Each day this week I am going to write a tip to help you write more effective emails.
There are two challenges with an email. First, you need the receiver to read it and second you need them to take the action you want them to take.
My first tip is about the first challenge. Use the subject line to help the receiver decide what to do.
All of us have developed the skill of parsing the list of messages in our inbox to decide which ones to open. We’ve done that without any help from the people who sent the messages.
But you can help the people who receive your messages when you use the subject line smartly.
As a minimum tell them if the message is a request for action or just for information.
If action is required, tell the receiver right there in the subject line what the action is, the deadline and, if you can, how long it will take them. For example, “Approve budget report by [date]: 10 minutes” is better than “Budget report”.
If an email contains only information then put “FYI” or “For information only” or “No reply needed” or “NRN” into the subject line.
Follow me for another email tip tomorrow.
