Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines are among the most critical levers in your holiday email marketing arsenal.
In a sea of inbox overload, the right subject line can make or break your Cyber Monday campaign by determining whether your email even gets opened.
Cyber Monday open rates hit ~15 % in 2024, even amid massive send volume. Mailgun
That tiny line of text carries outsized responsibility: it needs to grab attention, communicate value, and stand out amidst a flood of competing offers.
Subject lines aren’t just decorative—they drive results. In fact, nearly 47 % of recipients decide to open an email based solely on the subject line (Insider).
This means that even if your offer is compelling and your design stunning, a weak subject line can nullify all that effort.
To make matters tougher, Cyber Monday is a highly competitive email moment.
Some benchmarks show that Cyber Monday campaigns generate open rates 20–25 % higher than average emails and click-through rates may double in contrast to non-seasonal campaigns (TargetBay).
But that boost is not guaranteed — you have to earn it with subject lines that cut through the noise.
On top of that, email volume spikes dramatically. For example, in 2024, Twilio SendGrid processed 11.7 billion emails on Cyber Monday, marking a 14.2 % year-over-year growth in send volume (Twilio).
Amid that deluge, senders still managed to hit open rates near 15 % on Cyber Monday, a notable achievement in such a crowded moment (Mailgun).
As inboxes fill and attention shrinks, writing subject lines that convert requires strategy, psychology, and testing.
In the following sections, you’ll get proven formulas, real examples, and A/B testing tactics to help your Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines drive more opens, clicks, and ultimately more sales.
Table of Contents
TL;DR / Quick Action
Use these high-impact subject line frameworks for Cyber Monday email campaigns:
• Urgency: “24-Hour Flash Sale! Cyber Monday Steals”
• Personalization: “[Name], your Cyber Monday picks await”
• Exclusivity: “VIP Early Access: Cyber Monday Deals Just for You”
Before launch, run an A/B test with two variations of your subject lines, ideally 24–48 hours in advance, to see which resonates better (higher open rate) and then deploy the winner on Cyber Monday.
Pro tip: Keep your subject lines clear, relevant to the offer in the email, and aligned with brand voice — don’t overpromise or mislead.
Understanding the Impact of Your Subject Lines
A subject line is such a small part of an overall email. How much influence could it have over your Cyber Monday email marketing campaign success?
A lot! Subject lines are a huge driver of email campaign outcomes, with almost half of the people who receive emails opening them based on the subject line.
That’s right. Zippia’s data found that 47% of recipients will use the subject line to determine whether to open an email.
Use this quick table to match your offer to the right subject line type and metric to prioritize (open vs CTR):

That’s incredibly telling. If you use generic subject lines, your campaign won’t stand a chance of success.
After all, Zippia found that companies get 50% more open when they personalize subject lines.
Here’s another stat that proves careless subject lines won’t do. If your subject line reads spammy, 69% of recipients will report it, notes Zippia.
So, considering how important subject lines are, you must take a careful, conscientious approach to writing yours this Cyber Monday.
While opens on Cyber Monday are generally higher than non-holiday opens, sometimes by as much as 20%, you’re not the only small business owner with that knowledge.
Learn some effective Cyber Monday marketing ideas to make your campaign stand out.
All your competitors are also aware, and they’re planning major email marketing campaigns.
If yours doesn’t have elements of differentiation, your campaign can still fall flat, leaving your small business unsatisfied with the results.
However, don’t sweat it. I have plenty of advice to help you nail your next Cyber Monday email marketing campaign.
Key Elements of Successful Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines

Before your campaign gets underway, you must know what makes a subject line effective. Then, you can begin writing them.
Here’s a full breakdown of all the elements your subject lines require.
Branding
You’ve likely spent months (if not longer) creating the perfect small business brand. As you begin writing Cyber Monday subject lines and email content, you can’t let your brand fall by the wayside.
