220+ Killer Ecommerce Email Subject Lines You Can Steal (With Strategies to Match)

Key Takeaways

The Emails' Enthusiastic Quest: Emails are vital tools for marketers, enabling direct communication with audiences. Effective campaigns require creativity and strategy to stand out amid the clutter and engage the audience.

Dealing with Email Inbox Overload: Managing the influx of messages can be daunting. Personalization and relevance are key to ensuring emails are noticed and not just brushed aside in a crowded inbox.

The Art of Subscriber Engagement: To keep subscribers interested, marketers must deliver content that's not only informative but also entertaining, creating memorable interactions through compelling storytelling and visual elements.

When Automation Meets Innovation: Automation can streamline email marketing processes, offering opportunities to test various approaches. Balancing automation with a personal touch can enhance audience responsiveness.

The One-Click-Wonder Challenge: Crafting irresistible email subject lines is critical. They must spark curiosity and prompt users to click, achieving the ultimate goal of driving engagement effectively.

Dear email marketer, do you find yourself feeling the same way as this X user when working on your campaigns?

I get it. 

With something as important as subject lines—it’s hard not to get stuck in a loop making sure they’re click-worthy. 

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Good news: I rounded up over 220 brilliant ecommerce email subject lines that will get you thinking outside the box.

I also have some tips and tools to share with you to make sure you’re set up for long-term success, not just a quick win.

The Psychology Behind Great Email Subject Lines

If you’re like me and your inbox overflows with sales, updates, and who-knows-what, you probably swipe and delete on autopilot—unless a subject line stops you. 

In that split second, something triggers you to press click. 

Below are the top psychological cues that compel us to open the email after reading the subject line:

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

Humans are hardwired to seek out opportunities and avoid loss, particularly for something exclusive or fleeting. 

Ecommerce email marketer Jamie Lynch explained how using this trigger in a series of flash sale emails had helped him boost client revenue by 30%.

Humor

Humor can turn an otherwise mundane email into something more approachable and engaging. It makes interactions feel less transactional and more like a conversation.

Liquid Death cuts through the noise with humor.  

This “Maybe you died?” subject line is quirky and catches you off guard compared to the basic “You left something behind in your cart”.

Curiosity

Curiosity pulls us in. It’s why we splurge on mystery boxes and binge-watch shows to see how they end. Emails are no different. 

Subject lines that hint at something exciting—but don’t give it all away—can evoke the same desire to learn more.

Johnny Timmerman of Good Monster, a conversion agency, suggests moving away from boring subject lines like to something interesting (and useful):

Personalization

Seeing your name or something familiar triggers the brain’s reward system. 

Neil Patel, a top marketer, shared that casual, personalized subject lines helped marketers get up to 30% email blast open rate.

FOMO/Urgency, curiosity, and personalization in email marketing compel readers to open your email and engage with the content. 

220+ Attention-Grabbing Ecommerce Email Subject Line Examples to Inspire Your Own

I’ve curated over 220 catchy email subject lines to help you apply the most effective psychological triggers in your next campaign.

To help you find the right ideas more quickly, I've arranged them into different types of email flows online retailers typically use.

Have fun getting inspired:

1. Welcome emails

Your welcome email builds the first impression for everything that follows.

Use your subject line to show personality while letting your email list know what to expect from moving forward. 

General introduction

Since this is the first touchpoint after a subscriber or registrant, the subject line must build a connection immediately.

1. Hey, [First Name] – you’re one of us now! 👋
2. Look who’s in! 🎉 Welcome, [First Name]
3. [Brand] is better with you here, [First Name]
4. Welcome [First Name]! Let’s get started
5. We’ve been waiting for you, [First Name]
6. Game on, [First Name]! 💪
7. Welcome to the [Brand] crew
8. It’s official 🤝: You’re now team [Brand]
9. 🥳 Thrilled to have you here, [First Name]
10. [First Name], you’re in for something special
11. [First Name], you made the cut! ✂️
12. [First Name], you’re part of something BIG now
13. Stoked to have you with us, [First Name] 🤙🏼

Getting started

Here’s where you help your audience navigate your offerings and understand their benefits.

