Last night, sitting at our kitchen island:
“Get your damn act together! Ha!” I muttered to my phone. “Classic.”
“Excuse me?” my wife shot, looking up from the stove and her bubbling cauldron of chicken soup.
“Oh, uh…” I put my phone down and pointed at the screen. “Just got one of the best email subject lines I’ve ever seen. Gonna go write about it.”
My wife closed her eyes and pretended like I didn’t say anything, while I sat down at my desk to write this.
Why This Email Works (And How You Can Copy It)
One of my signature pro marketing moves is NOT removing myself from promotional email lists.
You know how you have to give your phone number and email address to everybody from Walmart to your florist? And then you get a text that says something like:
“Text STOP to opt out.”
Or an email that says:
“Click here to unsubscribe.”
And you’ve never seen your fingers move that fast in your life?
STOP. UNSUBSCRIBE.
No more texts from Dr. Pohk at 3 AM telling you about his Valentine’s Day prostate exam special.
(Bring a friend for 50% off!)
Well, I STAY on those promo lists. It’s free daily marketing inspiration.
I mean… most of it sucks.
But every now and then?
You get gold like this:
Subject: Get your damn act together.
Body:
Last chance for overnight shipping!
Procrastinators get drugstore chocolates.
Planners get decadence delivered.
Order by midnight tonight and they’ll never know you waited til the last minute.
Don’t mess this up →
👏👏👏
Why This Email Is So Effective
This came from Last Crumb, a luxury bakery that sells cookies at…
$12 …EACH.
And before you ask…
No, I didn’t get my wife cookies at the last minute.
As we all know, Valentine’s Day is about CHOCOLATE. A hundred years of propaganda tradition can’t be wrong.
Also, no… I’m not pitching you on Last Crumb. Frankly… I think spending $12 on a single cookie is outrageous.
The whole point is…
There are about 20,000 emails in my inbox right now.
If you got an email with THAT subject line—get your damn act together—how could you possibly resist opening it?
Let’s break down why this email is so powerful:
- A Strong Hook – The subject line commands attention. It feels personal, urgent, and maybe even a little confrontational. Perfect for cutting through the noise.
- Contrast & Urgency – The body creates a clear “good vs. bad” scenario. Do you want to be a planner with high-quality gifts, or a last-minute mess grabbing whatever’s left?
- Conversational Tone – This email doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like a friend giving you a nudge (or a shove) in the right direction.
- A Clear, Simple CTA – “Don’t mess this up →” No fluff. Just action.
How You Can Apply This To Your Own Emails
Want to write emails that people actually want to open? Steal these three principles:
- Use Subject Lines That Stop People Cold – Be bold. Be direct. Be unexpected.
- Tap Into Emotions – Whether it’s urgency, curiosity, or even a little shame, make them feel something.
- Make Action Easy – No paragraphs of fluff. No “Learn More” buttons. Give them a clear next step.
Wouldn’t it feel powerful to wield that kind of influence in the inbox for your own business?
Of course it would.
If you want to feel like a big, powerful man or woman who makes money every time you hit “Send,” and receive the love and adoration of those around you, then it’s time to jump on my (growing) email list.
Do so here:
👉 Get Poked with Hot Email Tips
Every moment you dawdle may cost you dearly.
Bought chocolate in advance,
Nick
