54+ Winback Email Subject Lines (That Work!)

Updated: May 15th, 2021

If you're looking to boost your email open rates and increase sales, your email subject line is the first (and most important) step in achieving those goals.

Did you know that 33% of email recipients open emails because of an engaging subject line?

That's why it's critical to craft a catchy email subject line that will get you the traffic and conversions you deserve.

We've put together a list of 54+ winback email subject lines (that work!).

Some are proven examples from other successful campaigns, and some are creative ideas to inspire you.

Creative Email Subject Line Ideas

  • You haven’t read our recent messages. Should we stop emailing you?
  • Want the (product/pass) for free?
  • We miss you, <Name>
  • The Bakerista: Simple, classy, and visually appealing incentive email.
  • Thanks for being our customer
  • Welcome back to XYZ
  • Starbucks: A clear message, with a great incentive.
  • ✨ We miss you! ✨ We’re singling you out for this: 20% OFF expires TONIGHT
  • We haven’t seen you in a while 😢
  • Nordstrom: The entire goodbye email is a call-to-action giving users little choice but to click.
  • Keep ‘em coming
  • Grammarly: An impressively accessible call-to-action in a reminder email.
  • Don’t leave a good thing behind
  • Checking in with you, <Name>
  • Costco: Creating a little urgency goes a long way in this last call email.
  • Do you still want updates from us
  • Just for you
  • Don’t forget about us…
  • Are we on the same page?
  • 20% off. Because we miss you ❤️
  • Glad to have you back {{firstname}}
  • Zylker: Charming graphics make this goodbye email as fun to look at as it is to read. Maybe we’ll stick around a while longer…
  • Let’s Catch Up….
  • Thank you for choosing us
  • Lands’ End: A small (but polite) tap on the shoulder from this reminder email.
  • Busy bee? Let us help.
  • Unlimited (products) are just a few steps away
  • Are you sure you want to leave this behind?
  • Welcome Back, {{firstname}}!
  • Long time no see, {{firstname}}
  • We want to help meet your goals. Let’s reconnect.
  • We’re wondering…
  • Netflix: Though loaded with a lot of text, this reminder email makes everything you need to know big, bold, and clear.
  • We Want You Back!
  • A message to {{firstname}}
  • Your relationship with XYZ Company is important to us
  • {{firstname}}, it’s been a while…
  • TicketFly: Though the incentive is understated, the brief “We miss you” is endearing.
  • Happy first anniversary to us
  • Don’t let someone else snatch up your items!
  • A good deal is always good news (in your inbox)
  • <Name> , what’s next?
  • $15 to get over the hump 🐪
  • Do you still want to hear from us?
  • Long time no see, <Name>
  • You’ll hate to miss this one
  • BirchBox: An in-your-face discount that’s hard to miss.
  • {{firstname}}, we miss you!
  • We hate to see you go
  • We still miss you. (And you still have 20% OFF!)
  • We’d hate to miss your birthday 🎂
  • Here’s what you’ve missed, <Name>
  • Is XYZ Company still welcome in your inbox?
  • We noticed you’ve been a little distant lately

GUIDE: How To Write A Great Subject Line

As we mentioned above, crafting a catchy subject line is critical to the performance of your email campaign.

While just a few words may seem like a small piece of your overall message, this is the first impression your audience will have before they decide whether to open your email.

If your subject line isn't engaging or appealing enough, there's a chance it could get buried in your reader's inbox.

Let's go over the proven tips on how to craft a subject line that boosts engagement:

What makes a great subject line?

First, let's discuss the fundamentals of creating a great subject line:

  • Spark interest and curiosity
  • A clear and urgent call to action
  • An offer/intriguing discount
  • Personalization (this can be done by sending out different versions of emails to subscribers based on their preferences)
  • Relevance - make sure your subject line covers the current trends and topics within your industry

5 Tips To Crafting a Great Subject Line

Now, let's dive into the specifics of how to create a great subject line for your next campaign:

1. Use a familiar sender name

Although this may seem obvious, it's a piece many marketers miss the ball on.

Your readers want to feel like your email is coming from a human and not a corporation or automated system.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by changing the sender's name to YOUR name or someone in the company that is well known.

Here's a great example of this from Marketing Examples

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Pro Tip

Avoid the "no-reply" sender name at all costs. This makes your email feel unfamiliar, unapproachable, and less personable.

2. Keep your subject short and to the point

If your subject line is too long, it will get cut off, which could impact your reader's chances of opening your email.

The rule of thumb (for both mobile and desktop) is to keep your subject line under 50 characters.

3. Add personal touches to your subject line

If you have access to information about your subscriber (ie. name, location, etc), you can use this to benefit your subject line and catch your readers attention.

It's important not to go overboard here, but adding even the simplest touch such as their name can build trust and rapport.

Here's a great example of a personalized email + offer I received from BarkBox with my dog's name in the subject line:

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4. Avoid making any false promises

Your subject line makes a commitment to your reader, so it's important you don't stretch the truth just to simply get more opens and clicks.

In the grand scheme of things, making false promises will end up hurting your open rate as your readers will lose trust in you.

5. Give them a sneak peek of what's inside

Telling your subscriber what is inside helps with open and clicks.

For example, if you're providing your reader with a free guide or e-book, consider making your subject line something along the lines of:

"Your FREE marketing e-book awaits!"

Conclusion

If you want your email campaign to perform well, it all starts with your subject line.

Think about the emails you receive in your inbox and what makes you click vs what gets buried - odds are, the same habits go for your customer.

We hope you enjoyed our guide + list of 54+ winback email subject lines (that work!).

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.