You want others to read your emails? Don’t make these three mistakes.
Email Mistake #1: Hide your lead.
A recent email from my gym: “Please read all the way through this email to hear our important announcement.”
Are you kidding me? Do you want to make your readers work harder to find out what you mean? It won’t happen. You’ll get deleted.
The lead sentence should say: “The gym will be closed on Wednesday due to roof repairs.”
Your Email Rule #1: Lead with your need.
Email Mistake #2: Begin with “I”.
A recent email begins: “This month I discuss how I came to invent and write my novel…”
Not sure what else this email is about because it got deleted. (I dug it out of my digital trash bin to share with you.)
Word to the wise: We care about you when you share how you can benefit us, your reader. Make your emails “Other-Centric” and train your brain to focus on your reader, not you or your business.
Your Email Rule #2: Begin with “YOU”.
Email Mistake #3: Take the low road.
A friend once said, “Take the high road, it’s a better view.” You might be a bit stressed these days and you might want to say what you are really thinking … on email! Don’t do it. My mom always said, “Paper is permanent”, and I’ll add to her sentence: “and email is viral.” If you have issues that need to be discussed, call the person or meet for coffee or have a zoom conversation.
Your Email Rule #3: Take the high road.
Your Bonus Email Tip: Keep it short.
And that’s a wrap.
Author: Karen Cortell Reisman is Founder of Speak For Yourself®, a communication consulting firm, and the author of 2 books on how to communicate. She lives in Dallas, Texas and ruthlessly deletes bad email.
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© 2021 Karen Cortell Reisman, All rights reserved
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Your blog “What Not To Do” was sent to the staff at my company. And your recommendations were used in the body of the message to everyone.
Joel – I’m so pleased that your company will use this info on creating better emails. Thanks for letting us know. Karen