<b>The subject line is half the battle</b>

<b>The subject line is half the battle</b>

When you reply by email, the reporter sees your subject line before anything else. If it's dull, your brilliant answer never gets opened. Think of it like the cover of a book on a crowded shelf.

Three habits for a subject line that gets opened:

1. Lead with the answer, not yourself. "3 quick ways to cut a grocery bill" beats "Expert available for interview."
2. Match their words. If their query said "budget travel," use "budget travel" in your subject.
3. Keep it short. Phones cut off long lines. Aim for under nine words.

The goal isn't to be clever. It's to let a busy reporter see, in one glance, that you have exactly what they asked for.

Try this today: take a query and write three different subject lines for it. Pick the one that most clearly promises the answer. That instinct sharpens fast with practice.