mention a mutual acquaintance or connection or reference a previous email or meeting to make it feel more personalized.

Why It's Important:

Personalizing a subject line makes the email feel less like a generic message and more like a thoughtful follow-up. People are more likely to open an email if they feel it’s written just for them.

Emails with personalized subject lines can see an increase in open rates by 26%, according to email marketing studies.

How to Implement:

Mention the name of a mutual connection, such as “Spoke to [Mutual Connection] About Your Needs.” Refer to a previous conversation or email to remind them of your relationship.

Use their company name or job title for an added personal touch, like “Continuing Our Conversation About [Topic] from [Previous Meeting].”

3. Convey Value from the Previous Meeting or Call

When following up after a meeting or call, your subject line should remind the recipient of the value or benefit they gained from the interaction.

Why it’s important:

People are busy and might forget the key points from your last conversation. By focusing on the value discussed, you make it easier for them to recall why your next follow up discussion is worth their time.

How to implement:

Reference a specific point: Mention a takeaway or action item from the meeting. For example, “Following Up on Your Plan for Q4.”

Remind them of the benefits: Reinforce how you can help them achieve their goals. An example would be, “Here’s How We Can Speed Up Your Project.”

Be concise and direct: Keep the subject line short, between six to ten words, so it’s easy to understand at a glance.

4. Add Urgency or Relevance to Recent Events

Adding urgency or connecting your follow-up to a recent event makes the email feel timely and relevant.

Why it’s important:

People respond quicker when they feel that something is urgent or directly connected to a current event. This creates a sense of importance and increases the chance of a reply.

How to implement:

Create a deadline: Use phrases like “limited-time offer” or “before [date]” to add urgency. For instance, “Last Chance to Secure Your Spot for the Webinar.”

Tie to recent news or updates: If something significant just happened in your industry or with their business, link it to your subject line. An example might be, “After Our Call, Here’s How the Recent Update Impacts You.”

Keep it actionable: Let the reader know what they need to do next, such as “Act Now to Finalize Our Plan.”

5. Personalize with Job Title or Company Name

One simple way to improve your follow-up email is to personalize the subject line by adding the recipient’s job title or company name.

Why it’s important:

Personalization shows that your email is specifically for the recipient, making it more likely that they will open and respond. When people see their job title or company name, it feels more personal, which builds trust.

How to implement:

Include their job title: For example, you can say, “Checking in with [Job Title] about Our Proposal” or “Hey [Job Title], let’s continue the conversation.”

Add the company name: Mentioning the company in your subject line adds relevance. For instance, “How We Can Help [Company Name] Grow” or “A Follow-Up on [Company Name]’s Next Steps.”

Keep it short and specific: Keep the personalization clear and to the point to maintain the reader’s focus.

Follow-up emails asking for an update on your application status show your continued interest.

6. Avoid the Spam Folder by Being Direct

To avoid your email landing in the spam folder, it’s important to keep the subject line direct and clear. Avoid words that might trigger spam filters.

Why it’s important:

Emails that sound too promotional or use certain “spammy” words can be flagged and sent straight to the junk folder. A clear, direct subject line helps your message get to the inbox.

How to implement:

Avoid using all caps or excessive punctuation: Subject lines like “ACT NOW!!!” or “LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!!” often get flagged as spam.

Keep it simple: Use straightforward language like “Following Up on Our Meeting” or “Next Steps on Our Project.” These phrases tell the recipient exactly what the email is about.

Focus on the topic: Keep the subject line focused on the reason for your follow-up. For example, “Let’s Talk About Your Q3 Strategy” is both clear and professional.

7. Tailor the Subject to the Recipient's Desire or Pain Points

Customize your follow-up subject line to directly address what the recipient wants or the challenges they face.

Why it’s important:

People are more likely to open an email if they feel like it speaks to their specific needs or problems. When you show that you understand what they care about, it makes your message more relevant and valuable to them.

