E-marketing solutions aren't a fad. They're a proven method for marketing your business. E-mail messages are a simple way to harness the power of e-marketing solutions. The hurdle you have to overcome is getting your potential customers to look at what you have to say. A compelling subject line is the secret to convincing your prospect to read your e-mail.

Research consistently shows that checking e-mail is the number one online activity. In fact, that's the only reason that some Internet users log on at all. At first this information may leave you feeling frustrated. How will you ever get these people to learn about your products if they're not looking at your website?

It's time to rethink e-mail! Communicating with potential customers via e-mail is one of the most effective e-marketing solutions available to you. The key is knowing how to get their attention. You have to make sure that you don't blend in with the scams and spam that inundate our inboxes these days. Your objective is to make your e-mail stand out so that it turns prospects into customers.

The right e-marketing solution can get someone who's never even heard of your product to realize it's something they can't live without. The first step is to capture your reader's attention. Once you've got them intrigued, they'll read your e-mail and take in your full marketing message. By the time they've reached the bottom of the e-mail, you have convinced them that your product will make their lives better. That's the power of an effective subject line.

Don't just dive in and start typing away, though. In order to craft an e-mail that gets the job done, you need to know the components of a successful e-marketing solution.

The important element of your marketing e-mail is the subject line. With an inbox full of messages to deal with, the subject line of an e-mail is one of the ways that a person decides whether to read it or trash it. The best way to get them to do the latter is to ask a question in the subject line. This question should be carefully crafted. It should create a sense of urgency by promising an answer to a specific question.

Here's an example. Suppose you own an online business that sells gardening products. An intriguing subject line would be something like "Are squirrels taking over your vegetable garden?" By comparison, a subject line such as "Keeping rodents away from your vegetables" is less likely to capture someone's interest.

The question should be a teaser. Once they've read it, they just can't ignore it. They want to know the answer. You're drawing them in with the promise of information that will improve their lives or their business.

Remember, whatever the e-marketing solution, it should always answer this question: what's in it for me? A busy person (and everyone is busy) needs to be convinced that they should give you some of their valuable time. By tacking on an extra tidbit after your question, you increase their interest. Now they know that you're not just asking question. You're going to provide them with a useful answer to that question. For example, you could use something like, "Are squirrels taking over your vegetable garden? 3 simple ways to keep out the rodents."

When you receive e-mail, you have three choices. You can open it up and read it, save it for later or delete it. A hum-drum subject line, or one that's blatant self-promotional, won't get your e-mail read. An e-mail that winds up in the virtual trash bin isn't a successful e-marketing solution. The importance of a compelling subject line can't be overstated. Your e-mail might contain top-notch content, but it doesn't mean anything if it's never opened.