You might have a more urgent tone in some of your messages than usual, but your brand voice must be your compass. If you deviate too much from it, you run the risk of alienating your audience.
If you’re a new startup that’s just building a customer base, you can’t afford to lose paying customers over small, preventable gaffes. Stay true to your brand voice during your email campaign, from the subject lines to the body content.
Read Also: 10 of the best Cyber Monday, Black Friday email templates
Alignment between subject line and offer
Speaking of, while your email bodies and Cyber Monday subject lines exist as separate components, they must be in sync.
If you promise a 30% discount in your subject line but the email itself doesn’t say anything about that, or if the offer is only 20%, you risk estranging customers again.
It only takes two minutes to double-check the alignment between your subject line and body content. That two minutes can be the difference between campaign success and failure, so always take the time!
Clarity
Conciseness is a must when writing Cyber Monday email subject lines. However, clarity can get put on the backburner in the quest to achieve a certain character account (generally between 50 and 60 for subject lines).
This is another detrimental mistake. Your offer can be crystal clear, but if it’s worded fuzzily, it won’t come across as intended. As a result, your audience will gravitate more toward your competitors with clearer subject lines.
You must think how many emails the average person receives on Cyber Monday. This is a last-ditch attempt to make sales on Thanksgiving weekend, so any business would be wise to capitalize.
Clarity is the least you owe your audience when writing subject lines for Cyber Monday.
Personalization
Do you want to know how to double your Cyber Monday open rates? It’s quite simple. All you have to do is personalize your subject lines.
Klenty, in a study of more than 100,000 emails sent on its platform, discovered that emails with no traces of personalization had average open rates of 16.67%. Simply put, that’s 17 out of 100 emails people bother to open.
Personalized subject lines deliver up to 50 % higher open rates compared to generic ones. blog.superhuman.com
Those aren’t good odds for your Cyber Monday email campaign!
The rate increases to 36 out of 100 emails, or 35.69%, opened by personalizing. Klenty reports that 43.41% more people open emails with their name in the subject line and 35.65% with the company’s name in the subject line.
Adding pain points to a subject line increases the open rate to 28%.
Exclusivity
Your small business likely pulls out some of the greatest deals of the year on this four-day holiday weekend. You know the saying that if you got it, flaunt it? That’s what you’ve got to do with your subject lines.
Make it a point to mention that these deals only come around once a year and that customers can only save this steeply on Cyber Monday. This taps into a person’s fear of missing out, aka FOMO.
No one wants to feel excluded, especially when saving money. By pushing the exclusivity of your deal in your subject line language, you will motivate customers who otherwise would have been reticent to purchase.
Read also: Cyber Monday Email Templates that Guarantee Sales (2025)
Urgency
Cyber Monday is only 24 hours!
You might have already debuted deals for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, but those days have passed. Your Cyber Monday sale is your customers’ last chance to save, as you won’t discount your stock this much again during the holiday season.
Urgent subject lines boost open rates by ~22 % over neutral ones. blog.superhuman
Convey that with your subject line copy by using the following terms:
- Fast
- Exclusive
- Limited-time
- Discount
- Sale
- Offer expires
- Limited edition
- Quick
- Last chance
- Now
- Hurry
- Don’t wait
- Urgent

Infographic: 5-step Cyber Monday email flow — copy the subject lines and timing into your automation sequence.
Unique elements
You have your work cut out, carving a unique edge for your Cyber Monday email marketing campaign. Utilizing unique elements will help you gain an advantage.
What elements are at your disposal? The sparing use of emojis, capitalization to emphasize important words, and punctuation will make your email stand out.
Here are some best practices.
First, when using emojis, you only need about two tops. Using many more than that chews into your subject line character limitations and can be perceived as spammy.