14. You’re all set! Get the best from [Brand]
15. Here’s how to make the most of [Brand]
16. Enjoy member-only discounts & more 🥳
17. Unlock VIP deals starting today
18. Exclusive 🤫 VIP access just for you, [First Name] 

Exclusive welcome offers

These subject lines don’t let the excitement wear off by turning initial excitement into action.

19. GET READY: Here’s what’s next at [Brand]
20. Thanks for joining! Here’s your exclusive offer 🤫
21. You’re in, [First Name]! Here’s a treat
22. You’re in good hands with [Brand]

Welcome subject lines reassure subscribers they’ve made the right choice in signing up and get them pumped for what’s ahead.

2. Promotional emails

Promotional emails come with time-sensitive deals, flash sales, or exclusive offers. 

Incorporating urgency and scarcity through your subject lines can prompt readers to take action before they miss out. 

Discount offers and savings

These promo subject lines capitalize on our universal desire for a good deal.

1. [First Name], Take XX% off your next purchase 
2. One-click savings 🤑 inside: DON’T MISS!
3. [Brand]’s flash sale is live!
4. Flash sale alert⏱️: XX% off your favorites
5. Don’t wait – spoil yourself with XX% off! 💰
6. [CODE]: XX% off select items
7. Everything in your cart, for less!
8. It’s now or never! XX% off on all [Category]
9. XX% on pre-sale deals – limited stocks only!

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Free shipping and special offers

Free shipping and special offers create a sense of added value for the customer.

10. Shipping is on us for your next order 🆓
11. Get freebies when you shop [Product] – today only
12. Free shipping today – grab it!
13. Today only: 15% off sitewide + free shipping 🥳
14. Because you deserve it: 2 for 1 on [Product]!
15. [Brand]’s 2-for-1 deal: Starts Now
16. Special offer just for you! 🎁
17. [First Name], bundle your best picks

Time-limited, scarcity-driven offers 

Scarcity and urgency push customers to secure the deal before it’s gone.

18. ‼️Attention: X hours left to save big
19. Your limited-time offer ends today ⏱️
20. [First Name], last call for your deal!
21. Your early access to our biggest sale yet
22. Hurry, [First Name] – your deal expires soon! ⏰

Good email subject lines create a sense of urgency without falling into spammy clichés.

3. Abandoned cart emails

Abandoned cart emails are follow-up messages you send to customers who left items in their shopping carts but didn’t check out.

Your abandoned cart subject line must be tempting and convincing enough to nudge them back to complete the purchase. Light humor can work wonders with re-engagement but keep it consistent with your brand voice.

Urgency and limited availability

These subject lines urge customers to act fast to avoid the risk of missing out.

1. Last chance for XX% off your [Product]!
2. Catch the price drop before it’s gone
3. Your favorites are now on sale
4. Prices just dropped ⬇️ on your cart
5. Your 🛒 cart’s still here, but not for long!
6. [First Name], your cart’s about to sell out
7. Final call: your cart is about to expire
8. [First Name], your cart’s about to sell out
9. Heads up: your cart is expiring soon! 🛒
10. Your shopping bag + a little surprise inside 🛍️
11. We’ve sweetened the deal – come see!
12. It’s not too late to grab that deal

Personalized reminder

Personalization is a gentle, non-pushy tactic to bring the customer’s attention back to the items they left behind.

13. We’ve kept your cart warm, [First Name]
14. We’ve saved your picks for you
15. Still deciding? 🛒 Your cart’s ready!
16. You’ve got great taste – finish up!
17. Pssst… your cart told us you’d be back!
18. One last peek 👀 at your favorites?
19. Is something missing from your cart?
20. Need a hand with your checkout?
21. Hey, don’t leave this beauty 💄 behind
22. Ready when you are, [First Name]!

Cart abandonment software like Barilliance feature real-time behavioral tacking to craft personalized triggered emails. 

A clever and persuasive subject line can help turn abandoned carts into higher conversions. 

4. Thank you emails

The communication doesn’t have to stop when customers make a purchase or reach a milestone. Sending thank-you emails with strong subject lines can help build stronger loyalty. 

Express gratitude, create personal connections, and perhaps add a little teaser about what’s coming next.

Gratitude and appreciation

These are simple, heartfelt messages to make customers feel valued.

