Welcome Email Subject Lines: 9 Strategies & 5 Essential Tips

The customer journey starts with a welcome email… and its subject line. This tiny snippet of text is more than just a formality: it’s an opportunity to catch attention and impress email subscribers right after the message lands in the inbox. But how do you craft a subject line that gets customers excited to click and kicks off their new adventure on a high note?

That’s exactly what we’re going to cover today. Get ready to explore 9 eye-catching welcome email subject line examples and expert tips that will boost open rates and leave your subscribers eager for more. Let’s turn those first impressions into lasting connections!

5 Key Practices for Welcome Email Subject Lines

Before diving into specific examples, we need to cover the fundamentals. Here are 5 key practices to consider when crafting a subject line for your welcome message.

Follow Your Brand’s Tone of Voice

Just like the email copy, banner, or any other part of your message, the subject line should be an extension of your brand identity. Whether it’s professional and polished or quirky and playful, a consistent tone of your communications helps establish trust and brand recognition. Ensure the subject line reflects your brand’s vibe to make the subscribers feel at home.

Know the Limits

Technically, email subject lines can be as long as 988 characters, including spaces. In reality, though, the number of available characters is way less than that. The reasons are simple:

• Most email clients limit the number of symbols shown in the inbox: if your subject line is too long, the recipients will see only a fraction of it.
• Lengthy subject lines may come off as tedious and tend to lose the catchiness required for an immediate impact.

When it comes to subject lines, brevity is your friend! Aim for 30 to 60 characters to make sure your subject line is visible and impactful across all devices.

Deliver on Your Promises

Your subject line is an entry point for the email and must match its contents. If you mention exclusive perks, a gift that awaits inside, or the onboarding procedure, ensure your email serves exactly this purpose. Misleading subject lines may grab attention in the moment, but damage trust and diminish future engagement with your audience in the long run.

Be Careful With Spam Trigger Words

Watch out for words and phrases that don’t sit well with spam filters. These include:

• free
• act now
• urgent
• guaranteed
• no hidden costs
• and other words and phrases that might be deemed suspicious

In the worst-case scenario, they may significantly hinder the email performance and your sender reputation. Craft your subject lines wisely and use spam-checking tools to avoid trouble and ensure that your emails get delivered safely.

Test Different Subject Lines

Don’t settle on just a single subject line: create different variations and test them to see what resonates best with your audience! Even small tweaks, like swapping out a single word, may impact open rates. In turn, A/B testing can provide valuable insights and help refine your email strategy over time.

Create Stunning Welcome Emails & Subject Lines with Blocks

Ready to supercharge your email campaigns and craft captivating subject lines in no time? Then Blocks is exactly what you need! Our intuitive, feature-rich email builder comes bundled with AI-powered tools and makes email design a joy.

Here’s how you can create your welcome emails and subject lines with Blocks in just 4 easy steps.

Step #1. Sign Up

This is the easiest part: create your free account either by entering your email or logging in with your existing Google profile. A couple of clicks, and you’re all set to unleash your creativity!

Step #2. Create or Import an Email

Once you’re in, you can select between 3 options:

• Build a template from zero. A perfect choice if you already have design experience and want to create something entirely original from the ground up.
• Use a pre-designed template. Ideal if you’re new to email marketing or simply want to save time and need a quick head start.
• Import your email. If you already have a ready-made email, you can easily import it in Blocks.

The best part: our team has already designed a welcome email template for you! All that’s left is to simply hit the “Use template” button, load it into the tool, and tweak it to fit your brand’s style.

Step #3. Add Your Content

Next, fill your template with engaging content. Add text, visuals, buttons, and any other elements to make your welcome email stand out — all without a single line of code! And if you’re working with an imported email, you can skip directly to Step #4 if the content doesn’t require any changes.

Want an easy way to enhance your email with visuals? Head over to the Image Center, where you can easily find the perfect image for your template! Simply enter a keyword or phrase, and you’ll be presented with dozens of options to choose from.

And if you want something more original, let the AI image generator do the job! Just enter the prompt, and you’ll receive excellent visuals in mere seconds.

Step #4. Generate Subject Lines

When your email template is fully prepared, it’s time for the finishing touch. Use our AI assistant to generate 3 subject line options, complete with preheaders, based on your email’s content. Choose the one that captures the message best and add it to your template with just one click!

