Each time I obtain an electronic mail, my eyes instantly scroll to the majority of the e-mail. And why not? The branding, the copy, and typically the promise of juicy reductions draw us like moths to a flame.
However — it’s additionally tremendous necessary to not gloss over the e-mail header. There are two forms of headers: technical and design-based. The design-based header is often part of the e-mail content material, whereas the technical half tells you the sender’s and recipient’s electronic mail addresses, the trail the e-mail has taken, and numerous identifiers and timestamps.
Undoubtedly not as glamorous because the content material, the technical electronic mail header is your first line of protection in opposition to scams and phishing makes an attempt. On the identical time, it’s additionally necessary for manufacturers to configure headers for deliverability and belief.
On this article, I’ll share my favourite electronic mail headers, why they work, and how one can make your individual.
The Greatest Electronic mail Headers
The e-mail header is only one a part of electronic mail design. However choosing out the proper electronic mail header can really feel like looking for a needle in a haystack — particularly when you’re not fairly certain what you’re on the lookout for or what makes one stand out. It’s powerful to nail down the right combination of parts that make your electronic mail pop and guarantee your recipients don’t click on the “Mark as spam” button.
On this part, I’ve rounded up 9 of my favourite design-based electronic mail headers with their technical counterparts that function nice benchmarks on your personal designs.
1. Evernote
Note-taking app Evernote’s strategy to their publication header is as no-fuss because it will get, and but, it speaks volumes. It incorporates a glossy megaphone set in opposition to its recognizable model colours. The design is easy, with none pointless muddle.
Once you look on the technical header, you’ll discover it clearly states the e-mail is coming from Evernote’s communications crew and that it has commonplace encryption so as to add a layer of belief and transparency. It’s a main instance of how minimalism can pack a punch.
What I like: What makes the design actually fascinating is how the icons rising from the megaphone symbolize play, cease, and test actions, much like duties you may handle inside Evernote itself. It subtly reinforces the app’s core performance and the way insights from the publication may aid you carry out these actions.
2. Mango
Mango’s electronic mail header design is a lovely instance of minimalism in black and white. It straightforwardly mentions an attractive provide — free transport for orders over $75 and free returns, and in addition proclaims its newest assortment with the catchy tagline “New Now | THE LATEST FASHION UPDATES.”
With the topic line “The New Now: The sartorial combo,” the technical header enhances this mix of utility and attract.
What I like: Even of their electronic mail headers, Mango conveys its model’s essence — refined, fashionable, and customer-focused. This consistency reinforces their id to me and builds a dependable and trendy picture in my thoughts. It reveals that even within the smallest particulars, staying true to your model issues.
3. Readwise
This colourful gradient background catches my consideration, but doesn’t overshadow the textual content in Readwise’s publication. The header textual content (“A brand new publication from the parents at Readwise containing essentially the most highlighted content material, unique ebooks, curated RSS feeds, and extra”) is nice, too, and descriptions what subscribers like me can look ahead to. The publication’s title, Wisereads, is a intelligent twist on the model’s title that additionally is sensible.
Other than this, the technical header particulars, akin to the topic line “Wisereads Vol. 23 – Noah Kagan’s Million Greenback Weekend, Dan Wang’s 2023 letter, and extra” provide element concerning the content material of the e-mail. Plus, bounce-back addresses and encryption reinforce the e-mail’s safety.
What I like: The one-liner abstract within the header is good. It strikes the proper stability between offering sufficient element to intrigue and inform with out overwhelming me. This strategy respects my time and a spotlight and invitations me to discover the publication with simply the correct quantity of teaser.
4. The College of Warwick
Who doesn’t love a wave of nostalgia? I actually favored this electronic mail from my alma mater, The College of Warwick. The header featured a screenshot from a video message by Professor Stuart Croft, which made the e-mail really feel fairly welcoming and private.
The technical header additionally clearly displayed the topic: “Season’s Greetings from Warwick” and the sender’s handle, “alumni@warwick.ac.uk” to indicate that this message was specifically tailor-made for graduates like me.
What I like: The header’s emotional connection and familiarity had been nice. This one-liner abstract within the header, paired with a well-recognized face, turned a easy seasonal greeting right into a heat, private message for me.