1. You’ve made our day – thanks! 💙
2. Can we ever thank you enough?
3. Thanks for the love, [First Name]
4. We’re thrilled you chose us - thanks! 
5. Big thank you from [Brand] ❤️
6. We couldn’t do this without you!
7. Your support means the world 🫶
8. Thanks for being awesome, [First Name]! 👏
9. You’re the reason we’re here, thanks!
10. You’re a gem 💎– thanks for being here!
11. We couldn’t have done it without you

Rewards and loyalty

Reward-based email hooks can go a long way in maintaining good rapport.

12. You earned it – here’s your reward! 🎁
13. Shop. Earn. Repeat. 🔁 You know the drill!
14. More goodies for you 🥳 – thanks for shopping 
15. Your purchase just earned you rewards
16. Your reward’s in the bag 🛍️ (literally)!
17. We’re spoiling you because you’re awesome

Personal connection

These subject lines acknowledge the customer’s loyalty and affinity to your brand.

18. Thanks for making us your go-to
19. Thanks for sticking with us!
20. Your purchase supports [Mission]
21. You’ve made a difference today – thanks! ❤️
22. You’re our newest favorite – thanks for your first order!
23. You’ve made it this far – thank you
24. Your choice made all the difference ✨

A little bit of warmth goes a long way with thank-you subject lines! If you’re too sales-y, too scripted, or too formal, you lose that human touch.

5. Re-engagement emails

Re-engagement emails can target and reactivate dormant customer relationships. To craft subject lines, try triggering curiosity and offering value to intrigue recipients of what they’ve missed. 

Personalized, warm re-engagement

Authentic, warm email hooks remind customers of their past positive experiences.

1. [First Name], rediscover what you love 💗
2. We miss you 💔, [First Name]! Come back for more
3. Ready for round two, [First Name]?
4. It’s been a while – let’s catch up!
5. Where’ve you been, [First Name]? 🙁
6. Miss us, [First Name]? We miss you too!
7. Let’s pick up where we left off
8. Don’t stay away too long, [First Name]
9. Are you still in, [First Name]?
10. Got your attention yet, [First Name]?

Re-engagement incentives

These re-engagement subject lines offer something tangible in exchange for the customer’s attention. 

11. Something sweet is waiting for you 🍯
12. We saved you a seat 🪑, [First Name]
13. [First Name], you won’t want to miss this!
14. Don’t let the good stuff slip away
15. [First Name], your comeback gift is here! 💝
16. You’re back – and so are your perks

Curiosity-driven updates

Use these hooks only when you have new products or news that could persuade customers to check back in.

17. Your next big find is waiting
18. [First Name], come back and be the first in line
19. Welcome back, [First Name] – see what’s new
20. [Brand] is back and better than ever
21. The latest [Brand] twist you didn’t see coming
22. Here’s why [Product] is more than meets the eye 👀

Compel inactive subscribers to click through and re-engage with your content with a subject line they can’t scroll past.

6. Seasonal and holiday emails

Seasonal and holiday emails amp up the excitement with time-sensitive deals and perfect gift ideas.

But here’s the catch: customers will receive dozens, if not hundreds, of similar messages.  Stand out by adding wit and personality to your subject lines.

Seasonal promotions

The season itself feels like a reason to buy—remind customers with your subject lines that it’s time to prep for the season ahead.

1. A+ deals for your back-to-school 🎒 shopping
2. Study hard, save harder – shop BTS deals
3. New [season] arrivals: Don’t miss out!
4. No shipping fees for [season] orders!
5. Your spring checklist 📋+ exclusive savings
6. Fall back into your favorites 🍂
7. ❄️ Be winter-ready: XX% off all [Category]
8. Up to XX% off in our [Season] clearance

Holiday deals

Discounts in holiday email hooks can pull in customers on the lookout for holiday-specific gifts and items.

9. A [Holiday] gift for you, just because!
10. Here’s your early access to our [Holiday] sale 🎁
11. Sneak peek: [Holiday] deals before they go live 🎄
12. You’re in for a treat (no tricks)!
13. Get your Halloween treats now 🎃
14. Feast your eyes on these holiday deals ✨
15. The best deals of the year are here
16. Black Friday starts early for you 🥳
17. Biggest BFCM savings on [Category/Product]
18. Tick-tock! ⌚ Last day to snag these BFCM deals
19. Naughty or nice, here’s an exclusive deal for you!
20. Santa’s got nothing on these deals! 🎅
21. You’re on the nice list 📜 – get a gift from us!
22. Unwrap your holiday savings, [First Name] 🎁

You can’t go wrong with clever wordplay, branded puns, or quirky references for seasonal subject lines.