So many emojis suit Cyber Monday savings emails, including:
- Rocketship – 🚀
- Money bag – 💰
- Money stack with wings flying away – 💸
- Wrapped gift – 🎁
- Santa Claus – 🎅
- Christmas tree – 🎄
- Turkey – 🦃
- Robot – 🤖
- Alert – 🚨
- Flash – 💥
- Fire – 🔥
Capitalization must be implemented carefully, too. Use it to emphasize one word you want to stand out the most in your email. If you use caps too frequently, it can make you seem angry.
As for punctuation, I recommend only one punctuation mark per subject line. However, they don’t all have to be periods. You can use exclamation marks, question marks, and even the odd dash.
Top 10 Copy-and-Paste Cyber Monday Subject Lines (Test First)
-
Cyber Monday: 40% OFF Everything — Today Only!
-
[Name], VIP Early Access — Shop Cyber Monday Now
-
24-Hour Flash Sale — Deals End Tonight!
-
Extra 20% + Free Shipping — Cyber Monday Only
-
Last Chance: Cyber Monday Prices End at Midnight
-
Unlock Your Cyber Monday Surprise — Open Now
-
Our Biggest Cyber Monday Deal — Up to 70% Off
-
Don’t Miss Out — Cyber Monday Steals Inside
-
Free Gift With Purchase — Cyber Monday Only
-
Exclusive: Early Access for Subscribers — Shop Now
Tip: Run A/B tests on two of the above 24–48 hours before your send to see which style your audience prefers (e.g. urgency vs exclusivity). Use the winner in your main blast.
103 Original Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines to Copy and Customize
Would you like to see some subject lines in action? EngageBay created the following Cyber Monday subject lines for you to use the way they are or adjust depending on your brand and campaign goals.
- Unlock Cyber Monday Savings! Exclusive Deals Inside 🚀
- Your Cyber Monday Preview – Save Big on [your product/service name]
- 24-Hour Flash Sale! 💥Cyber Monday Steals You Can’t Ignore
- Cyber Monday Only: Get 40% Off Everything!
- Early Access: VIP Cyber Monday Deals Start Now
- Countdown to Savings! Cyber Monday Deals End Soon
- [Product/service name] Deals You’ve Waited All Year For – Shop Cyber Monday
- Last Chance! Cyber Monday Deals on [your product/service] End Tonight!
- Exclusive Cyber Monday Offer – Get [free gift/discount] with Every Purchase! 🎁
- Shop Smart, Save Big: Your Guide to Cyber Monday Bargains
- Our Cyber Monday Deals Are Now LIVE!
- Dive into Exclusive Cyber Monday Deals Now
- Get These Hot Cyber Monday Deals Before They’re Gone 🔥
- It’s a Cyber Monday Extravaganza!
- Save on Your Favorites This Cyber Monday
- The Deals Don’t Stop on Cyber Monday
- Score Big on Cyber Monday!
- Don’t Miss Out on HUGE Cyber Monday Savings
- Unlock Exclusive Cyber Monday Savings Now!
- We’ve Got What You Want This Cyber Monday
- We’re Counting Down to Cyber Monday!
- Cyber Monday Is HERE!
- Don’t Miss Our Greatest Savings of the Season on Cyber Monday 💰
- It’s Cyber Monday! Shop Now!
- Last Chance for These Cyber Monday Savings! Act Fast
- Final Call! 🚨 Don’t Let These Cyber Monday Savings Slip Away
- Your Ultimate Cyber Monday Destination Awaits!
- Cyber Monday Fever! Get Ready to Shop and Save
- 🚨 Last Chance for Our Cyber Monday Bargains 🚨
- What Are You Waiting For? Cyber Monday Is Here
- [Name], What’s on Your Holiday Wishlist? Shop Cyber Monday
- Cyber Monday Savings for Everyone on Your List 🎅
- Our Cyber Monday Deal Is ON!
- Treat Yourself to Big Savings This Cyber Monday
- It’s Shop ‘Til You Drop on Cyber Monday
- Shop from the Comfort of Your Chair – It’s Cyber Monday!
