A guide to creating the ideal subject line for survey email (50 examples included)

Sending survey emails is a great way for businesses to get client feedback and tweak their services accordingly. However, the email survey subject line is the most important factor in determining whether or not these surveys are successful. It's unlikely that anyone will fill out your survey if the subject line doesn't inspire them to click on the email in the first place. As a result, the success of an email marketing campaign relies heavily on the quality of the survey subject line.

Read this article to learn the best practices for writing attention-grabbing subject lines and common pitfalls to avoid. 

The importance of engaging survey subject lines

Email subject lines are an essential part of generating clicks. With so many emails being received daily, your survey email must stand out from the crowd. The email's subject line is the first thing the recipient sees, and it can determine whether or not the message is opened.

The importance of a captivating subject line in survey email communications cannot be overstated. Because of the customer's time and effort required to complete a survey, a badly written subject line can discourage responses. The trick is to write a subject line that attracts attention and makes the reader feel like their thoughts are valued.

(Source: Email from theSkimm)

Essential components of a good survey email subject line

A strong survey email subject line will often include several crucial components. It is critical to strike a balance between being informed and intriguing to entice the receiver to open your email. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your subject line:

• Brevity and clarity 

The subject line should be brief and to the point. Keeping it under 50 characters guarantees it is completely visible in most email inboxes, particularly on mobile devices where many emails are read. It should also clearly convey the email's body copy.

• Personalization

The best survey subject lines are personalized subject lines. Including the receiver's name or mentioning a recent purchase or conversation might make people feel valued, increasing the likelihood that the email will be opened.

• A sense of urgency or time sensitivity

People tend to postpone. A deadline in the email survey subject line can generate a sense of urgency, encouraging recipients to take the survey as soon as possible.

• Clear benefits

Offer incentives for completing the survey in the subject line. It might be a discount, a chance to win a reward, or access to the survey results.

(Source: Email from MarketingProfs)

• Curiosity or intrigue

Catchy subject lines for a survey that pique the reader's interest might help your message stand out in a busy inbox. However, avoid being too vague or clickbait-like, as this can lead to disappointment if the email content fails to live up to the excitement aroused by the subject line.

• Emojis

Emojis can liven up and personalize your subject lines, making them stand out. They should, however, be used sparingly and wisely. Before utilizing emojis, consider your brand's voice and target demographic. For business-to-business discussions or more official texts, it’s best to avoid emoticons.

• Punctuation

Exclamation marks can indicate excitement and urgency but can also come across as too salesy or desperate. Emails with excessive punctuation may be flagged by spam filters, so use them sparingly.

• Questions

In your subject line, you can pique the recipient's interest and encourage them to open the email to get the answer.

(Source: Email from Litmus)

• Numbers

Using numbers like “5 ways to…” or “Take our 3-minute survey and get a discount” can draw attention to your subject line and make it stand out. They also communicate specificity and credibility.

• Active language

Using verbs and actionable words can make your subject line more intriguing and drive the recipient to take action.

Remember that the ultimate purpose of your subject line is to motivate recipients to open your survey email. It makes no difference how well-designed your survey tool is if your emails are not opened. Test different pieces and monitor your open rates to learn what performs best with your specific audience.

Common mistakes to avoid in crafting subject lines

Creating perfect survey email subject lines is tricky; even seasoned marketers can fall into typical pitfalls. A poorly written subject line may dissuade email survey recipients from reading it, lowering your survey response rate. Understanding these errors might help you write more effective and engaging subject lines. 

Here are a few frequent blunders to avoid:

1. Being overly general

Standard “Take our survey” subject line is unlikely to elicit much enthusiasm. Try to be as descriptive and relevant as possible with your subject lines to cure survey fatigue.

2. Overuse of salesy or spammy terms

Certain words and phrases can set off spam filters, causing your email campaign to end up in the receiver's spam folder. Even if it is accepted, excessively salesy terms might be off-putting. Such spam words include: “100% free,” “Earn money,” “Free gift,” “One time,” “Click here,” “Act now,” etc.

3. Not reflecting the email content

The subject line should reflect the email's content appropriately. When there is a schism between the two, recipients may feel misled.

Tips for crafting the perfect subject line for your survey email

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Know your audience

What language will resonate with them? What kind of tone is appropriate? Are they more likely to respond to formal or casual language? If you have subscribers worldwide, you can benefit from multilingual email marketing to localize your content for different target audiences.

2. Use A/B testing to determine which subject lines for survey emails perform best

It involves sending two versions of your email, each with a different subject line, to a small portion of your email list. The subject line that gets more responses is the one you use for the rest of your email campaign.

3. Provide context

If your satisfaction survey concerns a recent purchase or interaction, mention it in the subject line. It helps the recipient remember the context and understand why customer feedback is important. As a result, the response rates will increase.

4. Use powerful words and a clear call to action

Certain words can trigger emotions and actions. Words like “Quick,” “Instant,” and “Exclusive” can entice your subject line.