The e-mail jogs my memory of my cherished time at Warwick and reinforces the bond between the college and its alumni. A private contact and direct engagement are what make it stand out.
5. Proofpoint
Proofpoint despatched me a extremely cool electronic mail selling its new report, “The Human Issue 2023: Analyzing the cyber assault chain.” The header additionally consists of an attention-grabbing preview of the report.
The clear call-to-action (CTA) button in purple, saying “Obtain Now,” supplies direct entry to the report with only a click on. The technical header supplies sufficient element to pique my curiosity and completely balances the supply of data with intrigue.
What I like: The header sparks my curiosity. A sneak peek of the report and a direct invitation to study extra attracts me into the subject. This technique of making anticipation and offering fast worth makes Proofpoint’s electronic mail stand out.
6. Tarte
An electronic mail I obtained from Tarte featured a easy header with clickable classes that led straight to their web site. It was clear and to the purpose: The model needed me to discover extra of what they needed to provide.
What’s nice about this strategy was how effortlessly it allowed me to dive deeper into their merchandise. With only a click on on tabs like “Lipsticks” or “Eye Shadows,” I used to be looking its newest collections very quickly.
What I like: The e-mail felt like Tarte was extending a private invitation to me to find all the sweetness treasures they’ve in retailer. This sort of direct, user-friendly hyperlink in an electronic mail is a small element, but it surely makes a world of distinction in how we expertise and work together with a model.
7. Search Engine Journal
Search Engine Journal (SEJ) lately despatched an electronic mail selling its collaboration with HubSpot on The State of Advertising 2024.
Right here’s why this header works so effectively: It accommodates a visible preview of the report and features a direct CTA to “Get Your Report.” The header additionally options each manufacturers’ logos. All the weather work very well collectively and, regardless of rather a lot occurring, don’t detract from one another.
What I like: Despite the fact that the e-mail is from SEJ, the header nonetheless enhances each manufacturers. It options each logos and model colours. It drives house the truth that the report is a collaboration, which boosts the content material asset’s credibility.
The header is a superb instance of how one can characteristic model partnerships in your electronic mail.
8. Glassdoor
This header is from a Glassdoor electronic mail that highlights fascinating discussions from the platform’s Bowls (conversation areas that enable customers like me to debate totally different subjects). I really like the visible — it’s pleasant and easily reveals totally different individuals discussing one thing amusing in an workplace house. It’s an incredible illustration of the best way individuals have conversations on the Bowls and the way it’s no totally different from real-life interactions.
The technical header is like every other aside from the topic line, which really presents a preview of the sort of discussions I is perhaps excited about as a Glassdoor consumer. The selection of dialogue is most definitely primarily based on my historical past on the app. This little tidbit makes the e-mail personalised and reveals this electronic mail is exclusive for me.
What I like: The header has a really calm and heat feeling. On account of the sunshine blue background and cheerful visible, Glassdoor Bowls evokes precisely the sort of impression it needs individuals to have of the corporate.
9. Meltwater
Media, social, and shopper intelligence app Meltwater’s electronic mail header is good. The e-mail is about how the possibility to get an occasion’s early-bird costs is ending quickly, and Meltwater pulls out all of the stops to drive the urgency. The “Time is working out!” creates anticipation and is the principle focus of the e-mail.
Whereas Meltwater does point out the occasion’s particulars on the prime left, the main focus is clearly on the urgency. It’s an effective way to drive motion from recipients and will increase the possibility of conversion.
What I like: In fact, the shifting clock within the header GIF. It’s dynamic, totally different, and catches the attention instantly. It additionally actually reveals how time is working out, which provides to the urgency issue and makes the e-mail extra participating.
Creating Electronic mail Headers that Work
Electronic mail headers require a stability of design and technical facets. Compromise one, and the header gained’t get your viewers to take motion.
Discover the right combination of design parts on your viewers (and totally different segments). You may get higher outcomes with daring, attention-grabbing headers, whereas others desire one thing extra delicate. On the identical time, technical necessities like utilizing correct code, optimizing for various display screen sizes, and together with textual content variations additionally matter for headers to go by means of spam filters.
So what do you do? Check-and-learn. Attempt totally different kinds, fonts, colours, and layouts to see which carry out greatest together with your viewers. And most significantly, hold observe of those outcomes and pivot to constantly enhance your electronic mail design and header technique.