- Cyber Savings Sent Straight to You
- Grab Your Keyboard! Cyber Monday Deals Await You
- Tick-Tock! Cyber Monday Savings Countdown Begins
- Act Fast! We Can’t Keep These Cyber Monday Deals Going
- Cyber Monday Savings at Your Fingertips
- End Your Weekend on a High Note This Cyber Monday
- Get Fired Up 🔥 Cyber Monday Deals Are Hotter Than Ever
- Cyber Monday Mania: Your Chance to Save Big!
- The Cyber Monday Savings Frenzy Begins
- Your Cyber Monday Shopping Spree Starts Here!
- Explosive Savings You Can’t Miss on Cyber Monday 💥
- Blasting Off to Big Cyber Monday Deals! 🚀
- Byte-Sized Bargains: Cyber Monday Savings Await
- Click, Shop, and Save – It’s Cyber Monday!
- VIPs, We Have Hot Cyber Monday Deals Just for You 🔥
- You Have Items in Your Cart! Save 20% on Cyber Monday
- Mouse Clicks and Mega Deals on Cyber Monday
- This [product/service] Is Selling Out Fast on Cyber Monday
- [Name], We Thought You’d Like This for Cyber Monday
- Code Red! 🚨 Our Cyber Monday Savings Are Ending!
- URGENT! Last-Minute Cyber Monday Savings
- Our Cyber Monday Deal Has Been Extended
- Cyber Monday Savings Galore!
- The Tech-Tastic Cyber Monday Sale Is Here!
- Big Savings Are Just a Click Away This Cyber Monday
- Cyber Monday Savings on Deck
- Our Cyber Monday Deals REVEALED
- HURRY – Our Cyber Monday Deal Is Ending 🚨
- 35% Off All Cyber Monday
- The Last Hours of Our Cyber Monday Sales
- Use Code #CYBRMNDAY and SAVE!
- Screen Time, Dream Time – Cyber Monday Savings
- Cyber Monday Deals to Drool Over
- Surf the Savings Wave on Cyber Monday 🏄
- It Doesn’t Get Bigger Than This! Shop Cyber Monday Now
- Our BIGGEST Sales of the Year on Cyber Monday
- The Moment You’ve Been Waiting For! Cyber Monday Arrives
- Hundreds of New Items Discounted on Cyber Monday
- Load Up on These Black Friday Savings
- Cyber Monday Deals That Pack a Punch!
- Cyber Monday Discounts You Can’t Miss
- Power Up Your Savings This Cyber Monday
- Cyber Monday Deals Coming Your Way!
- Deals Like This Don’t Come Around Often – Shop Cyber Monday
- Your Last Chance of the Year for Deals! It’s Cyber Monday
- Join Our Cyber Monday Sales Celebration!
- Swipe, Shop, Save This Cyber Monday
- Cyber Monday Discounts Inside!
- Cyber Monday Madness Begins! Our Biggest Deals Unleashed
- Digital Deals Day – Cyber Monday Deals You Can’t Resist
- Our Cyber Monday Deals Reign Supreme!
- [Company name] Cyber Monday Deals Are Now Available
- Swipe Right for Savings: Cyber Monday Is Upon Us
- Wow, These Cyber Monday Deals Are Insane!
- Cyber Monday Deals | Save 35%
- Save 20% Across Our Whole Site with Cyber Monday Code CYBRMNDY
- Treat Yourself This Cyber Monday. You Deserve It!
- A Sneak Peek of Our Cyber Monday Savings
- The Cyber Monday Flash Sale Is Here! 💥
- Can You Believe We’re Discounting Stock to 45% on Cyber Monday?
- Grab These Savings NOW! Cyber Monday Deals Going Fast
- Scratch and Save – Reveal Your Cyber Monday Savings
- Thanks for Being a Great Customer! Exclusive Cyber Monday Savings
- Add Our Cyber Monday Deal to Your Calendar
- Cyber Monday Savings Start in Two Hours!
