Email Subject Line Hooks Guide: How to Write Hooks That Get Opens
You're competing in an inbox where people delete hundreds of emails without opening them. You need hooks that get opens, avoid spam filters, and work for email marketing. This guide covers the hooks that actually work for email subject lines—not theory, actual methods used by emails that got opened.
The TL;DR
Email hooks need: 1) Get opens (people delete fast), 2) Avoid spam filters (don't sound like spam), 3) Hooks like curiosity gap or questions (create intrigue), 4) Work for email marketing (personalization matters), 5) Create urgency when needed (people act on urgency). That's it. Most email subject lines skip steps 2, 4, and 5. Don't be most email subject lines.
Best Hooks for Email Subject Lines
Not all hooks work equally well for email subject lines. Some get opens better. Some avoid spam filters better. Some work better for email marketing. Here are the hooks that actually work for email, with examples from subject lines that got it right.
Curiosity Gap hooks (hinting at something without revealing it) work well because they create intrigue without sounding spammy. Question hooks (asking direct questions) drive opens through reflection. Problem-Solution hooks (naming problems and promising solutions) create value. Urgency & Scarcity hooks (creating urgency) drive action. Personalization hooks (using names or specific details) build connection.
Avoid spam trigger words that get flagged. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not promotional. Avoid generic hooks that don't create intrigue. Be specific. Be intriguing. That's how you get opens.
Before You [Action], Watch This
Creates urgency and positions content as essential pre-action information.
"Before you start your morning routine, watch this..."
Common Mistakes People Make
Identifies widespread errors to create relevance and provide value.
"Common mistakes people make with social media..."
Stop Doing This Wrong…
Direct command format that identifies error and promises correction.
"Stop doing this wrong with your morning routine..."
This Is What You've Been Doing Wrong…
Identifies mistakes and positions content as solution to common errors.
"This is what you've been doing wrong with your content..."
Is the conventional wisdom about
Poses thought-provoking questions that resonate with your audience's challenges.
"Is the conventional wisdom about social media actually wrong?"
The Reason Behind [Topic]…
Offers deeper understanding and explanation of underlying causes.
"The reason behind viral content..."
Are you making these
Poses thought-provoking questions that resonate with your audience's challenges.
"Are you making these 5 costly mistakes in your content strategy?"
Challenging Question
Question the audience's assumptions or beliefs
"Is it just me, or does everyone else feel this way?"
Open-Ended Question
Encourage audience participation and engagement
"What's your biggest challenge with [topic]?"
Are you overlooking this factor
Poses thought-provoking questions that resonate with your audience's challenges.
"Are you overlooking this critical factor in your strategy?"
Why Email Subject Line Hooks Matter
Email hooks aren't just subject lines. You've got constraints that other platforms don't have. You need hooks that get opens in an inbox where people delete hundreds of emails. You need something that avoids spam filters that flag promotional content. You need hooks that work for email marketing where personalization matters. And you need it fast, before they delete it.
Other platforms can rely on visuals. They can rely on long-form content. They can rely on engagement. Email? You get one shot to get an open. If you pick a hook that sounds like spam, you're starting with a disadvantage. If you pick a hook that doesn't create intrigue, people delete it. If you pick a hook that doesn't work for email marketing, you're wasting your opportunity.
People receive hundreds of emails every day. A strong hook helps you stand out. A weak one means you get deleted. This isn't vanity—it's practical. Make it easy for people to want to open. Make it easy for them to see value. That's how you build a list. That's how you build a business.
Generic hooks = generic emails. If your hook could work for any email, it won't work for yours. Be specific. Be intriguing. That's how you get opens. That's how you build trust with subscribers who've seen every pitch.
Step-by-Step Email Subject Line Hook Writing Process
Here's how to actually write email subject line hooks that work. Not just come up with ideas—actually write hooks that get opens.
Step 1: Know Your Email Audience
Know who you're writing for. Are they customers? Subscribers? Prospects? Your hook needs to speak their language. If you're writing for customers, use problem-solution hooks. If you're writing for subscribers, use curiosity gap hooks. If you're writing for prospects, use personalization hooks. Know your audience. Then write for them.
