Free tool
Outreach subject line tester
Editors decide in a second whether a pitch is about their post or just another template. Type your subject line to see how it reads on a phone, what might trip a spam filter, and whether it names the post you're pitching.
Used to check the subject references their post.
Try an example
Score
/ 100
How it shows up
Phone (about 38 characters)
Desktop inbox (about 70 characters)
Checks
Subject lines that get opened by editors
The best pitch subjects are boring in a good way: they say which post the email is about.
| Instead of | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick question | Your remote work tools roundup | Names their post, so it can't be a mass email. |
| Collaboration opportunity! | One more for your markdown apps list | Says exactly what you're asking for. |
| Re: your article | About your invoicing guide | No fake reply. Same information. |
| Boost your content with our amazing tool | A free option for your budget tools post | Reader benefit, no hype words. |
Then fix the email body
A good subject gets the email opened. The body decides whether you get the link. Run the full pitch through the outreach email checker.
A good subject only earns the open. The rest depends on the pitch and the post you chose; see the outreach email templates for bodies that match.
Questions people ask
How long should an outreach subject line be?
Short enough to read whole on a phone. Mobile mail apps typically show around 30 to 40 characters before cutting off, so aim for 25 to 50. A subject that names the editor's post in a few words beats a long one that explains your whole pitch.
What makes a good subject line for a link building pitch?
It tells the editor which of their posts this is about, in plain words. "Your invoicing apps roundup" or "A tool for your remote work list" works because it's specific and obviously not a newsletter. Avoid hype, all caps and anything that pretends to be a reply.
Is "Quick question" a good subject line?
Not any more. It was overused by sales teams for years, and editors read it as a template. It also hides what the email is about, which makes it easy to ignore. Name the post or the topic instead.
Should I use the editor's name in the subject?
You can, but it matters less than naming their post. Many mail clients already show your email is addressed to them. If you do use a name, spell it exactly as they do, and don't add it to a generic line to make a template look personal.
Why does the tool flag "Re:" and "Fwd:"?
Putting Re: or Fwd: on a first email pretends there was an earlier conversation. Editors notice, it erodes trust instantly, and mailbox providers treat deceptive subjects as a spam signal. Use them only on real replies and forwards.
Related
Link outreach email checker
Paste a pitch and see exactly what a publisher, and a spam filter, will object to: links, paid-link language, length, a missing ask.
Email permutator
Enter an editor's name and their site's domain to get every likely address format, ordered by how often each pattern is used.
Outreach volume planner
Start from the number of links you want a month and work back to pitches, prospects and mailboxes, including warmup time.
See where your next links could come from.
Paste your URL. The agent finds lists, comparison pages, resource pages and guides where your product fits, checks each site and finds the editor to contact. Free, no card.
