Computer and Web Articles

Are the email replies you receive addressing only a portion of your points or questions? Perhaps some of your emails go completely unanswered? Following the (very simple) tips below can make it easier and more convenient for your recipients to reply–which ultimately increases your odds of receiving timely, meaningful responses.

• Make sure your requests are clear and direct. Open-ended take more time and energy to process. Replying to “Maybe we should ask John if he can help with the site?” takes far more work than replying to “Call John tomorrow and explain the issues we’re encountering on Page Y of our website. Please email me back once you’ve confirmed he’ll be able to work on the issue and when he expects the fix to be completed.”
• Use meaningful titles in your subject lines. Emails with vague subject lines (such as “Hi!” or “Question” or “XYZ project”) are often given less attention than emails with subject lines containing clear calls to action or requests (such as “Project Summary Report Needed by 3pm Friday“). Esteemed blogger and consultant Chris Brogan suggests going a step further and capitalizing your subject line’s major point, such as “MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING: Check Tuesday or Friday.”
• Provide Deadlines (if applicable): Work to keep your emails from being placed in the “I’ll-respond-when-I-have-the-time” category by providing clear deadlines, such as “Please confirm or reschedule by 10am tomorrow.”
• Keep it Short and Sweet: Though easy for many people, I personally find this tactic the most challenging, by far. Brevity is beauty when it comes to crafting emails which require replies. Help your recipients quickly determine what you need by stripping out the unnecessary and placing your most important points at the top.