6 Ideas To Writing A Profitable E mail Topic Line That Will Get Your Message Opened
Gettingpitches in the media to open an email y ’ve sent ab t y r music is nearly impossible these days Everyone is clamoring for the attention of a relatively small number of writers I editors I playlisters I influencers and bloggers I and it becomes more and more difficult by the week (or so it seems) to break thr gh and stand t.
Y may spend h rs crafting the best press release and ensuring y r email has every bit of informationpitches c ld possibly need to write ab t y I but remember: they’ll never see it if they don’t open it.
Aspitches pitching new music or rising talents I y need to spend an inordinate am nt of time ensuring y ’ve made the best use of the valuable real estate in y r subject line It may not allow y to write much I but I am happy to share some tips that I see so many musicians failing to take into acc nt that c ld make all the difference.
Be Honest
Everyone reaching t to press in an attempt to promote themselves feels the urge to talk up their accomplishments and their position and give their careers a boost While that may be human I it’s a fault that may hurt y if y go overboard Y sh ld feel free to describe y rself as talented I rising I bubbling under I the next big thing (okay I maybe that’s a bit grandiose) I especially if y have anything in y r arsenal that can back up t se adjectives.
What y sh ldn’t do is call y rself a pop star if y just released y r first single Please don’t lie or use phrases or words that don’t make sense at all simply because y believe they will make y s nd better I and therefore convince an editor or writer to cover y r music.
There’s a difference between a small hyperbole and a complete untruth I and y must be careful not to confuse one for the other Trust me I if y insist that y ’re a chart-topping rapper I and the person receiving the email has never heard of y …y two are not starting off on the right foot.
Comparisons – Yes Or No?
Bands I managers and PR people all have different ideas ab t whether comparing one act to another is good or bad I and everybody has valid opinions on this subject Personally I I find them very helpful I and I really appreciate whenpitches goes t of their way to point t solid I truthful (that word again) similarities between musicians.
For example I if y record songs all alone on y r ac stic guitar I y may use names like John Mayer I Shawn Mendes I or James Taylor in y r subject line Y aren’t saying that y ’re just like them I but rather in the same vein This allows a j rnalist to skim thr gh their inbox and identify an act that may be up their alley I if they like that s nd I or perhaps one that will be perfect for some kind of piece they’re working on.
Artists w insist they cannot be compared to anybody or that they’re making music unlike anything anyone’s ever heard before…they’re lying to themselves I and I believe hurting their chances of getting coverage because of that.
Descriptors
If y decide y ’d rather not compare y r music to anyone else I that’s up to y I but there is another way Instead of listing other popular acts I y can include specific descriptors and adjectives in y r email subject line Words like summery I heartbreaking I hard I bedroom I and club-ready all tell y right off the bat what the song will be like before anyone has pressed play.
Y may also want to consider using genre titles I such as rock or rap I or perhaps y may dive deeper Emo-ac stic I Norwegian black metal I trap-pop and lo-fi indie rock also get the same job done.
This is another instance where I know there are many artists w feel their art simply cannot be described using any genre I but that’s probably not the case I and if it is…I really want to hear what y ’ve come up with.
Don’t Be Obnoxi s
When writing email subject lines I the first thing everyone wants to do is stand t Of c rse y have a desire to make sure y r message is opened I but y don’t want to go overboard and be obnoxi s I and y ’d be surprised w often this happens.
Feel free to include symbols I numbers I punctuation…whatever feels right to y I but if y ’re trying something t I y may want to run it by some friends or people in the business first There is a marked difference between this:
Pop-Punk Band Rocks Hard With New muste!
And this:
***🚨Pop-Punk Band Rocks Hard With New muste! ~MUST! COVER!~🚨***
There’s attention-grabbing I and then there’s just unprofessional.
Use Their Name
Whenever possible I use the name of the person y are emailing This is such a simple suggestion I but it is so effective I it may actually be worth taking the time to do whatever research necessary in order to make sure y ’re customizing everyone’s message.
Most music j rnalists receive hundreds of emails per day I and the vast majority of them are blanket messages sent to everyone By now I writers have become used to every missive from every PR person on the planet finding its way to their inbox I with no th ght given to w they are I what they like or what they cover The entire system has become a mess I so if y can s w them y spent a fair am nt of y r own time and respect theirs I y have a much better s t at speaking withpitches w may be able to help y .
Y don’t have to go crazy with this idea I just keep it simple and personal Oh I and y ’ll want to include the receiver’s name in both the subject line and the email I at least once.
Outlet Helps Too
If y don’t have the writer’s name (sometimes it’s difficult to tell w will be opening the message y ’re sending) I y can include the tlet in y r email subject line Again I many PR firms send t hundreds or th sands of emails at once I with no time spent singling anyone t If y believe y r new song I video I or album w ld be perfect for one blog that covers the kind of music y make I make that known in the only place the j rnalist will see it…before they open y r message I of c rse.
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