I read an email blast on writing good subject lines in a recent email.
It made me reflect on how poorly much of the email I receive communicates and how easy it is for people to improve it.
SECRET # 1: CONSIDER THE RECIPIENT
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I read the email below from you and realized that it suffered from many of the
classic email blunders.
Here is an example message forwarded to my by you.
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From one of my online friends:
*************************************************************
I am leaving my current temp gig — it’s mostly designing and coding emails,
with some occasional site design work. good hourly rate. it’s temp now but
going permanent with benefits soon.
they are very good people to work with so I wish to leave them with someone good
are you qualified and interested?
please email me if you are some-random-address@gmail.com
peace
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It starts with virtually no context. (who is this person – who is leaving his temp gig)
He leaves me with so many questions:
Why do I care what he does?
What do I care about his hourly rate?
Why do I care it is a temp gig that might be perm with benefits?
If he is leaving – why does he care about the change of status?
and then the simple message that ties it all together….
“I wish to leave them with someone good”
are you qualified and interested?
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SECRET # 2: Tell The Story in an order that makes sense to both the recipient, and whomever they might forward it too.
———————————————————————–
I receive so many email like this – and I bet the authors have no idea
how many people stop reading them at the second line?
What was this person REALLY TRYING to say ?
(1) I am leaving My job – and looking for My replacement.
(2) I like the people – and want to help them find a qualified candidate
(3) the job is located [somewhere] and a candidate needs to be able too
(4) they will need someone to design and code emails with some
occasional site design work
(5) This is presently a temp position that they are trying to change
to perm with benefits
DO NOT ASSUME INFORMATION – IT IS SO EASY TO PUT IT IN.
SECRET # 3: Make the Call to Action CLEAR, EFFECTIVE and ABLE to be DELEGATED
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What is it that the sender (YOU) will want to communicate to the recipients (THEM)
and
What do YOU want THEM to do?
Is the request clean and the process for doing it simple and understandable?
(What is that SINGLE ACTION that you would like them to take?)
SECRET # 4: Make THEM (the recipients of your message) know
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1) WHAT YOU WANT
2) WHY YOU WANT IT
3) WHY THEY SHOULD PROVIDE IT
SUMMARY
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The 4 Secrets to Double the Power and Effectiveness of you EMAIL
SECRET # 1: CONSIDER THE RECIPIENT
SECRET # 2: Tell The Story in an order that makes sense to both the recipient, and whomever they might forward it too.
SECRET # 3: Make the Call to Action CLEAR, EFFECTIVE and ABLE to be DELEGATED
SECRET # 4: Make THEM (the recipients of your message) know WHAT YOU WANT, WHY YOU WANT IT, and WHY THEY SHOULD PROVIDE IT
My replacement for the previous Email:
——————————————————
WANTED: someone to design and code emails with some occasional site
design work in [somewhere]
I am leaving My job – and looking for My replacement to be hired by
Oct 18 2009.
I like the people – and want to help them find a qualified candidate.
The job is located [somewhere] and a candidate needs to be able to work [days and hours].
They will need someone to design and code emails with some occasional site design work.
This is presently a temp position that they are trying to change to perm with benefits
If you are interested please contact (wantthejob@yournewcompany.com) or by phone at (888) 555-1212
If you are not the ideal candidate – please forward this message to potentially interested parties.
Thanks.
George Lambert
George Lambert is the Author of “Developing A Cash Cow Marketing Plan”,
a book dedicated to helping people communicate better messages through their websites.
to learn more about “Developing A Cash Cow Marketing Plan”
visit http://cashcowmarketingplan.com
or follow DEVELOPCASHCOWS on twitter
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