7. Upselling and cross-selling emails

Brands use upselling and cross-selling emails to boost the average order value (AOV) by promoting complementary or higher-end products.

Author's Tip

Nobody likes being pushed into a purchase they didn’t ask for. Encourage clicks with a subject line that doesn’t make your email feel like a hard sell.

Higher-value upsells

Upsell subject lines prompt shoppers to explore premium or upgraded options after showing interest in a lower-value item.

1. Be the first to experience [Product] 2.0
2. A little secret upgrade just for you... 🤫
3. No pressure, but this is too good to miss 🙈
4. Could this get any better? Actually, yes
5. You’re one order away from VIP status!
6. Exclusive upgrades only for you 
7. Want the full experience? Hear, hear
8. Your [Brand] experience isn’t over yet

Cross-sells and add-ons

These suggest complementary products to enhance the customer’s current purchase or experience.

9. You’ve got the basics – see what’s next
10. Make the most of your [Product] – here’s how
11. Who says you can’t have a little extra? 🤭
12. Love that? You’ll love these too!
13. Here’s a perfect treat to go with your [Product]
14. Double the fun with this little add-on 👯
15. Wrap up your collection with this XX% voucher
16. The best things come in twos 👯, right?
17. Here’s an extra XX% off for the perfect add-ons
18. One more thing you’ll thank us for...
19. Pair your [Product] with these must-haves
20. More to love with [Brand] extras! ✨
21. Make this combo your best purchase yet
22. Need a hand? We’ve got just the thing

Be subtle with your upsell subject lines because a hard sales pitch during checkout or post-sale can feel like too much, too soon.

8. Feedback and review request emails

Feedback request emails help evaluate satisfaction and develop trust with new or future buyers. However, without immediate rewards, customers might just keep scrolling past.

Use your subject line to express genuine interest in their feedback and offer incentives where possible to encourage responses.

Tailored feedback requests 

These email hooks help collect thoughtful, quality feedback on product performance and customer satisfaction.

1. How did [Product] work for you?
2. Did [Product] hit the mark? 🎯
3. We’re all ears 👂, [First Name]
4. Tell us how we did, [First Name]
5. [First Name], your feedback helps us grow!
6. We’d love to hear your thoughts! 
7. [First Name], share your [Product] story!
8. Loved the [Product]? Let us know
9. Tell us what worked (or didn’t)!
10. Was [Product] the fix you were hoping for?
11. [First Name], inspire us with your experience
12. [Brand] feedback: your voice matters! 📣
13. Help shape [Brand]’s future, [First Name]
14. Is your [Product] story post-worthy?
15. Help us make history, [First Name]

Incentivized feedback opportunities

Incentivized feedback subject lines motivate customers to leave reviews by offering rewards, boosting the quantity of responses.

16. Your insight’s worth a little extra (coupon inside) 🎟️
17. Help us deliver better – here’s a thank-you 💝
18. Help us improve + get [Brand] points!
19. Shout us out, [First Name]! We’re listening
20. Got 2 minutes? Trade your thoughts
21. Tag us on your social media + get featured! ✨
22. Join our inner circle with your feedback

Why not flip the script? Instead of asking for a favor, a great subject line frames it as an opportunity for customers to influence the ecommerce business they love. 

9. Referral program emails

Referral program emails leverage word-of-mouth marketing to expand your customer base. 

Your subject line must convince existing shoppers that the referral program is exclusive and rewarding. Persuade them to participate and get more out of their experience with you.

Straightforward hooks

These hooks communicate the referral program’s value proposition upfront.

