In 2024, more emails are being viewed on iPhones than any other device. The average iPhone affords us a measly 41 characters before subject lines are cropped. That’s roughly seven words. Anything beyond this and you might as well have your cat walk over your keyboard—it won’t matter to most people.
Amazingly, the average subject line exceeds this limit. This tells us three important things:
- The majority of subjects are maxing out.
- We should consider seven-word subjects long.
- If you want your subject to stand out, it helps to make it much shorter.
The lesson is simple: three, two, or even one-word subject lines have an advantage for these reasons.
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Hi there! I’m Karen. I’m on a mission to reach my former self. Had I known 10 years ago what I know today, I could have achieved more good, made fewer mistakes, and had more weekends. Every time we share what works, we win faster. Let’s create digital experiences that move people — that grow our base and fuel our movements. Are you with me? Please share this with someone you know who wants to up their digital game!
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