9 Tips for Creating the Best Church Email Subject Lines [+ Examples]

If you’re anything like me, your email inbox is a constant stream of work reminders, transaction notifications, and never-ending promotional content. And, again, if you’re anything like me, you probably only spend about a millisecond skimming each email subject line before deciding its fate: opened or deleted. 

How can you prevent your church newsletter from meeting the same swift dismissal? The key lies in crafting an email subject line that stands out in the midst of the clutter. 

Why Your Subject Line Matters

Remember, your congregation wants to hear from you. They signed up to receive communication from your church because they desire to stay updated with the church's activities, events, and sermons. 

Church emails aren’t just any other promotional email, after all. They're invitations to connect, reflect, and be part of a greater community. 

But with so many emails coming in every day, even the most dedicated members of your church might miss yours.

This is where your email subject line comes in. Think of it like a hello across a crowded room – it’s a chance to grab attention and initiate a relationship! A good subject line stands out from the crowd, summarizes your email, and makes your readers curious to learn more. So, take a moment to make it count. 

Here are 9 tips for crafting the perfect subject lines, examples included!

9 Tips for Crafting the Perfect Subject Line

#1 Use Numbers to Pique Interest

Numbers tend to do really well when it comes to open rates – especially when they are the first character in your subject line. Importantly, I’m referring to numeric numbers here (1, 2, 3) rather than numbers spelled out (one, two, three). Additionally, try using “random” numbers rather than round numbers. (They tend to perform better – which is the reason why I wrote “9 Tips” rather than 10! 

Here is an example of the right and wrong ways to apply this technique: 

• Try This: "9 Epic Events at [Church Name] This Month!" 
• Not That: "Open to Learn About Ten Epic Events Coming Up at [Church Name]!” 

#2 Play Around with Different Styles

Boosting the open rates of your emails can often be achieved by changing up the style of your subject line. For instance:

• A question can spark curiosity. Try using a question such as, "Have You Heard the News?" as opposed to a generic subject line like "Church Updates Inside."
• To pique interest, make a bold statement: "You Won't Believe What Happened This Weekend!" rather than "Sunday Recap."
• Try using a relatable statement to sound more human over email: "The weather is heating up, and so is the church calendar!" versus the more detached "Weekly News."

#3 Put Your Main Point First

People tend to breeze through their inboxes (rarely reading entire subject lines), so the first few letters of your subject line really matter. When crafting your subject line, lead with the most important and compelling information. If there's an exciting event coming up soon, such as a church conference or worship night, make sure it's the first thing people read. This not only conveys urgency but ensures that even if someone only skims the subject line, they catch the essential info. 

• Try This: "Sermon This Sunday: The Power of Prayer”
• Not That: "Learn about the power of prayer in our upcoming special sermon."

#4 Make it Personal

Everyone wants to feel like they matter, but this is especially true when it comes to a  church community. Personalizing your email subject lines can help recipients feel seen and valued. Here are a couple of examples: 

• "Kelsey, Will We See You at the Arise Women’s Gathering" feels more personal than a general "Arise is Coming Up!"
• A specific query, such as "Kelsey, Will We See You at the Arise Women’s Gathering?" captures attention more effectively than a generic, "Are You Coming to Arise?"

#5 Create Communication Loops

Storytelling is a great way to capture an audience’s attention, so why not try it with your email communication? Think through ways you can create a sense of ongoing narrative or drop hints in your subject lines. Consider:

• "Stay tuned, we've got a surprise for you tomorrow..." versus the less engaging "See you at church tomorrow!"
• "You won’t believe what we’re launching this fall!" teases the reader into wanting to find out more.

#6 Capitalize Words Strategically

This may seem like a minor tweak, but CAPITALIZING words in your subject line can make a big difference (see what I did there?) It makes the start of your message distinct and can draw the reader's eye in a sea of lowercase letters. Importantly, you shouldn’t overdo this technique. The way you use capital letters in your subject line will set the tone for your email, and sometimes, you want to take a softer approach.

• “Team Conference is coming up THIS SATURDAY” stands out much more than “Team Conference is coming up this Saturday.”

• "This Is Your Last Chance to Sign Up!" feels assertive but not aggressive, whereas "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP" might feel like yelling. On the other hand, "this is your last chance to sign up" adopts a softer approach.

#7 Make Your Subject Line Sound Like a Text Message

Using colloquial language or mimicking the style of a text message can make your emails feel more personal and casual, and readers tend to love this type of content. For example:

• "Don’t believe me, just try." or "This weekend was amazing!" feels more relaxed and informal than standard promotional content.
• Guess who’s preaching this Sunday?" will generate more excitement than the formal "Sunday Service Speaker Announcement."

#8 Use Brackets to Make It Pop

Brackets have a way of framing information, making it feel like an aside or bonus detail. By putting crucial info or exciting tidbits in brackets, you're signaling to readers that this detail is both separate and worth noting. Here are two examples of the right and wrong way to apply this technique: 

• Try This: "You're Invited! Special Event [This Sunday at 5pm]"
• Not That: "Special event this Sunday at 5pm”

#9 Use Emojis Sparingly

In the age of texting and social media, emojis have become a universal language of emotion. Incorporating a relevant emoji at the start of your subject line can immediately set a tone and mood. They will also help your email capture attention in a crowded inbox. However, it's essential to choose emojis that align with your message's sentiment and not to overdo it. An emoji should enhance, not overshadow, your message.

• Try This: "🙏 Tuesday Morning Prayer Kicks Off This Week"
• Not That: "Tuesday Morning Prayer Kicks Off This Week 🎉🎉🎉"

Experiment to See What Works for You!

As you send out church emails over the next few weeks, experiment with these techniques to see which ones lead to greater open rates with your specific audience. And if you don’t typically track open rates, don’t worry! You can still apply these tips to help your congregation see (and open) your emails!

Looking for more church communication tips? Check out Breeze’s free guide, “7 Communication Messages Every Church Should be Sending.”