1. Refer and earn — know someone who’ll love us? ❤️
2. ✨Exclusive rewards ✨ for you + your friends! 
3. Join [Brand]’s exclusive referral program
4. Earn $XX credit for each successful referral 
5. Free shipping for you AND your friend
6. XX% off your next order if you bring a friend with you!
7. Score double rewards with every referral 💝
8. Want a $XX voucher? Send a friend our way! 💌
9. Freebies for you and your besties – while stocks last! 👯‍♀️
10. Refer 5 friends to get up to $XX cash back 
11. The more, the merrier – get XX% off for every friend
12. Share your holy grail for a $XX gift card

Emotion-driven triggers

Emotion-driven triggers are useful in building a community connection or exclusivity around the referral program.

13. Friends don’t let friends miss rewards 😉
14. Share the love, grab $XX off your next buy
15. 🎁 Give a gift, get a gift — no catch! 
16. Your friend gets $XX – guess what you get?
17. Here’s a free treat for you and your loved ones 🎁
18. Because we like you and your friend: $XX off

Easy referrals and sharing

These referral email subject lines focus on convenience and removing barriers to participation.

19. [First Name], stack up your perks with one-click referrals  
20. Invite your friends and pass the savings on
21. Sharing is caring: Here’s your referral code 🤗
22. Refer-a-friend: Get your shareable link here

These email subject lines draw in more referrals because it’s clear that the perks are a three-way street—for you (the brand), the referrer, and the referee. 

10. Product launches

What’s a more exciting way to get people talking than with a product launch email? With a well-written subject line, you can effectively build the hype before the official launch.

Author's Tip

Drop hints but don’t give it all away to get them to click for the full reveal.

Buzz-worthy announcements

These subject lines are best used to drum up anticipation ahead of and during the launch.

1. 🎉 Big surprises coming soon… can you guess?
2. You’ve got 99 problems, but this new obsession ain’t one
3. 🚨Spoiler alert: It’s another [Brand] thing you’ll love!
4. Meet the future of [Product/Category]
5. This is not a drill: [Product] is now live
6. Upgrade now your new daily must-haves
7. Can you keep a secret? 🤫 Open and find out! 
8. It’s here and better than ever: [Product]! 🎉
9. Get in quick: New arrivals just dropped
10. [First Name], here’s a fresh take on your favorites
11. Big day today ✨🎉: [Product] is officially here! 
12. You spoke, we listened – new upgrades are here
13. [First Name], the new collection you asked for is now live!
14. Bet you didn’t think it could get this good 
15. Surprise drop: You won’t believe what’s inside!
16. [Brands]’s new collection is here – get first dibs!

Product launch incentives

FOMO-inducing subject lines can help optimize your product launch campaigns for maximum impact.

17. You’re invited! Here’s your exclusive early access pass
18. [Brands]’s new arrivals are selling out fast!
19. Final hours to claim exclusive launch perks!
20. Fresh on the shelves! Shop now to save up to XX% off
21. Be first in line, earn early bird rewards on [Product]
22. New launch + XX% off storewide – Ending soon! 🚨

Tease the perks and keep the subject lines intriguing to make your new product launch a must-click.

Phew, I hope these examples spark your creativity! 

If you’re hitting a creative block, feel free to borrow inspiration from your favorite examples above. Feed them into your AI tools to come up with fresh variations that align with your brand voice.

Because we’re generous around here, we’re capping this section off with prompts you can use you can use to put this strategy into action:

I’ll keep the momentum going with more actionable strategies below—read on.

7 Hacks and Strategies for Better Email Subject Lines

While the ecommerce email subject lines above are a great starting point, not every one of them will work for your business.

We can keep them aligned with your brand and campaign with these email subject line tips.

1. Personalize your subject lines for higher engagement

Klaviyo’s business intelligence team found that adding the recipient’s name in your subject lines can boost your email open rate to 8.92%—a slight improvement over the 8.64% without.

While adding a name is a great start—there are other ways to make your subject lines feel personal and engaging, such as:

• Referencing their location or current weather
• Highlighting their favorite products or categories
• Drawing attention to specific interests tied to what your brand offers

Email marketing tools like Keap, Drip, and Salesforce CRM have strong personalization features to help you out. 

These tools allow you to collect and leverage key customer data and seamlessly incorporate it into your email campaigns, including subject lines. 

2. Avoid spam traps with smarter wording

The spam folder is a scary place for ecommerce email marketers—it shows your subscribers you’re sending them, along with a bunch of other people, irrelevant, random offers. 

You might make them feel like you’re not in their inbox to build meaningful relationships, you’re only there to push a hard sell.

