Subject Lines That Get 50%+ Open Rates (Even to Cold Leads)

Your subject line is either making people want to open your emails…

…or getting you completely ignored.

And yeah, I know the biggest factor behind high open rates is who’s sending it.

The more they know, like, and trust you…

The more likely they are to open, no matter what the subject line says.

But that’s the thing…

My techniques assume you don’t have that relationship yet.

They work on cold leads….

People who’ve never heard of you.

Dead & inactive subscribers…

Warm leads.

And even your “ride or die” subscribers.

The “email experts” love to say it’s all about who it’s from…

And they’re not wrong.

But most of them are taking their name recognition for granted.

They can afford to be lazy.

You can’t.

And honestly…

It’s kind of embarrassing how lazy some of their subject lines are.

Please come slap me if mine ever get that bad.

If you don’t have a massive following…

You don’t get to coast.

You have to earn the open every single time.

There’s no middle ground with subject lines.

No second chance or “maybe next time.”

It’s the one line that decides if your email gets opened…

Or lands in the trash without a second thought.

That doesn’t mean you need to overthink it.

Or write some overly clever, clickbait-y crap.

But when you get it right…

You can pull 50%, 60%, even 70% open rates or higher…

Not just on warm lists…

But cold traffic…

Re-engagement campaigns…

Inactives…

I’ve done it for clients & for myself.

And today, I’m breaking down the exact subject lines that worked...

The psychology behind them…

And a few “plug & play” formulas you can swipe today.

Let’s get into it.

Subject Line Inspo

Here are 3 subject lines that pulled over 60% open rates…

Even in cold or re-engagement campaigns.

Let’s break down what made them work:

Subject Line: “#FirstName, you good?”

Open Rate: 64%

This was a re-engagement email to a previously warm but quiet list.

This feels like a text from a friend…

Not a promo from a brand.

It triggers curiosity, adds a subtle emotional pull, and uses the recipient’s name for personalization.

That “is this personal?” moment makes people pause and open.

Subject Line: “#FirstName, quick question”

Open Rate: 62%

This was part of a cold email campaign.

It’s short & casual. Like every good fling.

Looks like a favor or a check-in, not a pitch.

Adding the reader’s name increases engagement…

It promises to be a quickie…

Something busy people appreciate.

It lowers resistance while activating curiosity.

Subject Line: “The secret to doubling your sales”

Open Rate: 70%

Cold email offering strategy consulting to business owners.

This one’s packed with desire.

The word “secret” triggers curiosity…

It implies privileged insight.

And the benefit is bold: double your sales.

People who are already doing okay in business are especially drawn to this…

Because it assumes they’re successful…

…and promises more.

(Think about the huge smash hit in the dating world by David DeAngelo: “Double Your Dating.”

It worked because it started by assuming the readers’ high status, not focusing on their pain points of rejection.)

What They All Have In Common

The best-performing subject lines…

No matter the niche or list…

All have a few patterns you can follow to make your subject lines great:

• Curiosity without clickbait
  
  They make you wonder what’s inside, without setting off “spam alarms” or feeling scammy.
  

• Feels personal/emotional
  
  Whether it’s casual or urgent, it sounds like something a real human would say - not a brand.
  

• Short… or crystal clear
  
  The best lines are either short & sweet (under 7 words) or hyper-specific about the benefits & value inside.
  

• No “market-y” language
  
  No “limited-time webinar event.” No “unlock your bonus.” Just real language that an actual person would say.

Formulas You Can Steal

Here are 5 plug & play subject line formulas that work well.

Tweak, test, and see how they do on your own list (or your client’s list).

• “[First name], quick question”
  

  It looks like a personal message meant for one person. Works especially well in cold or intro sequences.
  

• “Still doing [pain point] the hard way?”
  

  Calls out the reader and positions your email as a better solution. You tell them why the “old, hard way” is inferior to your “new, easier way.”
  

• “Why [X] works even if [common objection]”
  

  Builds intrigue while overcoming their biggest objection, all at the same time.
  

• “The [industry] email I never thought would work”
  

  This drives curiosity to hear your story… and people love “behind the scenes” content.
  

• “What I’d do if I were starting from scratch”
  

  High authority & highly relatable. Great for beginners, coaches, consultants.

Quick A/B Test

I once ran an A/B test for a cold email promo.

Version A: “Free strategy call this week?”

Version B: “Got time to talk this week?”

Everything else in the email was identical.

(Because of course, you only test one thing when you do a split test.)

Open rates:

Version A = 18.3%

Version B = 42.9%

Here’s what made the difference:

Version B felt like a real person wrote it. 

No "free," no weird pitch.

They didn’t feel like they were being sold to in any way.

Just a casual, personal vibe… and it crushed.

Want Me To Write One For You?

If you know your subject lines could be better…

Or you’ve been meaning to send more email but you haven’t got around to it…

I can help you.

I’ve got 2 flash offers live right now:

👉 $85 for one trial email

Perfect for a quick win or a low risk test drive to see if we’re aligned.

Click here to claim your 1-email trial.

👉 $250 for a 3-email sequence

The best value.

I build momentum across all 3 emails…

And it’s what I recommend if you want to turn clicks into dough.

Click here to claim your 3-email sequence.

Best of all, there’s contract or commitment involved at all…

Because, ugh to that.

Yes, I’m proposing an email situationship with you!

All I care about is getting copy that works for you in your hands this week.

Peace, love & damn good emails 💌

-RCD

P.S. These flash offers disappear no later than April 4th…

Possibly sooner depending on availability.

Once my availability fills up, I’m pulling the plug.

If you’ve been thinking about working with me…

Now’s the best time.