Sales

Don’t believe 6 figures can happen for you?

Quick question…

Do you want to make 6 figures?

If so, then read this email very carefully, because I’m going to break down how to make it not just possible, but probable.

First things first, there’s a lot that goes into hitting your first $10K month…

No matter whether you’re working a job or you have a skill-based business like copywriting or closing.

Why You Must Believe 6 Figures Is Possible

You must first BELIEVE it is possible to make 6 figures in one year.

You must also believe it is possible for YOU.

Seeing others make 6 figures is one thing but if you don’t believe you can, then you never will.

You may have heard me say this before, “You’ll never make $100K with $50K per year habits”...

And it’s very true.

Because if you want to make 6 figures, you’re going to have to cut out all the things that don’t serve you.

TV, video games, partying, and anything else that eats your time but offers little return.

It’s possible you can do those things again after you see some success, but the question is ‘will you still want to?’

You should start viewing yourself as the CEO of your own business, and your business is your life.

Everything in your life should be worked on to be optimized, including your health and relationships, but today, we’ll talk optimizing your wealth.

How To Simplify Your Income Goals

I know $100K+ can seem like a lot of money.

Another part of making 6 figures is believing that it’s easy.

I like to break it down into a daily income goal, which I explain in under 2 minutes here >

If you’re working a job and there’s just no way you could ever get to $10K in that position, then the best option for you is to start a side hustle with a high income skill.

That way you can make money in your free time.

If you want to know what side hustles you could start to make up to $200 per hour, then click here >>

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I believe a high income skill is the best way to make your first 6 figures.

Different Ways You Can Use Your Skills To Make 6 Figures

Depending on your skillset, you’ll need to structure your deals and pricing in a certain way.

If you’re a closer, you’ll likely make 10% per sale, so you’ll want to partner with clients who have high ticket products or services.

If your client’s package is $5K, and you make $500 per sale, you’ll need to close 5 sales per week to make $10K per month.

In this video, I break down some other ways you can use your skill to make 6 figures >>

If your skill is Copywriting, then there are 3 key things you must do to increase your earning potential and hit 6 figures.

The first two are obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many copywriters either overlook them, or ignore them completely.

The third one is less obvious and VERY counter-intuitive.

If you want to know the 3 things you must do to increase your copywriting income, then click here >>

What To Do If You Feel Like You’re Running Out Of Time

Now, you may feel as though you’re getting older faster, and time is of the essence.

If so, how do you master a skill fast?

If that sounds like you, then click here for the fastest way to master a skill >>

The good thing is you don’t need to master a skill to make 6 figures.

In fact, if you mastered any skill, you’d be making far more than 6 figures with it.

All you need to do is get good enough to make 6 figures.

But What If You’re Younger And Feel Lost In Life, What Do You Do Then?

In my opinion, narrow down a number of things you’d like to try and try each one until you find something you love.

If you’d like to know what one of my successful mentees Stephen did when he was in his early twenties and lost, then click here >>

A Final Piece Of Advice Most Never Think of When Striving For 6 Figures

When I was younger people would ask me all the time to do odd jobs for them.

I told them “I’ll pay for someone to come and help you, but I won’t do it.”

My goals were too important, I had to be working, and the same goes for you.

Let’s say you’re mowing the lawn to save money, and it costs you $25 per hour to hire someone, but your hourly rate is $50. 

You’re not saving $25 per hour, you’re losing $25 per hour.

Because in the time you spent saving $25 you could have made $50.

Just some food for thought.

Now, you’re armed with the right strategies to make 6 figures a reality, I wish you all the best and hope you achieve your goals.

To your success

Dan Lok

P.S.If you’re yet to get started with a high income skill and you’d to use the written word to hit your goals, then click here >>

If you’d like to use your phone to hit your goals and connect with prospects all over the world, then click here >>

When Should I Hire My First Sales Closer?

Today, you’ll discover when you should hire your first salesperson, how to hire the right salesperson, and common mistakes to avoid.

How To Know Who You Should Hire First

There are a lot of conflicting opinions out there, and it depends on the type of business you run…

But you could hire a marketer, copywriter, accountant, admin clerk, and the list goes on, but…

As you’re a coach, consultant, knowledge expert, or trainer, it’s my belief that you should hire a salesperson first.

We’ll call them closers for the rest of the newsletter.

So why should you hire a closer first?

I recorded a quick podcast episode for you, where I explain this in its entirety.

Click here to find out why and how a closer will help you generate more revenue and get your time back >>

So you know why you should hire a closer as your first employee, your next challenge is to find the RIGHT person.

The Difference Between a Closer and a Salesperson

Before we go further, you may wonder why I call them closers, not salespeople.

Quick question…

What words come to mind when you hear the word salesperson?

Slimy, sleazy, snake oil, pushy, manipulative?

It’s likely you’re thinking of these words or others similar.

A salesperson is a good talker who pushes you into the sale and knows little about you.

