This is a MAGIC subject line that works so well… they turned it into a powerful direct mail package.

It’s been demonstrated time and again by Agora Financial — the quarter billion per year earning subsidiary that came up with it — and has deployed it since early 2015.

Your FREE Book is on Hold

The original subject line from Jim Rickards was: I have your book on hold…

Look, this thing has been knocked off SO MANY times, both by email and direct mail… and CONTINUES to burst into inboxes and mailboxes alike… that I must share the BODY COPY of this workhorse of a subject line template with you.

Isn’t it a beaut?

The reason why it works so well is it throws the ball in your prospect’s court and it triggers an internal dialogue like this.

“Did I order something from them? If it’s on hold, I’d better check it out and see if I should take action.”

Here’s a selection of subject lines to show you the depth of this lead and how it can yank response out of ANY list.

Addison Wiggin — “Your book is still on hold…”

Corporal Joshua Johnson — “I have your FREE book on hold…”

Daily Reckoning — “Mike Has Your Package on Hold”

The Daily Edge — “Your FREE Book Is on Hold (#291879)” [This one is from April of 2018 and seems to mimic an order or tracking number. Clever!]

Palm Beach Research Group — “FW:LAWRENCE: Awaiting confirmation (book on hold)”

 So, once you see so many variations of this:

You KNOW there’s gold in them thar hills!

I once tried the subject line: “Your FedEx is on hold” reckoning that would get way more attention than a plain ol’ package or book.

Not so much!

I was hit with a barrage of emails and phone calls by respondents leaving their mailing address who thought they’d certainly ordered something but didn’t. Not what I intended but I shall be testing a variation of it again.

If you or your clients have a lead generation offer, the “Blank on Hold” subject line merits a try or two.

Yours for bolder response,

Lawrence Bernstein
(The world’s most obsessed ad archivist)