Hey, {First Name}! 30 Unexpected, Irresistible Ways To Personalize Your Emails That’ll Get Subscribers Racing To Open, Click, Reply, And Buy

Heads up: After this post, if you want more help writing eye-catching subject lines that get your emails opened, make sure to grab this:
My free downloadable guide, Non-Sucky Subject Lines

Why should you personalize your emails by adding the recipient’s first name?

Fun fact: Coca-Cola’s international “Share a Coke” campaign — a release of Coke cans and bottles with common first names on them — boosted their sales for the first time in a decade. ¹

Why? Because personalization works. If you ever combed the spinning racks of customized name plates or key chains as a kid, searching in vain for your name (even one that wasn’t that unusual, like “Laura”), you know:

People love seeing their name.

…Maybe as much as they love hearing it. (Studies show hearing our name releases dopamine).

So it makes sense that personalizing your emails with the subscriber’s first name helps get them to open, click, reply, and buy.

In fact, adding the subscriber’s first name to the subject line can make your email 26% more likely to be opened. ²

But by now, most of us are used to the basic “Josephine, we’re having a sale” subject line.

Not that you shouldn’t try that style. But money says your emails will be more effective and scroll-stopping if you get creative and switch up the way you personalize the subject lines — as well as personalizing your email’s content.

Here’s a Talking Shrimp guide to using your recipient’s first name in the subject line and beyond.

---

TIP: How to insert a first name into your email

Your Email Service Provider should make it easy. Convertkit, which I love, has an “Insert” option when you’re composing the email. You click that, and choose “first name.” Easy peasy. Active Campaign, which I use now, has an equally easy option labeled “personalize.” If it’s not super clear, just google “how to insert first name in [name of your ESP].”

---

How to insert personalization in subject lines

How often should you insert the recipient’s first name into your subject lines?

I say, use it sparingly. You don’t want your subscribers to become blind to it.

And get more creative with it than always tacking it on the beginning or end (as in FIRSTNAME — a discount for you! Or FIRSTNAME, don’t miss this). That’s fine—and perfectly effective once in a while—but since it’s so common, there are better ways to pop in someone’s inbox.

Here are ways to get more inventive with FIRSTNAME in your subject lines.

STYLE: EARS BURNING

Whether it’s paranoia or flattery, whether we enjoy it or not, we’re all driven to curiosity when we find out we’ve been talked about.

These subject lines use the first name in a “what people are saying or might say one day” sense, to get your subscriber’s ears burning.

(That’s an expression to describe the feeling when someone’s talking about you. For instance, if I’d just been singing your praises, I might say, “Were your ears burning?” — a great subject line, BTW.)

• What they’re saying about FIRSTNAME
• “I’m in love with FIRSTNAME!”
• “Did you hear about FIRSTNAME?”
• “I want ____ like FIRSTNAME’S!” [Could be a haircut, style, branding, a job, a home, focus…anything you provide that could make your reader enviable.]
• “FIRSTNAME’s killing it!”
• OMG that’s FIRSTNAME!
• “What’s FIRSTNAME’s secret?”
• “FIRSTNAME — you changed my life.”

These can have quotation marks, or not. It’s a matter of style. I like to switch it up.

STYLE: EXISTENTIAL

These speak to your reader’s sense of identity—and appeal to their desire to feel known and be themselves.

• Blackbelt in being FIRSTNAME
• Who is FIRSTNAME, anyway?
• What it means to be FIRSTNAME
• There’s something about FIRSTNAME
• This is so “FIRSTNAME”
• This has “FIRSTNAME” written all over it!

STYLE: POSSIBILITY

What does your reader want in their life? These subject lines get them envisioning that as if it’s already a done deal, or wondering what you know about that thing that they might not.

• FIRSTNAME’s ____:
• FIRSTNAME’s bestseller
• FIRSTNAME’s total transformation
• FIRSTNAME’s perfect day
• FIRSTNAME’s relationship
• FIRSTNAME’s future
• FIRSTNAME’s golf score!
• FIRSTNAME’s vacation lewk
• Wow – FIRSTNAME’s new kitchen 👀

STYLE: YOU TALKIN’ TO ME?

We use people’s first names all the time, whether it’s to scold, emphasize a point, get their attention, or just establish intimacy.

(Hot tip on a date: It’s like touching someone’s arm here and there. It makes them feel special.)

When should you use this? Let real life be your guide. If you’d say their name out loud face to face, try it in the email.

• OK, %FIRSTNAME%​ – I’m impressed
• Dammit, %FIRSTNAME%!
• %FIRSTNAME%!
• Checking in w my favorite unicorn 🦄 (that’s you, FIRSTNAME )
• Let’s not fake it, FIRSTNAME.
• Lordy, FIRSTNAME — get it DONE

How to insert personalization in the body of an email

How much should you say the reader’s name in one email? My rule of thumb is, no more than you would in real life. It would be creepy if you did it every sentence, or every other:

“Laura, I’m so glad we met for coffee. And you know what I think, Laura? I think, Laura, that you and I are meant to be best friends. Me and you, Laura.” <– See? Creepy.

I rarely insert the FIRSTNAME code more than once or twice in the body of an email, not counting the greeting.

Here are the styles I’ve used in the body of the email. I get a lot of replies, some from subscribers who know perfectly well that the email’s not just to them — but feel like it is, anyway.

Example:

THE EMAIL

A FRIEND’S REPLY

I love when that happens! Here are some ways you can achieve the same “OMG, this is about me!” effect.

STYLE: YOU TALKIN’ TO ME?

Same as with the subject lines above. Use the first name for emphasis, or as you would for extra intimacy/connection in real life.

• I love hearing from you. Seriously. People write back and ask, “Do you really want to hear from us?” Yes, FIRSTNAME. Yes.
• You’ve probably heard these things, FIRSTNAME. They’re all true.
• That, FIRSTNAME, is how you become a whole new person.
• Ever feel that way, FIRSTNAME?
• Don’t play that game, FIRSTNAME. You’re no fool.

STYLE: EXISTENTIAL

• Looking to create a profitable business this year — one that brings in fans, clients and buyers online and has “FIRSTNAME” written all over it?
• Keep at it and bit by bit, it’ll turn into a totally FIRSTNAME business.
• Here’s to a wardrobe that’s 100% “FIRSTNAME.”

STYLE: EARS BURNING

• They’ll be saying, “If FIRSTNAME could do it, maybe there’s hope for me.”
• Isn’t it nice to have loyal clients who say, “I refuse to work with anyone but FIRSTNAME”?
• Before long, your friends are going to be talking: “FIRSTNAME seems like a whole new person!”
• “Did I tell you what FIRSTNAME said today?”

And that’s it. But don’t limit yourself to my examples.

Have you seen or used any great personalization in email marketing or newsletters lately? Share the example in the comments below, FIRSTNAME!

For more tips on writing effective, lucrative marketing emails and newsletters, check out this epic post.

Want more help with writing engaging, curiosity-provoking, must-open subject lines? Grab this:

---

Non-Sucky Subject Lines
My 33 Most-Opened Emails,
Plus 4 That Tanked…
**With TEMPLATES To Make Your Own!**

Download The Non-Sucky Subject Lines.

 

*Note that convertkit links are affiliate links. I like and recommend it.

1. theverge.com
2. campaignmonitor.com