A closer is a good listener who guides you to the sale and knows your pains, struggles, goals, aspirations, and motivations for wanting to solve your problem.

The ONLY Type Of Employee You Want In Your Business

Now, before I share with you how to find great closers, click here to watch this quick video about the 3 kinds of employees >>

This video will teach you the exact type of employee you want in your business and the ones you should avoid like the plague.

Now you know which employees you should avoid, here’s how to find the best closers >>

I’m willing to bet when you get to finding and hiring your closer, you may be tempted to hire someone who can “sell anything to anyone”.

In reality, you shouldn’t hire that kind of salesperson.

It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true.

What you want is a “true believer” in your product or service.

Does that sound much more advantageous?

Click here for a deeper dive into why a “true believer” is a huge asset to your business >> 

How To Cut Your Losses When Your Closer Doesn’t Perform

You want to set your closer up for success, by giving them every opportunity to improve.

You must also give them a clear path to close more sales for you, thereby increasing their income in the shortest time possible.

You’ll want to give them achievable targets but you’ll also want to keep them challenged every month.

You want to know in advance if things won’t work out with your closer BEFORE they reach the end of their trial period, and here’s how you do it >>  

The #1 Mistake Entrepreneurs Make When Hiring

Profit is the ONLY reason you hire employees.

Even in an admin role, that employee takes over tasks you do that keep you away from making money.

You’re always hiring to make more money in your business.

 So, if your closer doesn’t perform, you’ve got to replace them, but if you make THIS common mistake when hiring, it makes replacing them near impossible >>

How To Screen Potential Closers

Some people are great at interviews but when it comes to performing in their job, they fall flat.

That’s why they’re so good at interviews after all… because they attend so many.

Here’s a secret strategy for screening and testing your candidates without them knowing >> 

Your interview process is very important, so you’ll want to arm yourself with a great set of interview questions specifically for hiring closers.

You can get those here >> 

The Psychology Behind Hiring Staff

Finally, I wanted to give you something to think about.

Would you rather have a company of giants or dwarfs?

Smart CEOs know if they hire people less capable than themselves, they’ll end up with a company of dwarfs.

If you want a deeper dive into why I adopt the “Russian Doll” principle when it comes to hiring, which allows me to create a company of giants, click here >>

After consuming all this content, you should be in a great position to hire your first closer, and set both of you up for success.

To your success,

Dan Lok

P.S. – If you’ve been able to grow your business well but you’re wondering how to get to the next level…

Click here to watch my Advanced Expert Masterclass, where you’ll discover the strategies and secrets I and my clients use to have consistent six-figure months >>

Growing Your Business’ Reach Through Client Ascension

When it comes to growing your business, there’s no better way to move forward than by helping your clients reach their goals. Achieving high ticket and sales ascension with client ascension processes is a method to increase profits for both you and your customer base. Read on for 6 tips on how you can use client ascension to grow your business:

Understand Your Customer’s Needs and Wants

When it comes to client ascension, it’s important to understand where your customers are coming from. Ask questions and listen closely to their answers so you can create a plan that meets their current needs and helps them reach their desired end goals.

To create an atmosphere of client ascension, you should also make sure to be open and honest about any changes or obstacles that may arise. When customers know what to expect, it builds trust and encourages them to continue working with you.

Create High-Value Offers

When customers are looking for high ticket ascension, high-quality products and services are what will help them move up the ladder. Invest in creating high-quality content that adds value to your customer’s experience. Ensure that your products and services are high-quality and reliable and provide real solutions to customer issues. By providing high-value solutions tailored to your customer’s needs, you can show them the path they need to take in order to reach their goals. Doing so will help create a strong bond of trust between you and your clients.

For example, if you’re providing high-ticket services like consulting or coaching, make sure to provide valuable advice and feedback in every session. Not only will this make customers more likely to continue the high-ticket ascension process, but it will also create loyalty and help customers recommend your services to others.

Follow Up Regularly

It’s important to check in on ascension efforts regularly to ensure that your customers are making progress on their goals. This will help you stay engaged with them throughout the process, which is essential for client ascension success. To ensure follow-up, you can set automated reminders and emails to keep customers informed of their progress.

Provide Incentives for Referrals

Encouraging happy customers to refer others can be a great way to grow your business’s reach. Offer rewards or discounts for each referral, as this can be a powerful incentive for people to spread the word about your services. This will aid in the client ascension process by helping you reach more high-ticket customers who are likely to take advantage of high-value services.

Be Open and Honest About Client Expectations

One of the most important aspects of client ascension is setting realistic expectations from the outset. Make sure you’re transparent about what your services will and won’t do for them, so they understand the value you can provide and have realistic expectations of their results. When customers have questions, make sure to answer them honestly and promptly.

Final Thoughts

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to growing your business’s reach through high ticket ascension, sales ascension, and client ascension. With a combination of high-value offers, excellent communication, and incentives for referrals, you can create long-term relationships with customers that benefit both parties.