How to implement:

Address their desires: If you know what your recipient is aiming for, reflect that in the subject line. For example, “Ready to Speed Up Your Growth Plan?”

Touch on their pain points: If they’re struggling with something, mention it directly. Try something like “Solving Your Sales Pipeline Issues.”

Keep it clear and helpful: Don’t overcomplicate things. The clearer your subject line, the better it will perform.

8. Mention Follow-Up Actions or Next Steps

Be specific in your email subject line examples, by mentioning what will happen next or what actions you are following up on.

Why it’s important:

When people see a clear next step, it makes it easier for them to respond. It also shows that your email has a purpose and is not just another generic follow-up.

How to implement:

Reference the next action: You can say something like, “Next Steps After Our Call” or “Let’s Finalize the Details for Your Proposal.”

Be direct and simple: Ensure your subject line directly states what the follow-up is about. For example, “Confirming Your Availability for Next Week.”

Highlight the importance: Use subject lines that stress the importance of the next steps. An example could be, “Don’t Miss Out on This Opportunity – Here’s What’s Next.”

9. Write with a Conversational Tone

A conversational tone makes your subject line feel more personal and approachable. It’s like you’re talking directly to the right person here, rather than sending a formal or robotic message.

Why it’s important:

People are more likely to open emails that sound like they come from a friend rather than a marketing message. A friendly tone helps build rapport and makes the recipient feel valued.

How to implement:

Be natural: Write the subject line like you would speak. For example, instead of saying “Follow-Up on Meeting Proposal,” you could say, “Just Checking In—Let’s Chat About Your Proposal.”

Use simple language: Avoid technical jargon. Simple words are easier to understand and feel more genuine.

Ask a question: Questions can spark curiosity and make the reader feel engaged. For example, “Got a Minute to Discuss Your Needs?”

10. A/B Test Subject Lines

A/B testing means trying two or more subject lines to see which one performs better. You send different versions to small groups, then compare which version gets more opens or clicks.

Why it’s important:

Testing helps you learn what your target audience prefers. You can then use that information to improve your subject lines in the future.

How to implement:

Create two versions: Write two subject lines and test them. For example, one subject could be “Let’s Finalize Your Proposal,” and the other could be “How Can We Help Finalize Your Deal?”

Measure results: See which subject line gets the most opens. Use that information to write better subject lines for future follow-ups.

Keep testing: Don’t stop after one test. Continually testing will give you more data on what works best for your audience.

Using email templates for follow-up emails can save time while ensuring consistency.

11. Include a Time Reference

Including a time reference in your subject lines for follow-up emails means adding words that create a sense of urgency or a specific timeline. For example, mentioning "today," "this week," or "by Friday" in your subject line gives the recipient a clear idea of when you expect a response or action.

Why is it important:

A time reference makes your email feel more urgent. It motivates the reader to act quickly, increasing the chances that they will open your email. Research shows that emails with time-sensitive subject lines can improve open rates by up to 22% (according to Campaign Monitor).

How to implement:
Here are some tips on how to include a time reference in your follow-up email subject lines:

Be specific: Instead of using vague terms, mention a clear time or deadline. For example, "Reminder: Meeting this Thursday" is more direct than just "Meeting Reminder."

Highlight urgency: Use words like "urgent," "today," or "final chance" to encourage immediate action.

Match the context: If you’re following up after a sales meeting, you can say, "Your feedback by Friday?" This gives a clear deadline while keeping the tone conversational.

Conclusion

Crafting subject lines for follow up emails can make all the difference in getting your message opened and read. By using six to ten words, adding a personal touch, or referencing a mutual connection, you increase your chances of success.

Remember to avoid the spam folder by being clear and direct. Whether you're sending a follow up email after a sales meeting, job application or interview, a compelling and effective subject line will help you stand out.

Take these tips, test them out, and see how they improve your response rates. A well-crafted follow-up subject line can re-engage prospects and keep conversations going. Keep it simple, personal, and relevant for the best results!

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