Email Subject Line Ideas to Capture Attention of Link Prospects.

[philipjterry]

eg.

"Broken Links"

[lucy24]

If your subject line says "broken links" and the content is in fact a request for reciprocal linking, you will get some annoyed readers. Is a pre-annoyed webmaster more likely to attend to your question?

Now, if this particular subject line is already common practice, it explains why my reports of broken links so often go unacknowledged. They went straight into the spam bin :(

[philipjterry]

Sorry I was just using that as a random example to kick off the conversation - have not tried it myself. But good point.

Was rather hoping I could gauge the responses here before spraying and praying :)

[Pjman]

I like to make sure that I am talking directly to the person, if they are high value link target. I'll try to use first names; if it an be found. I will also add something of value in the subject line. For instance:

$Name$ Here Is A _____ That I Think You'll Love...

[martinibuster]

This is like a prime fishing spot a mile or two hike from known fishing spots. Anglers don't publish specific spots with directions on how to get there, including landmarks for identifying the exact spot. It's hard won information. Even books on where to angle for specific fish stop short of naming specific spots. Once that information gets out and the hordes descend upon the fishing spot is called burned.

A specific subject line is like a prime fishing spot. It's hard won information. If it is particularly efficient it can be considered an ingredient of your secret sauce, your mojo, so to speak.

General characteristics of a subject line is an interesting topic that won't burn subject lines. Capturing the attention of a link prospect is a good starting point. The opposite, being boring is another one. Being similar to other link building messages is another not-good attribute.

[philipjterry]

It's unlikely...unless our industries overlap considerably and the target individual - responsible for the site has been over pitched.

I gather what you are also saying is that a lot of target link prospects have already been asked (or even burned) by other link beggers.

This makes me want to do most of the persuading over the phone even more.... or at least first, before sending a tactical email.

[lucy24]

I like to make sure that I am talking directly to the person, if they are high value link target. I'll try to use first names; if it can be found.

Really? We've never set eyes on each other and we're already on first-name terms?

I will also add something of value in the subject line. For instance:

$Name$ Here Is A _____ That I Think You'll Love...

Hate to break it to you, but an e-mail with that subject line from a stranger will go straight into the spam bin.

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"I'll Link to Yours if You'll Link to Mine"
?

[philipjterry]

Don't knock it unless you have a better alternative :)

Sounds more natural than Mrs Smith... we don't want it to be contrived. It needs to be conversational and simple.

[Rosalind]

$Name$ Here Is A _____ That I Think You'll Love...

Hate to break it to you, but an e-mail with that subject line from a stranger will go straight into the spam bin.

+1.

What you're trying to do with a subject line is get over the obstacle of never having met your link prospect in person, and being relatively unknown within your industry. People manage to do this all the time, and here's the secret: interact with that person in blog comments, on Twitter, on forums, and on other open platforms. Write blog posts that mention these people. Do that a few times and it won't matter what you put in your subject line, because people will be more familiar with you.

Obviously that approach doesn't scale. But if I'm one of 1000 link prospects that you're sending the same message to, I won't be biting anyway.

[philipjterry]

Good ideas... But... I'm imagining that would take a heck of a lot work... Saying that if you are blogging in an industry like SEO where personalities count - that would probably work nicely. Appeal to the EGO.

More often we are dealing with complex decision making units - where there is a hidden owner, a site technician tucked away or a marketing manager behind closed doors who calls the shots.

A single bullet email being the only entry.

[Pjman]

Hate to break it to you, but an e-mail with that subject line from a stranger will go straight into the spam bin.

I really think that is an industry specific outcome. In my industry were link building is not really overwhelming, maybe I get a request every other month; it does help to increase success.

All ears for other ideas? It's tough to work on open rate by cold sending emails.

[philipjterry]

Totally agree. Some industries are hackneyed and some are not. Fortunately I'm in an industry where it is more of a novelty to receive a request for a link. I'm guessing the guys at the top of the ranks in whatever industry are still going to receive more requests.

If the content is valuable enough and sells itself - just the fact that you are drawing 'awareness' to the right person at the right time could be enough to trigger a positive response. Even if that means a very simple email - highlighting your value proposition... and site content for example "Advice on" "Common problems" "Myths dispelled"

Unfortunately as with any awareness campaign - it requires numbers. I am currently manually hand picking prospects and segmenting them in Excel - by how I will approach them: phone prospects/ email prospects/ forums and recording the source: how I found the link. Always interesting to see if a pattern emerges with what types of sites go for what types of pages.