No one likes a pushy peddler. Both your customers and email services like Gmail value authenticity and transparency.

Author's Tip

Email marketing tools like ActiveCampaign makes use of features like Spam Checker so you don’t send out sleazy-sounding emails.

3. Create urgency and FOMO to boost open rates

We’ve already talked about how effective psychological triggers like urgency and FOMO tactics are for encouraging email opens.

Anchoring urgency is best reserved in time-sensitive moments, such as the final hours of a sale or a limited quantity of stock. For instance, iHeartRaves saw success during their Cyber Monday campaign with the subject line:

FINAL HOURS: Club Cyber Deals Ending Soon.

We use short, punchy phrases that evoke action and indicate a clear deadline—“FINAL HOURS”—that leaves no room for hesitation, triggering immediate action.

 

Words like “ending soon” further drive home the point that time is of the essence.

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Brian Lim,

founder at CEO at iHeartRavesOpens new window

On the flip side, using urgency tactics when there’s no real reason to act quickly can send your emails straight to spam, where they belong.

FOMO tactics, on the other hand, offer more flexibility.  To pique interest and foster exclusivity, you can mention:

By injecting some honest urgency and relatable FOMO tactics into your subject lines, you can hook your subscriber’s attention and deliver exactly what they’re expecting. 

4. Use emojis strategically to grab attention

Emojis make the digital world go round. 

If you think I’m exaggerating, just look at this figure from USA Today: people send 10 billion emojis every day—that's about seven million a minute!

Adding a little heart or smiley face to your subject line can make your email stand out and show off your brand’s personality. 

But you need to do it in moderation. Stick to one emoji per email, and use them sparingly across your campaigns.

Your choice of emojis should also match your tone and message. For example, they work naturally in holiday deals and playful promotional sales campaign:

Author's Tip

You can also use an emoji when you want to highlight a certain word—like how Olipop added a moneybag right next to savings.

5. Align subject lines with your brand voice

Quirky, sophisticated, friendly, bold, reliable, educational—there’s more than one way to style your subject line.

But you need to match your options to your brand voice. For example:

We used a popular meme reference in a client’s subject line. This captured attention and made the brand seem more relatable and current, leading to a 20% spike in engagement.

 

It’s crucial, though, to ensure the reference aligns with your brand and target audience.

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Ross Plumer

founder of RJP DesignOpens new window

Knowing your brand well will go a long way when you design your emails, not just your subject lines

Author's Tip

Design high-quality emails that engage.

 

You’ll find handy tips in this comprehensive email marketing guide, including how to craft click-worthy subject lines.

6. A/B test subject lines to find what works best

Nailing your brand voice in your subject line is one thing. Understanding your audience is another. 

You need A/B testing to figure out what types of subject lines work for them.

Leverage your email marketing tool’s A/B testing capabilities to test how your audience reacts to your subject lines.  Email marketing tools like Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign offer excellent A/B testing features to help you analyze what clicks.

Wording isn’t the only thing to test. Try experimenting with emojis, symbols, or different tones to see what resonates. 

Here’s a real-life example:

I analyze which tone works better—playful subject lines (“Your Monday Just Got Better ”) versus direct ones (“50% Off Ends Today”).

 

By reviewing not just open rates but click-throughs, I’ve honed in on what resonates with each audience segment.

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Roland Jakob

managing partner at BlazeKin.Media Opens new window

Segment-based testing further sharpens your results:

One test we ran compared an emoji-enhanced subject line with a more traditional one.

 

While the emoji worked well with younger audiences, it tanked with older demographics. That insight allowed us to tailor campaigns better.

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Garin Hobbs

martech expert from InboxArmy Opens new window

When running A/B tests, focus on testing one variable at a time so you can pin. Then, track key metrics like open rates, click-throughs, and conversions to improve your future subject lines.

7. Optimize subject lines for mobile users

Mobile users account for a large share of email opens, so making sure they can view your subject lines on smaller screens is a must. 

Experts suggest keeping subject lines concise:

• Klaviyo recommends sticking to seven words or 36 characters.
• EmailTooltester advises keeping it even shorter—around six words or 33 characters, as most Android devices only display this much.