If you want to learn more about client retention and ascension, attend one of our next events.

Why Group Coaching Eats 1-on-1 For Breakfast

Today you’ll discover how to increase your revenue to hit your first $100K or add an extra $100K to your coaching/consulting business.

HEADS UP: If you already run group coaching sessions with amazing results, then the majority of this article won’t apply to you.

So, if you’re looking to scale your business to $100K/month…

Click here to find out why most coaches will NEVER hit $100K/month and how to ensure you do >>

How Group Coaching Saved My Business & My Sanity

When I first started in the coaching space, I’d already had a successful copywriting/consulting business.

So, it didn’t take me long to hit my first $10K month as a coach.

But, that’s where my coaching business stayed for years.

I couldn’t work out how to move beyond $10K.

I’d heard about group coaching before but I had my doubts.

My main concern was not being able to give my clients the attention they needed.

That’s when I discovered the 7 successful coaching and consulting secrets >>

Make sure you pay close attention to models 2 and 3 as they will be most relevant to you if you want to begin or take your group coaching to the next level.

After implementing group coaching into my business, I saw my revenue skyrocket.

That’s no exaggeration.

If you’d like a quick explanation as to why group coaching works so effectively, then click the link below to check out the short podcast episode where I break it all down.

Discover how to leverage your time and make more money with fewer hours and far less effort >>

Because contrary to popular belief, you can make or add $100K to your business without working harder.

And if you’re wondering how many clients you’ll need at your current price point to hit your business goals…

Then I reveal the best way to add $100K in 30 days as a coach or consultant here >>

Each of these links I’m giving you is different, but if you invest a small amount of time today to review them and implement the teachings, I promise you’ll see massive results in your business FAST.

7 Reasons Why Your Clients Will Love Group Coaching

  1. Group coaching is one of the most powerful things you could ever install in your business, for many reasons.
  2. People like being part of a group, even more so, they like being part of a like-minded group of people with similar goals and roadblocks.
  3. Group coaching environments have a greater impact in less time.
  4. Your clients learn the insights and “a-ha” moments of their peers.
  5. It improves accountability.
  6. It can make your services more affordable to a wider range of clients.
  7. With individual coaching, each time you help solve a problem for one of your clients, another client goes through the same problem a few weeks later. You wish you could have had both clients in the same place at the same time.

This is why it makes sense to run group coaching sessions.

But what if you’ve never run group coaching calls before?

I got you covered.

I recorded you a quick podcast episode where I teach you exactly how to run group coaching calls >>

How To Create A Group Coaching Program

Everything you know about creating a coaching program for a client can be applied to creating a group coaching program…

But if the idea of group coaching is new to you, or you already have a group coaching program but you feel it could be improved upon, then click here to watch this video >>

How To Sell Effortlessly By Leveraging “Irresistible Offers” 

Group coaching is the holy grail for scaling your coaching business.

But to pull it off you need an irresistible offer.

It doesn’t matter how good your marketing or sales process is if your offer lacks punch.

Your offer must speak to your prospect’s problems.

You want them to think “it’s as if his offer was created just for me”.

Here’s a simple example.

No one can sell meat to a vegan.

It doesn’t matter how good the sales copy is, or how persuasive the salesperson is.

But when vegans see a sign that reads… 

“Vegan Food Here” they know the offer was created for them.

The offer is very direct and if the food looks good, they’ll buy it on the spot.

If you want to know how to create an irresistible high ticket offer, then you’ll want to watch this video >> 

Here’s another video for creating an irresistible offer that goes into more detail I think you’ll get a lot out of >>

Why It Pays To Have Less Offers In Your Business

I know people who have countless offers in their business.

This may seem like a good idea, but in my experience, it pays to keep things simple.

Now, although my business has evolved and I have many offers now, when you really break it down I’ve got front-end offers and back-end higher ticket offers.

That’s how I’ve always done things, and this video shows you how I built a million dollar coaching business with just two offers >>

The Best People To Sell To (That’ll Pay You $5k, $10k, even $25k)…

Once you’ve created your high ticket offer, and decided on a group coaching model, there’s ONE type of person who will buy from you.

They’ll happily pay you what you’re worth…

They’ll be easy to work with…

They’ll love everything you do and refer their friends to you.

These people won’t give you price objections or take weeks to think about it, and your sales calls will be effortless.

Once you start selling to this specific type of person, your business will NEVER be the same.

If you want to find out exactly who these people are then you’ll want to watch this video right now >> 

 

So now you know how to build a business that pays you tens of thousands extra every year without any extra work, just making a few small tweaks to how you do things.

Even if you implement a fraction of it, you’ll be shocked at what you can accomplish.

Till next time,

Dan Lok

P.S. – If you already run group coaching sessions but want to scale your business to $100K per month and fast then click here to watch my Advanced Expert on-demand training >>

How To Negotiate Profit Sharing Once The Deal Is Closed

How can you approach profit sharing after having closed a deal?

