Closer to Fine

Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with my newsletter subject lines.

Fun fact: My 80s and 90s song-title subject lines consistently outperform the more “optimized” ones.

When I use titles like:

• With or Without You
• Stuck in the Middle with You
• It’s the End of the World as We Know It

… open rates are 50%+.

When I use titles like:

• Leveraging LinkedIn to Grow Your Business
• How to Land on a Board in 2026
• Where the Market is Today

… open rates range from 42-46%.

I’m happy enough with a 42% open rate - my newsletter has grown from 2000 to 6300+ email subscribers and 39,000+ LinkedIn subscribers in the past 2.5 years. Throughout that growth, I’ve maintained a ~50% average open rate. With an industry average open rate hovering between 20–25%, that feels pretty good.

When I started writing the newsletter, I always used the retro song titles. It honestly made the writing process more fun for me and it seemed like it resonated with the readers too.

A few months back, though, I started thinking more about SEO/GEO optimization. I would ask ChatGPT to help me come up with the "perfect" subject line. What I would have previously titled "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" became "Countering Ageism in the Executive Job Search."

I probably wouldn't open that email either.

In today's world of constant optimization, this reminded me of something that we all need to remember: we have to keep writing for the human reader. It's not that we don't want to think about optimizing for algorithm and searchability, but it's that we don't want to get stuck there. So whatever you're writing today, don't forget about the human on the other side of the interaction.

My middle daughter puts it perfectly: "Robot essays sound like robot essays."

We can tell when you aren't writing for the reader. And that's whether it's an email, comment, resume, LinkedIn profile, or post - we can't lose the human reader on the other side of the equation.

I may still use "optimized" subject lines from time to time - especially if it feels like it fits the content. But you'll probably see more headlines like "Welcome to Jungle" (courtesy of a LinkedIn commenter) or "Come as You Are" from me.

And if you have a song title you think I should use?
Send it my way.

This week's LinkedIn posts:

​"A lot of my network has retired, but I'm not ready."​

​Being told that you are overqualified for a role just hurts, especially when you are in an extended job search.​

​Poll: If you expect to work past 65, is it by choice or necessity? (3400+ votes)​

​“Tech companies don't want us 60 year olds representing their hot new tech.. That's how I feel after 2 years of looking in the payments space.”​

​My 67-year-old client secured a 50% raise and 75% cut in commuting time in his new role with a Fortune 500 company. Here's what worked for him.​

If you’re navigating a career transition and trying to find your authentic voice — in your resume, LinkedIn profile, or strategy — that’s the work I do every day with executives as part of Ageless Careers.

You don’t need to sound optimized.

You need to sound like you.

Learn more here: https://www.agelesscareers.com/shop​

As always, thank you for being part of this community.

Best -

Colleen​
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