5. Consider using questions

Posing a question in your subject line can pique curiosity and engage the recipient.

(Source: Email from The New York Times)

50 real-life examples of effective survey email subject lines

To implement these principles, consider the following practical examples of good survey email subject lines. Each of the subject line examples uses a mix of the components discussed earlier. They're short, personalized, and straightforward. Some create a sense of urgency, some offer customer experience benefits, and some spark curiosity.

Subject lines for survey emails for eCommerce:

1. Help us improve your online shopping experience! Take our short survey and get a 10% discount.
2. We want to hear from you! Complete our survey and enter to win a shopping spree.
3. Share your feedback and win big! Take our survey for a chance to win a luxury product.
4. How was your recent purchase? Tell us in our survey and receive a personalized offer.
5. We value your opinion! Take our quick survey and unlock an exclusive promo code.
6. Help us serve you better! Fill out the survey and get free shipping on your next order.
7. Your feedback matters! Complete our survey and help us enhance our product selection.
8. We're listening! Take our survey and enjoy early access to our upcoming sale.
9. Shape our future! Share your thoughts in our customer survey and receive a surprise gift.
10. Tell us about your shopping experience! Participate in our survey and earn loyalty points.

(Source: Stripo template)

Subject lines for survey emails for Retail:

1. We care about your satisfaction! Take our survey and receive a special discount on your next visit.
2. Tell us how we can improve! Complete our survey and enter to win a gift card.
3. Your opinion matters! Participate in our survey and help us enhance our store layout.
4. We value your feedback! Take our quick survey and enjoy 15% off your next purchase.
5. Help us provide better service! Share your thoughts in our customer survey and get a free product sample.
6. We want to exceed your expectations! Complete our survey and receive a personalized offer.
7. Make your voice heard! Take our survey and influence our product selection.
8. Tell us about your recent visit! Participate in our survey and be entered into our monthly giveaway.
9. Your satisfaction is our priority! Take our survey and receive a voucher for future shopping.
10. We want to thank you for your loyalty! Complete our survey and enjoy a VIP discount.

(Source: Stripo template)

Subject lines for survey emails for Service B2C:

1. Help us enhance our service! Take our survey and receive a discount on your next booking.
2. Your feedback matters! Complete our survey and enter to win a free service package.
3. We value your opinion! Share your thoughts in our customer survey and get a personalized offer.
4. Tell us about your experience! Participate in our survey and unlock a special bonus.
5. We're here to serve you better! Take our quick survey and enjoy priority scheduling.
6. Shape our services! Share your feedback in our survey and help us improve.
7. Your satisfaction is our goal! Complete our survey and receive a thank-you gift.
8. We want to hear from you! Take our survey and get a discount on your next service.
9. Help us exceed your expectations! Participate in our survey and receive a loyalty reward.
10. Your voice matters! Share your feedback in our survey and receive a personalized recommendation.

(Source: Email from Mailchimp)

Subject lines for survey emails for IT product companies:

1. Help us enhance our IT services! Take our survey and get a free tech consultation.
2. Your feedback matters! Complete our survey and enter to win a high-tech gadget.
3. Tell us about your experience! Participate in our survey and receive a discount on IT support.
4. We value your opinion! Share your thoughts in our customer survey and help us improve our software.
5. We're listening to our clients! Take our survey and enjoy exclusive access.
6. Shape our future solutions! Share your feedback in our survey and influence our product roadmap.
7. Your satisfaction is our priority! Complete our survey and receive priority support.
8. We want to hear from you! Take our survey and help us enhance our cybersecurity measures.
9. Help us improve our IT infrastructure! Participate in our survey and enter to win a tech upgrade.
10. Your input matters! Share your thoughts in our survey and receive a free software upgrade.

(Source: Stripo template)

Subject lines for survey emails for Charity/Volunteer Organizations:

1. Join us in making a difference! Take our survey and help us improve our initiatives.
2. Your opinion counts! Share your thoughts in our volunteer feedback survey.
3. Help us serve you better! Complete our survey and win a personalized thank-you gift.
4. We value your input! Take our survey and contribute to our community projects.
5. Be a part of the change! Participate in our survey and help us shape our programs.
6. Your feedback matters! Complete our survey and receive a heartfelt thank you.
7. Tell us your thoughts! Take our survey and help us enhance our volunteer experiences.
8. Make an impact! Share your feedback in our charity survey and win a special prize.
9. Help us help others! Participate in our survey and guide our future initiatives.
10. Your voice can change lives! Take our survey and help us improve our services.

(Source: Stripo template)

Wrapping up

Creating the ideal subject line for your survey email is a significant effort that should not be underestimated. The best subject lines for survey emails are relatable to your target audience. Don't hesitate to try new ways, fine-tune your strategies, and constantly improve. The input from your customers is a crucial tool to grow and enhance your business, and it all starts with an excellent subject line.