Maybe you made a deal with a business partner, individual contractor, or another professional – you agreed to work together and share the profit. Or maybe you hired employees and want to motivate them to work harder by offering them a profit share.

But now you might be wondering: how exactly should you negotiate profit sharing? How big of a share is considered fair and ethical? Which structure should you choose?

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to profit sharing. What works best completely depends on your business’s specific situation.

Profit sharing depends on your business model, current income, and many other factors.

The thing is, every deal is a deal and therefore, can be negotiated. Which system you choose for profit sharing will depend on many factors.

That’s why, in this article, we’ll go over how and why you want to do profit sharing as well as how you could do it and which system might fit best for your situation.

What Is Profit Sharing?

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Profit sharing can take on a variety of forms. Usually, we’re talking about an allocated share of the profit of a business before taxes.

Some businesses choose to use a part of annual profits and pay out the profit share once a year. But there are also models where the profit share takes place twice a year, quarterly, or monthly.

There are different ways to parcel out the share accordingly. We’ll go deeper into those strategies below.

What’s important to note is that profit sharing is usually determined and negotiated after the business estimates their annual profits. If the business fails to make accurate predictions,  the profit share could be affected.

This system has many advantages, but it’s only for successful businesses who can estimate how much money they’ll make. If you are currently in the red, profit sharing might not be your best option.

However, sharing the profit is also a great way to motivate employees. If the business’s profit has an immediate impact on how much money employees make, then they feel motivated to bring in more money.

If your business is in the red but close to making profit, offering a profit share to your employees might be exactly what you need. Their increased efforts will help you make more money.

What Profit Sharing Is Not

Some companies and businesses pay out a section of their annual profit in addition to regular salaries and bonuses. They do so without tying the profit share to profitability.

They treat it more like an extra bonus for employees and pay it out to motivate their workforce.

There is nothing wrong with being generous and sharing profit with your employees, contractors, or business partners: just be aware this is not actually profit sharing.

Things To Consider

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There are a few things to consider when estimating profit sharing. You want everyone to get paid in proportion to their efforts and according to the results they bring in.

One thing to definitely think about is how fast the money will come in. Do you already have a marketing campaign that generates leads and sales regularly, or are you building everything from scratch? If you have accounts receivable, how fast do they pay?

The reason you want to consider how long it will take for money to flow in is that profit share implies that everyone will get paid only after you make some money. Use your estimate to set the right expectation from the beginning.

If you promise your business partners or contractors that they will get paid within one week when, in reality, your marketing requires three weeks to produce results, they will get impatient. Morale shrinks if you nourish the wrong expectations with regards to the profit share.

So be honest about the situation from the get-go. How soon can the other person expect to make money? Is your shared profit their only source of income? Address possible concerns early, and avoid disappointment later.

You also want to have a backup plan in mind in case the numbers used to calculate the profit share turn out wrong. Maybe you predicted a certain profit, but unforeseen developments in the economy undermined your plan. What will you do if you can’t meet the expectations of employees, contractors, or business partners?

Worth

One more thing to consider is if the matter is worth a negotiation at all. There can be instances where profit sharing isn’t the best approach. Sometimes, it’s better to offer business partners or contractors a fixed payment. Then there are also circumstances where it’s best to just name your rate and don’t negotiate at all.

Timing

The timing of the negotiation is also something you want to consider.  In many cases, you’ll actually estimate the rate before a deal is closed.

But your business partners or contractors might also want to re-negotiate later. If they keep bringing great results, there is no harm in offering them a better rate for their efforts.

In fact, if they have proven to work hard and get you consistent results, it’s great if you can pay them a bit more than the industry standard. They will love you for it, stay on your team, and continue to put in their best efforts.

So when it comes to profit sharing, set the stage before you make a deal. Set expectations and be fair. If someone turns out to be good, don’t be afraid to re-negotiate with them.

Now, how can you actually approach profit sharing?

Approach 1: Commission Structures

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A very popular way is to pay commission. The person you are partnering up with or taking on as a contractor gets paid a certain percentage for certain results.

For example, if you hire a closer to close deals for you, you can pay them based on how many sales they make. A common way is to pay the closer 10-20% of the sale.

If you work with a business partner who is putting in equally as much time, effort, and investments as you do, then you likely will split the profit in half. Half of the money goes to your business partner, half goes to you.

In the case that your business partner is doing less, then you can also do 40% and 60% or 30% and 70% profit share.

You want to use commissions when you have a team that is focused on results. Your employees have incredible skills that help you make money. If it fits their personality type, reward them with a profit sharing system.

The great thing about paying for money-making services on commission is bringing in more revenue without extra cost for your business. If you pay a closer to close deals for you and they don’t, they don’t get any money. Meaning, you only pay them if they make you money.

