Frame email subject lines to appeal to the higher-level position your audience desires. A manager wants to know what a CMO is doing. This psychological tactic, which plays on ambition, can lift open rates by 24-28% over standard personalization by speaking to who your audience wants to become.

For B2B re-engagement, a highly effective subject line is "Are you still with [Company Name]?". This personalizes the email at scale by dynamically inserting the contact's employer. It grabs attention and prompts an open to confirm or update their status, successfully re-engaging them with your content or offers.

A great cold email is judged on three criteria: 1) Packaging (subject line and preview text), 2) Body (personalization, problem/solution language, and social proof), and 3) Style (personal flair, formatting, and length). Mastering all three is key to getting replies.

Personalization is not one-size-fits-all. Director-level and above prospects are 50% more likely to respond to company-level relevance (e.g., business initiatives). In contrast, individual contributors and managers are more receptive to individual-level personalization.

Combine two specific audience identifiers in your subject line, like role and company attribute ("Mid-market CMOs") or interest and a pain point ("Beauty fans with sensitive skin"). This "double personalization" tactic reportedly increases B2B open rates by 24% and B2C by 29% by making the message feel hyper-relevant.

Dedicate call blocks to connect with junior employees at a target account. The goal is not to book a meeting with them, but to gather intel on internal challenges and key players. Use this information to craft a hyper-personalized message for the actual decision-maker.

Sales director Florin Tertulia uses cheeky, playful subject lines like "Ronald's beef. Isn't with us" to create a "scroll stopper." This tactic is designed to break the pattern of standard corporate emails, sparking curiosity and standing out in a crowded C-level inbox.

Users instinctively look for familiar names in their inbox, not company logos. Sending emails from team members, even if automated, creates a personal connection and improves open rates because it mimics a social feed experience where personal identity is paramount.

To break through the noise, Astronomer used a subject line that simultaneously qualified the recipient and created intrigue. This direct, almost challenging, approach proved highly effective in capturing the attention of their specific target audience—Airflow users—and drove successful email campaigns.