- The Best Deals of the Year Come on Cyber Monday
- We’re Lowering Prices Even More for Cyber Monday!
Read also: 10 Best Examples of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Email Campaigns
4 Strategies for A/B Testing Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines
Subject Line A/B Test Examples:
| Test | Variant A | Variant B | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test A | 24-Hour Flash Sale — 50% Off | [Name], your 50% Cyber Monday deal | Urgency vs Personalization |
| Test B | 50% Off Sitewide | Free Shipping + 20% Off — Today Only | Discount vs Incentive |
| Test C | A Cyber Monday Surprise Awaits! | Extra 30% Off — Cyber Monday Ends Midnight | Curiosity vs Clarity |

It’s time to get testing! Let’s take a deep dive into what goes into split testing subject lines for Cyber Monday email campaign success.
Choose a relevant A/B test
You can perform two types of split tests: design or user experience tests.
A design test relies on different elements on the same page, such as one landing page with two different versions of CTA buttons.
The control version should be your standard version, while the second version should be the challenger element. If it performs better, that’s indicative you should switch up your email marketing campaign.
A user experience test uses two versions and compares them. For example, version A of your subject line would differ from version B, with version A being the control and version B the challenger.
If the challenger gets more opens, you should use that; the same goes for the control.
Read also: Memorable Mother’s Day Email Templates to Delight Your Audience
Time your A/B testing
Split testing is a process that takes time. You may need at least two weeks but longer, depending on how many elements you want to test. The more complex or involved the elements, the longer it can take for a clear winner to come to light.
Select a sample size
Your sample size must be large enough to gain valuable data yet not so large that it takes too long to collate the numbers you received. A small sample size can make it harder to find actionable insights.
Gauge your results
Once you get results, how do you make heads or tails of them?
The most successful split tests only focus on one goal at a time. In this case, you would increase the number of emails that open via your subject line. You can’t be married to one subject line, as whatever drives the most results is the one you should use.
EngageBay’s email A/B testing makes it easy to discover the best variant of your subject lines, allowing you to reduce bounces, increase opens and click-throughs, elevate website traffic, and lower abandoned carts.
Read also: 106 Winning Christmas Email Subject Lines For Higher Open Rates
Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners
- The essential components of a Cyber Monday email subject line are personalization, clarity, brevity, urgency, emotional connection (especially FOMO), and elements like emojis and scant use of capitalization.
- Use creativity when writing your subject lines, allowing your brand personality to shine.
- Always split test subject lines before they go live to maximize email open rates and make your email marketing campaign more cost-effective.
Read also: Should You Use Emojis in Email Subject Lines in 2025?
Conclusion
Subject lines are pivotal in a well-received Cyber Monday email marketing campaign. The subject line examples and strategies here should enhance customer engagement and sales.
Your small business will be in it to win it with Cyber Monday email subject lines that achieve more.
EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support software for small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs. You get email marketing, marketing automation, landing pages and email templates, sales pipelines, and more.
Sign up with EngageBay for free, or book a demo with our experts.
Announce your Cyber Monday sale on the Sunday before, or earlier that week, and send reminder emails then. Go live at midnight or Monday morning.
Noon to 1 p.m. has long been the sweet spot for sending Cyber Monday emails. People work on the Monday after Thanksgiving, but many will check their inboxes during lunch to begin shopping, explaining why this timeslot is so popular.
Using urgent words or power words can help you make an impact without the risk of being spammy. Try these terms: amazing, exciting, announcing, exclusive, quick, and inspiring.
Skipping A/B testing is the biggest mistake. Avoid excessive caps, emojis, or symbols—they may not render properly. Always proofread for grammar and spelling.
Start with 2 clear variants (urgency vs. personalization); if one wins, iterate with a new control.
Sparingly — 1–2 emojis max and only if they align with your brand voice; always A/B test for deliverability.