A possible downside of commissions is that your competition might try to hire your people by offering them a bigger commission. Definitely make sure that your commission structure is fair, and you should have nothing to worry about.

Approach 2: Monthly Retainer

Some business owners approach profit sharing this way: the person gets a monthly fixed payment but can earn more if they reach a certain quota.

Depending on your business model, the retainer can be high or low. The advantage of offering a fixed rate is that everyone’s income is secured. No one has to worry about getting their basic income, and everyone can fully focus on the work.

This works well for people who need security but who are also motivated by the opportunity to earn more if they achieve certain results.

Approach 3: Contribution Levels

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Creating a profit sharing plan based on contribution levels means that not all employees or contractors get the same amount. Instead, you base the percentage they get on their role. An account executive or manager might get more than an assistant.

This means you have to determine the amount each position gets paid. Usually, the employees who perform tasks that help you generate more money should get paid more.

Pay attention to the sales and marketing teams who are responsible for generating revenue. Also, consider managers and team leaders who might not do sales directly themselves but lead their teams in doing so.

When you choose to do profit sharing based on contribution levels, be careful not to accidentally de-motivate some of your employees. No one likes feeling like their work is worth less compared to others.

If you choose to discuss openly how much of the share goes to whom, make sure everyone understands why they get what they get. Keep a great business culture that doesn’t emphasize unhealthy competition or foster envy among employees.

Make Your Profit Sharing Easy To Understand

There are all kinds of formulas to calculate profit sharing. You can adjust them to your situation or come up with a completely new way to do it.

No matter what you choose to do, make sure your employees, partners, or contractors understand HOW they get their share. If they have no clue how their pay is put together and how they can increase it, morale will go down.

In the book Extreme Ownership, the authors Jocko Willink and Leif Barbin talk about earning bonuses, but the lesson may be applied here.

Willink and Barbin headed out to help a business that had recently introduced a new way for employees to earn bonuses. The problem was, hardly any of the employees ended up taking this new opportunity to earn more money. After inspecting it, Willink and Barbin found out why: the system was so complicated, the employees had no idea what to do to get their bonuses.

So, make sure you use a way that your employees, partners, or contractors understand; they will be more effective if they know how to potentially earn more.

How To Negotiate Profit Sharing?

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The amount of the share is usually determined towards the end of a compensation negotiation. In the first part of the negotiation, you want to see if the person is the right fit for the position you had in mind.

You investigate their strengths and weaknesses and how invested they are in working with you. What results can you expect from them based on their past experiences?

There is no point in talking about money and payments if these points aren’t ticked off. So save the profit negotiation for the end of the conversation.

Now, how do you determine how much of the profit you want to share with an individual employee or contractor? If you do profit sharing often, you might want to have fixed rates.

Let’s assume that, for example, you are working with a team of closers. Some of them are doing outbound calls, dealing with cold prospects, and therefore usually have the harder job. The others are inbound closers, dealing with warm prospects and having an easier time closing.

The outbound closers have a harder job, and they bring in new customers, so you’d normally want to pay them a bit more than the inbound closers. Your outbound closers might get a 12% commission, while the inbound closers get 8%.

If a person thinks that they have an outstanding performance and should get paid more, they can always approach you for a re-negotiation.

According to Jim Schleckser, CEO of Inc.com, a profit share of 8% is enough to motivate someone to perform better. So that’s a great place to start.

A profit share of 8% increases employee motivation. Click To Tweet

If you can do more than 8%, however, it’s a good idea to do so to get ahead of competition and to increase the loyalty of your employees or contractors.

Advantages of Profit Sharing

Using profit sharing and commissions instead of regular salaries or bonuses has some advantages.

As we mentioned before, one of the biggest reasons to go for profit sharing is to motivate your employees or contractors.

If your workforce benefits from making you more money, then they will find efficient ways to do so. They are more invested in the success of the whole business.

In a company where everyone gets a salary, it’s easy for employees to do just the minimum –  they are getting paid anyway. Paying them based on results prevents that.

So profit sharing improves the culture of the whole business. Employees are happier, they are actively looking for solutions to bring in more money, and they are motivated to perform at their best.

What’s more, if you are in a niche where profit sharing is less common, this can really make you stand out. Any time you are the only one who can offer something, you should. It will give you and your business an edge.

Implementing a profit sharing plan can also strengthen your team as everybody is working on the same goal: to generate more profit.

Possible Pitfalls

Advantages of profit sharing aside, there are some things to watch out for. The first thing, as we’ve already mentioned, is that your workforce has to understand how they get the share. What’s the system and how does their effort impact their pay?

The second thing we briefly touched on is to ensure your profit sharing system remains fair. If some employees or contractors feel undervalued, they will be less motivated to perform at their best. In the worst case, they might even leave your team.

If you choose a system where only parts of the profit are eligible for profit sharing, you want to be able to explain how you calculated it. For example, if you make 2 million dollars in profits a year, you might want to share 10% with your employees.

