Does your email get buried under newsletters and company FYIs. Are you tired of writing emails that never get read? Important messages need to get out – new policy information, company strategies, or even connecting remote teams. You don’t have to be Ernest Hemingway, but your emails need to be engaging if you want to get a message across.
With all the other emails competing for your reader’s attention, your plain email will get drowned out in the noise. Here are some tips to actually get people to read and respond to your emails.
1. Be selective with your target audience:
We open emails that are relevant to us. Otherwise, they get archived or passed over. To make sure that your email gets read, be selective in who you send your email out to. For example, an update regarding a power outage at headquarters won’t affect remote workers so remove them from the distribution list. Target, segment, and select before sending out that email.
2. K.I.S.S. (Keep it short and sweet)
Marketing studies have determined the sweet spot when it comes to email length. The magic number is between 75 to 100 words. So don’t ramble on with unnecessary content. Get to the heart of what you’re saying in order to capture and hold your reader’s attention.
3. Keep the subject line catchy
The military has a very precise way of formatting their email and it starts with a very specific subject line. They use these keywords:
ACTION – Compulsory for the recipient to take some action
SIGN – Requires the signature of the recipient
INFO – For informational purposes only, and there is no response or action required
DECISION – Requires a decision by the recipient
REQUEST – Seeks permission or approval by the recipient
COORD – Coordination by or with the recipient is needed
The next time you compose an email, try the above out for size. It helps your reader know what action to take on your email (if required) and sets their expectations on the content.
4. Be interactive
As employees to share their comments, ideas, feedback, etc. Engage them by playing videos, adding links, posting infographics, or even throwing in a poll or survey.
5. Loop them back with a different subject line
Resend your email to those who did not open it the first time by simply changing the subject line. Be specific that they missed the first one. This will let them know that they missed an important announcement or action. It may even double your open rate. An example of a second loop email subject line is: ACTION: ICYMI (In Case You Missed It), town hall meeting at 1:30 today requires your rsvp.
If it is within your skills, you can use tools like Canva to create a well designed email. Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. It can be used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content.
Like spoken words, written words also need to be given some thought. Keep your open rates high and your teams engaged by writing well thought of emails. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp