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If you send out surveys as part of your work - whether you're a researcher looking for community input or a marketer wanting respondent feedback to land in your inbox - you definitely want to pay attention to how you word your email survey subject lines.
The secret to successful survey emails lies in creating subject lines that instantly catch the eye and spark interest.
Think of your subject line as the hook that reels your readers in. It should be clear, concise, and compelling, hinting at the value or insights the survey offers. For example, instead of a generic "Please fill out our survey," try "Share Your Thoughts, Shape Our Future!" or "We Value Your Opinion - Help Us Improve!"
In this guide, we're diving into 15 strategies to catch people's attention and get them interested in your message.
Here’s an overview:
Plus - 33 survey subject line examples you can send today.
Let’s dive in!
1. Use Words That Get People Moving
When you write an email asking people to take a survey, use a subject line that makes them want to act right away. Think about saying things like, "Jump into our quick survey now!" This makes people feel like they should do something immediately. It's like when a friend asks you to help with something fun, and you're excited to start.
Using action words in your subject line helps your email stand out and encourages open rates.
2. Show the Perks of Participating
When you're email's subject line asks people to complete a survey, make sure to point out what's in it for them. It might be a discount, or it might be that their input will shape your product. This approach helps people see the value in taking a few minutes out of their day.
We all want to feel like our time is valued, especially by the brands and tools we purchase from on a regular basis.
3. Use Marketing Psychology
When analyzing subject line impact on response rates, knowing what makes people tick can really help. Research shows curiosity is a way stronger motivator for getting clicks than being bossy or sales-y.
People are more likely to open up about things that intrigue them or fulfill their basic needs for things like connecting with others, feeling reassured, or getting incentives.
Subject lines can spark curiosity by asking interesting questions, teasing exclusive insider information, or leaving just enough out that people want to learn more.
Presenting your request as a little mystery for the mind rather than another annoying sales pitch will get way more people interested. Framing it right by piquing their interest works best, and is much better than another spam promo.
4. Make Their Opinions Feel Important
When you send out a survey, let people know in your email subject line how much their feedback matters. Try saying, "Your thoughts help shape our future—we're all ears!” This makes each person feel like their opinion can make a difference.
It's like when someone asks for your advice because they truly value what you have to say. Telling people that their feedback is crucial not only makes them feel respected but also more willing to take part. They'll see that by sharing their ideas, they're contributing to something bigger, which can be a powerful motivator to respond.
5. Tell Them The Survey Won't Take Long
Let people know that filling out your survey is fast and simple. You could use a subject line like, "Share your views in just 5 minutes!" This reassures them that they won't need to spend a lot of time on it.
It's similar to when you're told a task will be quick and easy, making you more likely to get it started. People are often willing to help out if they know it won't eat up much of their day. Highlighting how swiftly they can complete the survey encourages a higher response rate, as everyone likes to feel their time is being respected.
6. Keep Survey Subject Lines Short
Even though longer subject lines share more information, studies show shorter lines under 50 characters get way more people involved.
Since over 75% of emails are opened on a mobile device now, subject lines need to be quick to read.
Keeping it brief forces focusing on just the most important things people want up front, like rewards, deadlines, or topic importance - without getting truncated.
7. Create Urgency Without Pressure
Analyzing subject line impact on survey response rates creates urgency around deadlines and tends to increase email open rates, but can really annoy people if the experience doesn't match the hype.
Gently highlight scarcity or incentives for a quick response instead of phony timers pressuring impulsive clicks that may not match the deal.
Wording it more like "Your input will help shape our next launch" pulls off a timely vibe without the stress of something expiring that could frustrate folks if the follow-through lacks.
8. Spark Curiosity to Get More Replies
Piquing people's curiosity is one of the top ways to get higher click-through rates. Wording that hints at undisclosed information, thought-provoking questions, or insider scoops without giving it all away really spurs people to open up.
For instance, pointing out something like "75% of customers agree - do you?" taps into curiosity about those findings.
Presenting it as a chance to fill in the blanks by participating rather than completing a task gets way more people involved than direct orders.
9. Keep It Clear and Relevant
If your subject line impacts response rates, you'll want your subject to clearly but briefly explain what the content is about and why it's relevant. Research found that simply stating the survey topic and connection to the receiver can increase response rates 2-3x.
Be straightforward about what's in it for them, like how their answers influence product roadmaps, community projects, or other self-serving effects. People want to feel their efforts create change rather than unrequested forms.
Aim for clarity up front so your opens turn into actual responses.
10. Increase Response Rates with Questions
Framing your subject as a relevant question taps into people's problem-solving mindset, generating more interest than bossy commands. Wording it like, "Would X improve your experience?" entices click-through rates by sparking solution ideas rather than coming off as a request.
The questions should connect to your survey contents and invite opinions, not meaningless head-scratchers.
Recipients want participation that moves the needle - where their wisdom directly supports helpful reforms. Craft your subject as an insightful question for input.
11. Show How Feedback Has an Impact Right Away
Tell people that what they say in the survey will start making changes immediately. You could say something like, "Thoughts on next quarter’s roadmap?" This helps everyone see that their thoughts and opinions are not just collected but actually used to make things better quickly.
It's like when you suggest a great idea in a meeting, and it's used right then. Making it clear that their input will have a quick impact encourages more people to take part. They'll feel good knowing they're part of something that will have an immediate impact on their experience.
12. Make It Feel Special Just for Them
When you send out a survey, let people know in the subject line that they're getting an exclusive chance to share their thoughts. Try using a line like, "We're inviting only a select few to give their insight!" This approach makes them feel like they're part of a special group chosen to help.
It's like being handed a VIP pass; it makes the opportunity to participate feel more valuable and not something everyone gets. Highlighting this exclusivity can motivate more people to jump in and complete the survey because they know their input is especially sought after and appreciated.
13: Bring Everyone Together
Tell people in your email subject line, that by filling out the survey, they're helping the whole community. You could say, "Join forces with us – your feedback strengthens our community!" This message makes people feel like they're part of a team working together for a good cause. It's similar to when neighbors come together to clean up a park.
Everyone's contribution, big or small, adds up to a significant impact. Encouraging this sense of community spirit shows that individual responses are valuable pieces of a larger puzzle, inspiring more people to take part because they see the bigger picture and their role in it.
14. Learn From Your Audience
Participant feedback is like a gold mine of customization tips. For instance, alluding to shorter surveys following complaints about lengthy forms.
Revising subjects to recognize shared pains or wants boosts customer/brand relationships by showing you're a good listener. Personalization additionally surfaces shifting priorities over time, meaning continuous subject refreshes.
15. Keep Your Subject Lines Fresh
Along with doubling down on testing top subject lines, introduce totally fresh options regularly to check for fatigue or changing tastes. Swap out 10-20% of your subject lines each quarter, shaping novel variants from current feedback and field trends.
Keeping updated stops your subjects from seeming boring as people interact across inboxes. Since involvement shifts, your methods must adapt too. Make A/B testing a constant practice.
33 Survey Subject Lines You Can Send Today
Let’s put together all the subject line improvement tactics we’ve outlined above.
Here are X survey subject lines you can send today to increase your response rates:
"Ready for [New Feature], [First Name]?"
"Share insights, [Company Name] team!"
"Let's hear it, [First Name]"
"Hi [First Name], [Feature] thoughts?"
"Ready to share, [First Name]?"
"Your impact needed – quick survey!"
"Last chance! Share feedback for Q2 roadmap"
"Survey spotlight on you, [First Name]"
"What's your perspective, [First Name]?"
"Time is running out, [First Name]!"
"Last chance! Tell us your thoughts."
"Unlock exclusive discount, [First Name]!"
"Act now for a special offer, [First Name]!"
"Limited time: survey and save big!"
"Your opinion = savings, [First Name]!"
"Immediate reward: complete survey now!"
"Join us: Share your voice in our community"
"Connect with us! Take the community survey"
"Shape our journey together, [First Name]!"
"Your input matters to our community"
"Together we grow: Participate in our survey"
"Curious about your thoughts, [First Name]?"
"Your turn: [First Name], influence with a click"
"Have a moment? Would love your input"
"Interested in your feedback. Ready?"
"Ever thought about our latest updates?"
"87% love [Feature]! How about you?"
"Survey: 9 out of 10 recommend us. Agree?"
"Quick click: Unlock savings with brief survey"
"Statistics show improvement. What's your view?"
"76% say we're on the right track. Your input?"
"Quick survey alert – just 3 minutes!"
"Swift feedback needed: 5 questions max"
Wrapping up
Optimizing your survey subject lines takes ongoing experimentation and refinement. By making it a priority and following best practices, you can dramatically improve response rates.
Using a cold email platform like QuickMail puts you in the driver’s seat with your outreach. You can run infinite A/Z tests for optimization and use advanced analytics to optimize for survey responses.
Get your first positive responses for free with your free 14-day trial.