You, then, determine which person gets how much. And while you do so, you want the breakdown to be simple enough for your team to understand.

Profit sharing should also be measurable. If every team member at any time can calculate how much their efforts benefit them, then you did well. They are aware of their impact and their results.

Want More Next-Level Business Advice?

On the Dragon 100 advisory board, Dan Lok coaches and mentors top-level entrepreneurs on how to scale their businesses.

Every stage of your business comes with unique challenges. In Dragon 100, you profit from Dan Lok’s 20+ years in business experience and from being in a high-level business environment.

Profit sharing plans are only one of countless examples of what you can learn from Dan Lok.  Business models profiting from Dragon 100 are as diverse as their owners.

If you think that you and your business would profit from Dragon 100 and be of value to other Dragon 100 members, learn more about the Dragon 100 advisory board here.

Email Subject Lines That Get Opened: 20 Of The Best Examples

Being an email copywriter who specializes in email marketing, means being able to write email subject lines that get opened. You see, the subject line is the first thing people read whenever they get an email. In fact, research shows that 35% of email recipients open emails based on the subject line alone.

If you’ve spent hours crafting the perfect sales email, but your subject line doesn’t grab their attention, you’ve just wasted hours of your time. In order to get your clients results from email marketing campaigns, it’s crucial to understand the kind of subject lines that get opened.

subject lines that get opened

Based on our own email list and past campaigns that have been most successful, here are some of the best examples of subject lines that get opened.

1. Humor

“I accidentally fell into the toilet”

“Eagle steals man’s hat”

Email subject lines that contain humor are one of the top types of subject lines that get opened. 

People love humor. Most of the news and headlines you see today are about negative mishaps and filled with doom and gloom. When you send an email with a humorous subject line, it immediately stands out from every other negative email that they’re constantly spammed by on a daily basis. And when you stand out from everyone else, you have people’s attention.

You could tell a joke, or describe a funny event that recently happened. As long as there’s lighthearted humor in the subject line, your readers will be curious to find out more.

2. Numbers and Statistics

“Top 20 Subject Lines That Get Opened”

“15 Foods To Help You Lose Weight”

Using lists and numbers is another extremely popular type of subject lines that get opened. 

Naturally, humans do not like to leave things undone. Our preferred behavior is to finish one task, and then move on to do the next. Having to leave a task in the middle of it makes us feel very uncomfortable. That’s why if you’ve ever been interrupted while in the middle of something, you get irritated or frustrated, because you now have to stop and put your focus on the person talking to you. 

Numbers signify that there is something the reader can look forward to. You are making the reader a promise ahead of time as to what they can expect, such as 10 different ways to do something.

Once your reader decides to read the first item on the list, they are already committing themselves to finish the entire thing. As they go through the list one by one, the thought that there are still 5 or 3 more items they haven’t read about, will constantly be in the back of their mind. Until they finish the list, they will not feel comfortable leaving the page.

On our YouTube channel, statistics show that our YouTube videos with numbers in them – such as 10 Closing Tactics That Make Prospects Say Yes or 15 Ways to Write Sales Copy That Sells perform much better than videos that do not have numbers.

So, if you want to increase your email open rates, use numbers in your subject lines.

3. Shock

“Trump declares war on Iran”

“A global recession has finally arrived”

Humans are naturally curious creatures. We like to explore the unknown, and when presented with an opportunity to do so, it is very tempting for us to listen to our natural instincts.

When you use shock or surprise in a subject line, you are tapping into that curiosity that all humans have. That’s why news headlines use shocking headlines such as BREAKING NEWS to get your attention and make you want to know what’s going on. 

A subject line that makes the reader go WHAT?! is an example of one that uses shock. Make your reader open their eyes in disbelief, and your readers will find it irresistible to open the email.

 

4. The Real Secret To [Blank]

Human beings are naturally curious and we want to know secrets.

We often feel that there is something we ought to know in order to avoid making mistakes that we make.

Now “secret” is a word that might be a bit overused in marketing. But this subject line actually plays on that – it shows the real secret, no just any secret.

Here are a few examples:

“The Real Secret to Fat Burning” 

“The Real Secret to a Perfect Wedding” 

Curiosity combined with the need to be “in the know” will get this email opened. Make sure that what you write in this type of emails is also realistic so that you earn and keep the trust of your readers.

5. The Fastest Way to [Blank] 

Now, if you could choose – would you pick a slow or a fast way to do something or get somewhere? Do you want something fast or slow?

We live in a world of instant gratification. We are conditioned to be impatient, and we do not want to wait for anything.

So if you offer a method for getting a desired outcome or goal faster – you will grab your reader’s attention.

“The Fastest Way to Start Your Business” 

“The Fastest Way to Make 10K a Month” 

Do you see it? – Instant results.

What makes this subject line effective is that it makes a very specific promise. But you have to make sure that you remain realistic. You always have to focus on making a credible and believable promise.