9 Welcome Email Subject Line Examples (and How They Work)

And now let’s take a look at 9 best welcome email subject lines from real-world brands. Each of them highlights a unique strategy: find the ones that suit your brand and give them a try!

Coda: The Classic Approach

Subject line: Welcome to Coda!

Sometimes, a simple approach proves to be a perfect solution. A neutral subject line such as “Welcome to [Your Brand]” (as shown by Coda above) is a tried-and-true option if you want to keep things straightforward and professional. While this is not the flashiest subject line in the inbox, it delivers exactly what’s needed without any unnecessary fluff.

Why choose this approach?

• A simple welcome subject line remains clear, avoids any confusion, and doesn’t overwhelm the recipients with too much information.
• Such simplicity can convey authority and stability. It’s ideal for companies that have no need for flashiness and want to project a consistent, no-nonsense image.
• This approach is versatile and suits any type of business: from startups and small companies to established, widely recognized brands.

Rareform: Sweet & Warm Welcome

Subject line: We’re Glad You’re Here

Isn’t it delightful when a customer’s journey begins with a comforting and heartfelt welcome subject line? Brands that make their subscribers feel valued and appreciated right from the start have much higher chances to build lasting loyalty. Embrace the warm and positive tone in your subject line to create a sense of hospitality and assure the new users that they’ve made the right choice.

Rareform provides an excellent example of a sweet welcome subject line. The company also takes it a step further by reinforcing the sentiment in the email copy with phrases like “We’re happy you found us”.

Why choose this approach?

• A warm and gentle welcome subject line immediately sets a friendly and inviting tone. It makes the customer feel good about joining you and more receptive to what you have to offer.
• A combination of a sweet subject line and a heartfelt email copy makes the approach even more effective. When the entire message echoes the same warmth, it feels authentic and sincere, which deepens the connection.

AWAY: A Pinch of Playfulness

Subject line: We’re Away. Let’s meet up.

Don’t hesitate to include a bit of wit and playfulness in your welcome email subject lines! A clever pun or humorous phrase can help your email stand out while conveying your brand’s personality. Relevant humor in a subject line signals that your brand is fun, approachable, and ready to engage in a lighthearted way.

A prime example comes from AWAY, which cleverly incorporates its brand name into the subject line to create a catchy pun. This playful twist not only grabs attention but also reinforces the brand’s identity in a natural, engaging manner.

Why choose this approach?

• Appropriate humor brings energy into the welcome subject line and makes it more memorable. When your subject line stands out, people are more likely to pay attention to it.
• A playful subject line feels natural for brands that embrace an upbeat, joyful, or quirky tone of voice. This lightheartedness can make the overall experience feel less transactional and more personal.
• The approach resonates particularly well with younger demographics, such as Gen Z and Millennials. They tend to appreciate brands that are casual and don’t shy away from being fun. For these audiences, brands that embrace playfulness are often perceived as more relatable and friendly.

Echo Park: Personalization

Subject line: Smiles Davis, thanks for creating an account!

Did you know that email subscribers are 26% more likely to open messages with personalized subject lines? Even the most basic personalization can make a world of difference and strengthen the connection with your customers as a result. 

This is exactly what Echo Park does with its welcome subject line. It opens with the subscriber’s name, instantly making the email feel more relevant and tailored for the exact recipient.

Why choose this approach?

• Subject line personalization is one of the simplest yet most effective strategies in email marketing. Email platforms often contain built-in tools for personalization that make adding the recipient’s name to the subject line quick and straightforward.
• Personalization transforms a generic subject line into one that feels hand-crafted specifically for the subscriber. Addressing the customer by name or including a highly personalized offer signals that your message isn’t just another mass email.
• Personalization is a way to build trust between your brand and the customer. When a subscriber sees their name in the subject line, it reassures them that the sign-up was successful and that they’re now officially part of your community.

Glossier: Exclusive Welcome Offer

Subject line: Welcome to Glossier. Here’s 10% off, just for you.

Who doesn’t love a good deal, especially right after signing up? Use the welcome email subject line to provide your new subscribers with a sneak peek at exclusive benefits that await inside. These may range from a special welcome gift or discount code to bonuses for joining a customer loyalty program, or even something entirely different!

Glossier shows one of the best welcome email subject line examples above. It immediately offers a 10% discount and cements the feeling of exclusivity with the phrase “just for you”.

Why choose this approach?

