Still north of the US, where I hope there’s less rain and even less 9/11 talk. I have my own memories of that awful day. It’s nice that we want to remember. It’s kind of awful (to me, anyway) that we have to make a huge television event out of it. Something very wrong about hooking this remembrance to advertising and ad revenue. Just me.
Interesting question popped up on Twitter this week: What do you put in the subject line of your email query? I suppose it depends on a number of things – the topic, your editor’s preference, and your own ability to write a subject line that doesn’t land in the Spam folder. For me, I stick with the obvious. “Article idea” or “article query” work just fine. It helps the editor find it later when she’s able to go back and read it more carefully – and if you’re the type who scan emails and then try finding them later, you get what I mean.
So what do you use as your subject line in your queries? Do you have a standard, as I do, or do you use something else? How has the response to your queries been? If you use customized subject lines, has any editor mentioned it to you?
What are your thoughts on the best subject line for an email query?
I put "Query" in the subject line, because that's how the person receiving it knows what to expect. If you try to make it a mystery, you don't intrigue them enough to open it; it usually goes into spam.
I usually use "Article Idea" or "Story Pitch" for queries. The tougher question is: What do you use in the subject line of your LOIs?
LOIs aren't queries. You're not pitching any ideas. You're inquiring about freelance opportunities, but have you ever noticed how many messages caught your spam filter include the word opportunities? I usually request guidelines or editorial calendars when I send LOIs, so I'll often use a subject line like, "Guidelines Request" or "Editorial Calendar Question" – then lead off the e-mail with that, including a tiny bit of professional info below, then wrap it up by saying how the guidelines/ed cal will help you tailor some ideas to their specific needs. It's not a major LOI, just a foot in the door – and by avoiding the word "opportunities," it probably won't get caught in the spam filter.
I use "writer introduction" in my LOIs and so far have received decent response.
Devon, that works well, too. I try to be direct with what it is they're going to see when they open it. "Query" is a super way to give them a head's up.
Paula, what do you use when you send an LOI to a corporate client? I've used "Letter of introduction" and I'm not convinced that's my best approach.
I like yours, Wade. That could be a great foot in the door.