If you say something outrageous such as “The Fastest Way to Make  Million Dollars Overnight” – you will lose trust because that is not a realistic promise. People will not take you seriously after that.

Underpromise and your email will overdeliver in this case. If you make them a promise that readers read and think “I can do better than that” then you challenged them with your email and they will continue reading your emails.

6. Here’s a Shortcut for [Blank] 

So just as we would choose fast if we had to pick between fast and slow, between easy and hard we would want easy. Right? Everyone wants to find easier ways to get things done and achieve things.

So this subject line implies that you have yet another solution for your reader. Can you see how simple and yet powerful this subject line really is?

“Here’s a Shortcut for…

…Achieving the Most in the Least Time”

…The Best Marketing Strategy”

When you use this type of a subject line, and if your offer can get your prospect an instant gratification, then you will increase your sales. This could be a software offer or a course offer – anything they can click right away and get immediately.

7. One-Word Subject Lines

If you’re struggling with coming up with subject lines that get opened, and you can’t think of a good one, use a one-word subject line.

At first glance, you may think this would never work. But in practice, it works very well because it’s a pattern interrupt. The fact that it’s just one word, makes it stand out. Most email subject lines are lengthy, have some cheesy joke or something that arouses their curiosity. 

But a one-word subject line has none of that. In fact, it has NOTHING, except that one word. Because it’s so simple, that’s why it works. Your reader will look at it, become confused, and be curious to open it.

The best way to write a one-word subject line is with a greeting. Greet the reader with a subject line such as Hey, to let them know the email is intended for them. Some other good one-worded subject lines are questions, which we will get into later.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Steve Jobs Click To Tweet

8. FREE Anything

“FREE stuff inside”

“Do you want a FREE sofa?”

People love free stuff. When you put the word free into the subject line, your reader is immediately going to feel there is something in it for them.

 

Remember: Everyone on this planet is tuned into the radio station WIIFM – What’s In It For Me? If you cater to their desire to have something to gain, you will get their attention. 

The word free implies there is something for them to gain at no cost. There are no strings attached. No hidden fees. Nothing that would make them suspect you want something from them. When someone has everything to gain and nothing to lose, they are going to be interested in your offer.

Using a subject line with the word free is best used when you want to offer a free sample or gift. One of the biggest problems copywriters make, is that they use the word ‘free’ to bait the reader into clicking, only for them to realize they have to make a purchase. If you use ‘free’ as clickbait, your readers will lose trust in you in the future. You may get results in the moment, but using ‘free’ as clickbait will only hurt long term customer relationships.

With any method you use, be sure you understand the consequences and intended actions that method will result in. Don’t sacrifice short term gains if it means long term losses. You will lose more in the long run.

9. How To Survive [Blank]

One of the subject lines that would get attention is the one that indicates some kind of solution to a problem that your reader might have. So the idea is that your question implies useful information that might help them resolve an issue or relieve some kind of pain.

As human beings, we often avoid discomfort. We often need to make adjustments.

If your email indicates some kind of solution to discomfort and pain the chances are – it will be open.

For example:

“How to Survive…

…a Financial Crisis” 

…a Bankruptcy” 

…a Heart Attack” 

These are all subject lines that make people curious and indicate some sort of solution. People want to learn and these types of emails can give the reader a satisfaction of learning or doing something new.

10. Limited Time Offers

“Flash Sale Ends at Midnight”

“Limited-Time Winter Blowout Sale”

Humans naturally like to procrastinate. When there is no deadline, there is no urgency. And if there is no urgency, there is no reason to take action immediately. Instead, we will delay something for as long as possible.

If you want to get results from your emails as a copywriter, put a time-sensitive offer into the copy to get your readers to take action immediately. A sale that lasts for only 2 days will get a lot more attention than a sale that lasts for a month. To your readers, they’ll read it and think “I still have time, there’s no reason for me to buy just yet.”

The problem is that over the next 30 days, your readers are going to forget all about the sale. They’ll go on with their daily lives, and hear of other sales that are going on as well. When they encounter one that only lasts for a few days, they’ll forget all about yours, because they’ve already spent all of their money.

11. Celebrities

“Warren Buffett’s best investing secrets”

“Elon Musk’s new space rocket”

People love to know about the latest news about celebrities. Ask yourself, do you know anyone who always keeps themselves up to date about the hottest celebrity gossip? 

Humans are naturally drawn to others who are successful or have a following. It is a sign that they are important, and as people, we want to associate ourselves with important figures.

Celebrities draw a lot of attention because of their status. If you want to generate a lot of attention, use a well-known person’s name in the subject line to get the reader’s attention.

12. How I [Blank] 

Chances are when your subscribers sign up for your emails, they value your opinions, experiences, stories…

So, if you start your emails with this – you will give them the impression that you’re about to share something important and personal with them.

