Let me tell you a dirty little secret…
Most of the top affiliates you see on leaderboards?
They don’t write better emails than you.
They just write better subject lines.
Seriously.
They get 30–40% more people opening their emails before the email itself even gets read.
^ read that line again.
It’s like walking into a casino and getting great odds on every spin.
Kind of unfair, right?
I’ve used subject lines in the past that 3x’ed open rates with just one small tweak.
And I’m talking super simple ones like:
- “this is kinda embarrassing…”
- “he got banned for this?”
- “7 sneaky ways…”
Let’s break the last one down:
💡 Why it works:
- “7” – Numbers pull people in. It promises a bite-sized list. Not overwhelming, not vague. Just enough to feel actionable.
- “Sneaky” – This is the secret sauce. That word triggers curiosity + rebellion. It hints at under-the-radar, maybe even slightly off-limits tactics… which people love. Nobody wants the same boring advice, they want shortcuts, tricks, edge.
- “Ways” – Softens the punch. Makes it sound simple and doable. Not “tactics” or “frameworks” …just ways.
You could finish that subject a dozen different ways depending on your topic:
- “7 sneaky ways I boost open rates”
- “7 sneaky ways affiliates drive more clicks”
- “7 sneaky ways to sell without sounding salesy”
Each one hooks curiosity, implies results, and feels just a little naughty, which makes it super clickable.
It ain’t rocket science.
It’s attention jiu-jitsu.
One of the best things you can do?
Swipe subject lines that made you CLICK!
Create a folder. Drop ‘em in.
Study what hooked you.
Then twist those same styles into your own stuff.
If you don’t want to do this yourself and you want the shortcut:
==> Here’s a GREAT collection already swiped for you.
Another tip:
Send your email to yourself or a friend first… if the subject line doesn’t make you want to click, scrap it and try again.
You don’t have to be perfect.
But like I said earlier, if you get the minimum 30% more opens?
That’s 30% more clicks. 30% more sales.
(the reality is closer to 40% from my own results)
A HUGE difference!
Ben Fletcher
P.S. If your subject line looks like it came from a dentist’s office… don’t expect anyone to open it.
