The Best Networking Email Subject Lines, According to HubSpot Reps

How to Write Networking Email Subject Lines That Get Opened and Read

As a sales professional, you know networking is key to your success. Building and nurturing relationships with potential clients, referral partners, industry peers and thought leaders can open doors to new opportunities and help you hit your quota.

In today‘s digital world, email is an essential tool for networking. But with the average office worker receiving over 120 emails per day, how do you make sure your networking emails stand out in a crowded inbox and actually get read?

It all starts with a compelling subject line. Think of the subject line as the gatekeeper to your email. No matter how brilliant your email copy is, it won‘t matter if your subject line fails to capture the recipient‘s attention and motivate them to open it.

In this post, we‘ll share why email subject lines are so critical to networking, best practices for writing them, and over 20 examples of networking email subject lines that work, straight from HubSpot sales reps. With these tips and examples, you‘ll be able to craft subject lines that boost your open rates and spark more productive conversations.

Why Email Subject Lines Matter for Networking

Your email subject line is essentially your first impression on a networking contact. Just like meeting someone new in person, you want to put your best foot forward and make the interaction worth their time.

In just a few words, your subject line needs to:

Capture attention in a crowded inbox
Clearly convey the purpose and value of your email
Establish relevance and a reason to connect
Create interest and curiosity that compels them to open and read on

Some key elements to accomplish this include using the recipient‘s name for personalization, mentioning a mutual contact you share, asking a thought-provoking question, and/or alluding to an intriguing piece of information or offer inside the email. Pique their interest while avoiding clickbait.

For networking emails especially, you also want your subject line to set the tone for a friendly, approachable, mutually beneficial relationship. Avoid pushy sales language and instead aim for a casual, conversational tone, as if you already know each other.

XX Best Practices for Networking Email Subject Lines

Based on insight from HubSpot‘s own sales reps, here are some tried and true tips for writing networking email subject lines:

Keep it concise. Aim for 50 characters or less so key info doesn‘t get cut off, especially on mobile.
Put the most important words at the beginning, like the recipient‘s name or your request.
Use casual, conversational language as if you‘re talking to a colleague or friend.
Personalize as much as possible with details like name, company, role, or a recent trigger event.
Mention a mutual connection to build trust and credibility.
Ask a question to engage their curiosity and thought process.
Focus on them, not on you. Make it about their interests, goals and pain points.
Emphasize commonalities like being in the same industry or both attending a recent event.
Use action-oriented language and give a preview of your call-to-action.
A/B test different subject lines to see what works best for your audience.
Avoid spam trigger words like "free," "guarantee," "no obligation," etc.
Don‘t make false promises or oversell what‘s inside the email.
Study your own inbox and see which networking emails you open and why.

Now let‘s look at how to put these tips into action with real examples from HubSpot reps.

20 Networking Email Subject Line Examples from HubSpot Reps

Hey [Name], let‘s talk [topic/product].
This casual and direct approach works well for sparking interest, especially with director-level contacts.
[Name], here are 3 reasons we should chat.
Providing a number gives a concrete preview of your email content and shows you‘ll be respectful of their time.
Quick question about [topic].
Short, sweet and to the point, this piques curiosity without being overly coy or mysterious.
[Mutual contact] suggested we connect.
Nothing builds credibility faster than mentioning a mutual contact, especially if they‘re well-respected.
Loved your post on [topic]!
Show you‘ve done your research and are interested in their opinion and expertise. Flattery can go a long way.
Fellow [industry/role], nice to meet you!
Establishing a commonality helps build rapport, as if you‘re already part of the same tribe.
[Name], can I get your advice?
Asking for advice is an authentic reason to reach out and puts them in a position of being helpful.
Hi [Name], [your name] from [event].
If you recently met at an event but didn‘t get to talk much, this is an easy way to reconnect.
[Name], I have an idea to improve [pain point].
Show you understand their challenges and have a relevant solution to discuss.
[Name], are you free for a quick call?
Asking a question requires a response and previews your call-to-action to chat.
Congrats on the [achievement]!
Referencing a recent award, promotion or company milestone shows you‘re paying attention and provides a timely excuse to reach out.
[Name], here‘s that info I promised.
If you said you‘d follow up with a specific resource, make that clear in your subject line.
A [benefit] for [company name].
Focus on them and highlight a specific outcome or value you can provide their organization.
Hi [Name], [Name] checking in.
If it‘s been a while since you last connected, a simple, friendly check-in reminds them of your relationship.
Interested in your feedback on [topic].
Solicit their opinion on an industry issue or one of your company‘s product ideas to get their insights.
[Name], did you see this [article/report] on [topic]?
Sharing a relevant third-party resource can add value and stimulate discussion.
Potential partnership?
If your goal is to explore a mutually beneficial relationship, put that idea right up front.
Let‘s collab on [project].
Similar to the partnership angle, this subject line is more specific about working together on something.
[Name], here‘s a personalized demo for [company].
Give a preview of the customized value you can uniquely provide their organization.
Nice to meet a fellow [sports team] fan!
Finding non-business commonalities like cheering for the same team is a friendly relationship-builder.

How to Follow Up on Your Networking Emails

You crafted the perfect networking email and subject line, hit send…and now you wait. If a few days go by with no response, it‘s easy to get discouraged. But don‘t give up too soon.

With the volume of emails most professionals receive daily, it‘s likely your first message simply got buried or forgotten. That‘s why it‘s so important to follow up persistently but politely.

Here are a few tips:

Wait 3-5 business days before sending a follow up email.
Keep your follow up messages short, friendly and to the point.
Provide additional value with each touchpoint, like a relevant article or resource.
Politely reiterate your call-to-action, whether that‘s hopping on a call or answering a question.
Know when to move on. If you don‘t get a response after 2-3 attempts, it‘s best to focus your time on other prospects.

The key with networking email subject lines and messages is to strike a balance between persistence and pushiness. You want to keep yourself top of mind without crossing over into annoying territory.

Improving Your Networking Emails

Effective email subject lines are essential to productive networking, but they‘re just the first step. The body of your networking emails needs to follow through on the promise and appeal of your subject line.

Some key things to include in your networking email body are:

A personalized greeting
A reminder of your connection or reason for reaching out
Appreciation for their time and expertise
Specific value, insights or opportunity you can provide
A clear call-to-action and next steps
A friendly sign-off

Keep refining your approach by A/B testing subject lines, tracking your open and response rates, and continually asking contacts for feedback.

Remember, networking is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on consistently providing value, strengthening relationships, and remaining top-of-mind so when your contact needs your product or service, you‘ll be the first person they think of.

Now it‘s your turn to put these networking email subject line tips and examples into action. Whether you‘re trying to expand your professional circle, build your credibility, or hit your sales quota, small improvements to your email outreach can make a big impact over time.

Looking for more? Check out these additional networking email resources: