A smart entrepreneur asked me a question you might be wondering about right now:
“What are some subject lines to use
for my Black Friday emails?”
I had some ideas and examples to share. I thought I’d share them with you.
(What can I say? I’m thoughtful like that.)
Depending on your offer, here are a few ways you can approach your Black Friday subject lines (that’s plural because I hope you’re sending multiple emails):
1) Only 3 hours left for [offer]
Lead with strong urgency. A screaming deadline is a great motivator.
I usually prefer more intrigue in a subject line, but for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, people are actively looking to spend money. So I have no reservations.
Urgency gets more compelling as you get closer to the end of the clock. Hours are more FOMO-inducing than days — although you can certainly use both if you send multiple emails.
Example:
- Only 1 day left to save 50% on Soul Glo Activator
- Final Hours for Free Shipping on Darryl’s Wet Clothes
- Last Chance to See Randy Watson LIVE
2) Want this [Big Benefit]? Get it X% off
What’s the major transformation your readers want to experience with your help?
Don’t offer a discount on a product/service — offer a discount on that transformation.
The distinction is huge, even for e-commerce store owners.
Example:
- Oh So Silky Smooth Hair: 40% Off thru Friday
- “Goat Herder to Royalty” Blueprint: special discount
- #1 Secret for Meeting Good, Good Clean Girls (and save 50%)
3) Lead with guarantee
If you’re feeling enthusiastic, maybe you come up with a unique Black Friday guarantee. If not, you can use your regular risk reversal as a unique way to grab attention for your offer.
Example:
- Find Love in 40 Days, Guaranteed (ends at midnight)
- 30-Days Risk Free: Mop Stick Self-Defense Mastery
- Special Guarantee: 200% Money-Back until 11/24
4) Specific amount dollar savings
It’s easy to forget this one.
The truth is, most people can’t instantly do percentages in their heads. And they’re probably not pulling out calculators.
Make it plain for them, especially if your discount is less than 50%.
Example:
- $10 off Cleo’s Delicious Pigs in a Blanket
- Save $400 on tickets to Zamunda
5) Testimonial subject line and email body copy
If you can find a one-liner from a customer success story or review, you can probably make a strong subject line.
Then use that testimonial to tell a story demonstrating the value of your Black Friday offer. Let your buyers do the bragging for you.
I recommend using quotation marks catch the reader’s eye and signify there’s a story inside.
Example:
- “To be loved… Oh, what a feeling!”
- “That’s when the BIG bucks start rolling in.”
- Success Story: “My son works!”
6) Announce video demonstration plus special offer
One reason people don’t buy is because they’re not sure your offer will work for them.
Or they’re not clear on exactly what they’re getting.
Can you answer those questions and erase those doubts with a video demonstration.
Example:
- [Video] Finding Queen’s Common Parts – plus a special offer
- LIVE: Marrying an African Prince (and a limited-time discount)
— — —
I know, that was a lot.
Hopefully there’s something helpful in there.
Again, you should be sending several emails, so you can try a few different angles.
If you have time, I encourage you to A/B test, so you can try 2 version for each email touch. Send them to 20 or 25% of your list and let the winner go out to everyone else.
Interested in seeing my best, most swipeable subject lines? Check out my Subject Line of the Day videos. Here’s the latest addition:
Have a productive day!