Step 2: Choose Email-Friendly Hook Types
Use hooks that work for email: curiosity gap, questions, problem-solution, urgency & scarcity, or personalization hooks. These get opens and avoid spam filters. Avoid spam trigger words that get flagged. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not promotional. Be intriguing, not spammy.
Step 3: Generate 20+ Hook Options
Create a massive list. Don't filter too early. Use multiple hook types. Mix and match. The best email hooks come from quantity, not early filtering. Generate way more than you think you need. Most will be bad. That's fine. You only need one good one. But you won't find it if you stop at 5 options. Use our hook tool. Use brainstorming sessions. Use different approaches. Use everything. Then filter.
Step 4: Test Your Hook's Open Power
Before you send, ask yourself: Does this hook get opens? Does it avoid spam filters? Does it work for email marketing? If your hook doesn't pass these tests, you've got a problem. Test before you send. Show people your top 5 hooks. See which ones they remember. See which ones make them want to open. The hook that passes these tests is the one you want. Don't test with your friends. Test with real subscribers. That's how you get honest feedback.
Step 5: Write the Full Email
Your hook is just the beginning. Write an email that delivers on the hook's promise. If your hook promises a secret, reveal the secret. If your hook promises a solution, deliver the solution. If your hook promises insight, deliver insight. Don't bait and switch. Deliver value. That's how you build trust. That's how you build a list.
Step 6: Send and Track
Send your email. Then track opens. See what works. See what doesn't. Learn from your data. That's how you improve. That's how you build a better email strategy. That's how you build a business.
Common Email Subject Line Hook Mistakes
Most email subject lines make the same hook mistakes. Here's how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Sounding Like Spam
You write hooks that sound like spam. Spam filters flag them. People delete them. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not promotional. Avoid spam trigger words. Be intriguing, not spammy. That's how you get opens.
Mistake 2: Not Creating Intrigue
You write hooks that don't create intrigue. People delete hundreds of emails. If your hook doesn't create intrigue, you're invisible. Create intrigue. Make people want to open. That's how you get opens. That's how you build a list.
Mistake 3: Not Personalizing
You write hooks that don't personalize. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not generic. Use names. Use specific details. Build connection. That's how you get opens. That's how you build a list.
Mistake 4: Being Too Generic
You write hooks that could work for any email. Generic hooks don't get opens. Be specific. Be intriguing. That's how you get noticed. That's how you build a list. Don't blend in. Stand out.
Mistake 5: Not Testing Before Sending
You write a hook you love. You send it. Then you wonder why nobody opened. Test before you send. Show people your top 5 hooks. See which ones they remember. See which ones make them want to open. The hook that passes these tests is the one you want. Don't guess. Test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write email subject line hooks?
Email hooks need to get opens, avoid spam filters, and work for email marketing. Use hooks like curiosity gap, questions, problem-solution, urgency & scarcity, or personalization hooks. Avoid spam trigger words. Generate 20+ options. Test with your audience. Write an email that delivers on the hook's promise. Track opens.
What makes a good email subject line hook?
Gets opens in a crowded inbox. Avoids spam filters. Works for email marketing. Creates intrigue. Feels personal, not promotional. That's the bar. Most email hooks can't clear it.
How do you avoid spam filters in email hooks?
Avoid spam trigger words like 'free,' 'guaranteed,' 'act now,' or excessive punctuation. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not promotional. Be intriguing, not spammy. That's how you get opens. That's how you avoid spam filters.
What hook types work best for email?
Curiosity Gap hooks, Question hooks, Problem-Solution hooks, Urgency & Scarcity hooks, and Personalization hooks work well for email. They get opens, avoid spam filters, and work for email marketing. Avoid spam trigger words—they don't work in email.
How important is personalization in email hooks?
Critical. Email is personal. Your hooks should feel personal, not generic. Use names. Use specific details. Build connection. That's how you get opens. That's how you build a list. That's how you build a business.
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