“How I Grew My…

…Youtube Channel”  

…Found My Soulmate Online” 

…Permanently Removed Headache”

The key with this type of email is to be as personal as possible. Be vulnerable. Open up about difficult times and make a connection with your reader. Show them that you understand where they’re at.

These emails use the power of story to connect with the reader. If you create a story that provokes an emotional reaction, you will be able to bond with your reader and engage them directly.

For more ideas, watch the video below.

13. Best or Worst

“The Best Foods To Eat In 2020”

“The Worst Sales Tactics You Are Using”

No one pays attention to mediocrity. As humans, we pay the most attention to things at extreme spectrums – such as the best or worst of things. 

That’s why news outlets and media always focus on first place winners. You see magazines and articles talking about who won Gold at the Olympics, but never anything about who came second place. We are not wired to pay attention to the losers – we aspire to become the winners and as a result pay attention to them the most.

Use words that imply extremes such as best, worst, greatest, amazing, and terrible to  get your reader’s attention. 

14. About Your [Blank] 

This type of subject line is one of our favorites. It generates a lot of curiosity.

When your readers read a subject like that they wonder – do you know something I don’t know?

“About Your…

…Diet” 

…Business” 

…Spouse…” 

You see how this would make someone want to read on?

15. Hot News

“The Outcome of Trump’s Impeachment”

“Presidential 2020 Candidates”

Any kind of events that have recently taken place are another good example of subject lines that get opened. 

People are naturally curious about what’s happening around the world. They may not be impacted by it directly, but they still want to keep themselves in the loop. 

Just like people like to keep themselves up to date with the latest celebrity gossip, people want to know what’s going on in the world. Take advantage of the latest news and events to make your readers click.

 

16. Valuable Advice 

“Top Superfoods You Should Eat”

“Why You Shouldn’t Bathe Naked”

What kind of person gives advice? Someone who is an expert on that topic, who has in-depth knowledge on what to do.

As humans, we listen to those with authority. We perceive them as someone who knows more than we do, and give them our attention even though it may not be true. Subject lines that give the reader advice influence them to think of the email content as important. 

Giving advice is also another way of catering to the reader’s desire of what’s in it for them. You are giving them free, valuable advice they can implement in their lives. And everyone loves free stuff.

17. Get Niche

“Best Sales Techniques For Life Coaches”

“Top 10 Asian Entrepreneurs Of 2025”

When you state a niche, you are catering to a very specific audience. And if your audience falls into that niche, you make your reader feel special, as if the email was written for them. Making your reader feel special implies there is exclusivity – something that only a handful of people will have access to. We value things that are exclusive, and by making your reader feel exclusive, they will feel valued.

For example, if you are a coach in the fitness niche, which subject line would you respond more strongly to?

“Biggest Mistakes Fitness Coaches Make”

“Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make”

The more specific you are with your audience, the more likely you will get their attention. Know your audience, and you know exactly what will succeed.

18. Familiarity

“Long time no see”

“It’s been a while”

Have you ever received an email from someone you didn’t know? What was your first reaction?

An email inbox is a very personal thing, something that people don’t like anyone getting into. That’s why we hate spam mail and advertisements, because they are a nuisance and people we wouldn’t give our email address to in the first place.

If you want to get the attention of your reader, make the subject line feel personal. Use their name in the subject line, or write the subject in a way that implies you know each other. Familiarity will make people lower their guard, which means clicking on your email instead of hitting delete.

19. Emojis

“Hello :)”

“$$ The Best Way To Make A 6-Figure Income From Home $$”

Another example of email subject lines that get opened are ones that contain emojis.

Emojis are so effective, because they help to clarify the message that is being said. For example, compare these two subject lines:

“Only For You :)”

“Only For You”

In this example, the subject line without an emoji gives the reader no context. By putting a simple emoji such as a heart or smiley face, you are conveying a certain emotion to the reader. When your readers know the emotion behind a message, they are much more likely to resonate with it.

Most emails don’t use emojis in the subject line. By inserting some emojis from time to time, you’ll immediately stand out from everyone else.

20. The Biggest Mistake [Blank] Make 

The idea behind this subject line is to focus on the negative to help people avoid unwanted outcomes. So what is the trick? Well, people do not like making mistakes and facing consequences.

What makes this subject line so powerful is that it doesn’t talk about just any mistake. This subject line is about the biggest mistake. This is the type of mistake that everyone tries to avoid at any cost.

“The Biggest Mistake…

…Husbands Make” 

….Car Buyers Make” 

…Writers Make” 

How The Right Email Subject Lines Can Make You a 6-Figure Income 

Now, if you wish to write perfect emails with the right subject lines – you could have access to all these subject lines plus two hundred thirteen subject line templates.

You could simply fill in the blanks and immediately use in your email and all your marketing.

You can find all these templates on Instant Scripts. This is the ultimate shortcut software that automates the process of writing great copy for you. Click here, and check it out now.