• When your new subscribers see that they’re receiving something valuable just for signing up, it builds a sense of appreciation and establishes a positive relationship from the outset.
• Exclusive perks for new members act as a powerful motivator for immediate action. They may encourage customers to make the first purchase right away, leading to quicker conversions.
• It’s especially effective for ecommerce and retail brands, where discounts and special offers play a huge role in driving purchases. A discount in the subject line instantly addresses the customer’s desire to save money, making them more likely to open the email and explore your offerings.

Fulton: Call-to-Action 

Subject line: 👋Open This Email for Your Welcome Code 👋

No need to wait for the email body to deliver your call-to-action! A CTA-driven subject line is an impactful way to engage your subscribers through action-focused language and clear, direct instructions on what to do next. Well-crafted calls-to-action make the recipients motivated and may contribute to higher open rates as a result.

Fulton uses this tactic brilliantly and leverages a strong CTA that’s direct, concise, and focused on an immediate reward. This alone is enough to trigger a faster response from the subscribers.

Why choose this approach?

• It doesn’t beat around the bush, cuts through any ambiguity, and encourages immediate action from the recipient. And when a CTA highlights the newcomer benefits, this entices users to open the email quickly.
• Such subject lines convey a subtle sense of urgency. Phrases like “Open The Email” can trigger FOMO (fear of missing out), hinting that the subscriber won’t want to miss out on something important or pleasant that awaits inside.

Tome: Onboarding for the New Users

Subject line: Welcome to Tome! Let’s get started.

A seamless onboarding experience is critical for helping new users get comfortable with your product, and welcome emails are the perfect starting point. Complement them with subject lines that set expectations and provide directions: from filling up the profile to exploring the key features.

For a perfect example, look no further than the welcome subject line by Tome. It gives a clear sense of what to expect and offers a gentle nudge to guide users through the next steps of their onboarding procedure.

Why choose this approach?

• This type of welcome subject line makes it easier for the subscribers to jump right into the product. It shows that your brand is committed to ensuring that first-time users have a smooth experience from the get-go.
• A subject line that offers a “gentle nudge” encourages recipients to explore the product on their own. When the first point of contact suggests that there’s more to discover, users are likely to dive deeper into your product’s features.

Greenlight: Question in the Subject Line

Subject line: Smiles Davis, welcome to Greenlight! What’s next?

One more powerful way to spark curiosity is to ask a question in your welcome email subject line. These can range from simple and straightforward to humorous or even unexpected. Regardless of the tone, however, the trick is to keep the question relevant and engaging. And most importantly, the email itself should deliver on the curiosity ignited by the subject line.

A welcome subject line by Greenlight above is a perfect demonstration of this strategy. It subtly creates a sense of curiosity and encourages users to explore further.

Why choose this approach?

• Questions, especially those tied to what the user should do next, create a sense of dialogue between the brand and the customer. They suggest that the answer lies just beyond the subject line, inviting the recipient to dive in and discover it.
• Open-ended questions work particularly well here. A question that can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” creates intrigue and prompts deeper engagement.

Knickey: Greetings from Real People 

Subject line: Hey, it’s Cayla & Lauren 👋🏼

It feels truly special when you’re greeted by the people behind the brand as soon as you sign up. This personal touch transforms both your subject line and email into something more genuine and authentic. The approach makes the new users feel seen, valued, and connected.

A great example here is provided by Knickey. The welcome subject line features a direct greeting from the brand’s founders, instantly giving it a human touch. This small but impactful detail turns the welcome email into more than just a routine exchange: it becomes a conversation with the people responsible for bringing the brand to life.

Why choose this approach?

• Personal greetings from the founders or team members can humanize your brand. They create a sense of transparency and authenticity: this way, the email feels more like a genuine note from the people who care about their customers.
• It taps into the emotional aspect of marketing and evokes warmth, friendliness, and a sense of welcome. All these feelings can form stronger emotional bonds, making your brand seem more relatable and trustworthy.

Conclusion

A welcome email subject line goes beyond simply introducing your brand: it holds tremendous potential for establishing positive relationships with your new subscribers. The key here is to make your subject line authentic and meaningful without being confusing or misleading. 

Whether your approach is warm and friendly, witty and playful, or direct and professional, it must balance creativity and clarity to remain effective. Craft your welcome subject lines with care, and they will not only generate clicks but also create connections that last.