If your marketing emails aren’t getting opened, don’t panic as this week’s Get Sh*t Done ⚡Newsletter will show you how to boost open rates by up to 42%.
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to boost your solopreneur sales and it all starts with an attention grabbing subject line!👀
How to boost your email open rates by up to 42%
How? By using humour! Research has shown that funny subject lines can increase your open rates by up to 42%.
Why? Because they trigger a "pattern interrupt" that engages the reader's brain through emotional surprise, forcing a temporary stop to the otherwise fast-paced inbox scanning we do on auto-pilot.
So, we’re more likely to open it and read it.
Using humour in your email subject lines boosts open rates by up to 42%
🔥 7 funny email subject lines ranked by open-rate psychology
🥇 1. “Delete this. I dare you.”
Type of Humour: Reverse Psychology + Challenge
Psychology Trigger: Ego + Defiance + Curiosity
Why it ranks #1:
It directly challenges the reader. Humans hate being told what to do. The “I dare you” creates tension and forces a decision. That friction drives opens.
Best used when:
You want maximum attention fast.
🥈 2. “Be honest. You’re procrastinating.”
Type of Humour: Relatable Call-Out
Psychology Trigger: Self-Awareness + Guilt + Truth
Why it works:
It names what they’re doing in the moment. That real-time relevance creates an instant pause.
Best used when:
Sending during work hours or Fridays.
🥉 3. “Yes, this is about money.”
Type of Humour: Blunt Honesty
Psychology Trigger: Transparency + Curiosity
Why it works:
It removes mystery while creating it. It feels refreshingly direct in a sea of vague marketing.
Best used when:
The email actually connects to revenue.
4. “I promise this isn’t a ‘quick reminder.’”
Type of Humour: Anti-Corporate / Inbox Mockery
Psychology Trigger: Pattern Interrupt + Familiar Frustration
Why it works:
Everyone’s tired of “quick reminder” emails. You align with the reader against boring marketing.
Best used when:
You want to stand out from typical newsletter tone.
5. “Your competition hopes you ignore this.”
Type of Humour: Competitive Paranoia
Psychology Trigger: Status + Fear of Falling Behind
Why it works:
It activates ambition and mild anxiety. Strong for solopreneurs who care about growth.
Best used when:
Sharing strategy or tactical advice.
6. “I wrote this instead of working.”
Type of Humour: Self-Deprecating
Psychology Trigger: Relatability + Authenticity
Why it works:
It feels human and unscripted. Less aggressive, more charming.
Best used when:
Warming up your audience.
7. “This email has main character energy.”
Type of Humour: Pop-Culture / Playful
Psychology Trigger: Identity + Novelty
Why it works:
It’s playful and scroll-stopping, but slightly niche depending on audience.
Best used when:
Your audience leans modern/online-savvy.
🔥 My Subject Line of the Week
“Be honest. You almost deleted this.”
Type: Relatable + Meta Pattern Interrupt
Why it works:
It calls out exactly what they were about to do. It breaks autopilot and creates a micro-moment of self-awareness.
When to use it:
When engagement dips. When you want immediate opens. When your audience needs a nudge.
Try this:
Send it to your subscriber list this week and watch your open rate soar!
Have you tried CopyBuddy yet?
CopyBuddy helps solopreneurs like you write killer copy that generates cash!
AND FINALLY A FEW WORDS FROM ANNIE
Hope you found this week’s newsletter helpful. If there’s anything particular you’d like me to cover in future newsletters, let me know - I would love to hear from you! 😍
HAVE A GREAT WEEK & THANKS FOR READING!😊🙏
I’m back on LinkedIn if you want to connect there!
P.S. If you need an SEO Copywriter or tech-savvy/creative Virtual Assistant to help you supercharge your sales & productivity, get in touch - [email protected]