Simply put, brevity matters.  Shorter subject lines means your key message doesn’t get cut off, making mobile users more likely to engage.  

If you feel like you can’t fit your message in such small space, there’s a workaround: use the preheader text to emphasize your hook.

The preheader text, or preview text, is the snippet displayed alongside your subject line. On desktop, it looks like this:

On mobile devices, the space is more limited, but it gives you additional room to build on your subject line:

Author's Tip

To check how your subject lines appear across different screens, EmailTooltester’s free subject line tester can be helpful.

The Best Tools for Ecommerce Email Marketing (and Subject Line Testing)

You need a reliable partner to make sure your subject lines are pulling their weight and raking in those clicks. What better partner than your ecommerce email marketing tool?

The right email marketing software can shape up your subject lines by:

• Using marketing automation and personalization to create relevant subject lines at scale.
• A/B testing to find the most effective versions.
• Tracking metrics like open rates to measure engagement consistently. 
• Providing mobile-optimized templates to ensure readability across devices.
• Offering testing tools to refine word choice and format (ex: This Omnisend subject line tester reviews aspects like wording, scannability, and more.

Here are the top email marketing platforms to help you create, test, and send campaigns with effective subject lines:

1. 1. Omnisend — Best for audience segmentation tools
2. 2. Salesforce CRM — Best for automated features
3. 3. CRM Creatio — Best for no-code editing
4. 4. BigMailer.io — Best for agencies and franchises
5. 5. Campaigner — Best for email and SMS marketing
6. 6. ActiveCampaign — Best for targeting the customer lifecycle
7. 7. SendGrid — Best for multichannel marketing campaigns
8. 8. Drip — Best for ecommerce businesses
9. 9. Mailchimp — Best for beginners
10. 10. Keap — Best for lead nurturing

Show More (5)

It’s Time to Craft the Best Email Subject Lines 

This extensive collection of effective ecommerce email subject lines should provide plenty of inspiration.

Even better, I hope that the strategies and tool suggestions shared here have given you a solid foundation to make subject line creation easier and more efficient going forward.

Ready to dive deeper and explore even more tips? Check out these resources:

• Ecommerce Marketing Tips: 13 Proven Strategies to Increase Sales & Reach
• 20 Best Marketing Automation Software for Ecommerce Brands in 2025
• The 24 Best Ecommerce Marketing Tools to Grow Your Store in 2025
• Omnichannel Marketing Strategy For Beginners & Useful Tools
• 26 Types Of Marketing Software And What They Do
• Market Segmentation: The Key to Reaching—and Resonating With—Your Ideal Customers

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Ecommerce Email Subject Lines FAQs

Subject lines can make or break your email marketing campaigns, so you probably have a few burning questions about them.

Let’s clear them up, then:

Can subject lines be reused for different email campaigns?

Short answer: No. Recycling subject lines is highly discouraged to avoid triggering spam filters.

Repetitive messaging can also lead to email fatigue, disengaging your recipients and prompting them to unsubscribe.
If you’re running low on fresh ideas, you can always revisit your high-performing lines.

But be sure to tweak the wording to keep them feeling new and engaging. Example: “Grab your deal” to “Claim your surprise”.

What should I avoid when writing email subject lines?

To keep your subject lines engaging and inbox-friendly, avoid:

• Over-pushy, spammy language
• Using multiple emojis (one is fine, two can work at times, three—you’re out)
• Overpromising and underdelivering How do subject lines impact open rates vs click-through rates?claims
• Writing in all-caps
• Making it too long or too short

How do subject lines impact open rates vs click-through rates?

Subject lines directly affect open rates.

Clive Wilson, Founder of The Marketing Alliance®, said that higher open rates are a good engagement indicator. They suggest your subject lines aren’t spammy, piquing the reader’s interest.

However, subject lines alone don’t guarantee click-throughs. The subject line draws people in, but the email’s body must keep them engaged enough to click through.

How do I recover from low-performing email subject lines?

Refining email subject lines should be part of your ecommerce marketing strategy. But it requires trial and error. Bounce back from low-performing ones by:

• • Analyzing your open rates to optimize timing and frequency

• • A/B testing your hooks—experiment with different tones, word choices, and offers

• • Segmenting your audience to better address specific pain points

For more strategic tips, explore the best practices and tools in this article.