Top Five Things To Focus On For Every Email You Send

Every email you send is a reflection of you, so make every message you craft worthy of your reputation.

Email marketing gets a lot of attention – hours and hours are spent on just the right subject line, the message and the call-to-action ending. Isn’t your email as important as an email marketing message? (I’m hoping you said yes since I delete most of my unsolicited emails but I read every email from co-workers!)

1. Subject line
   Clearly state what your email focus is. This helps your reader know why they should read your email before they even open up. If you are forwarding an email from someone else, make sure the subject line is still accurate. If you are forwarding a message and the current subject line isn’t working, change it! You’re not offending anyone – you are helping your forwarded email get some love.
2. Top Line of the Email
   Consider repeating your subject line as the first line of the email. It helps the reader understand your message better by repeating the focus. Of course, this isn’t always the best strategy but give it a go for those important business emails.
3. Edit Your Email For the Recipient
   Customize your email so it works for the reader. Is it for the CEO or your coworker? Use a bulleted list for the CEO, or perhaps you need to include a summary of the last department meeting for an email to your co-worker.
4. Edit the Message
   We have ALL hit that Send key too quickly – what a sinking feeling when you realize you sent your grocery list to your boss and your budget to your spouse. It is always worth the time to reread your email for typos, including checking the recipients. Also use this edit opportunity to tighten your wording, eliminating unnecessary distractions for the reader.
5. Call To Action
   Every good email marketing campaign as a call-to-action (CTA)- a summary of the email focus and what next steps you want your reader to take. This is the same for your business emails. As a conclusion of the email, summarize your message and be clear with the next step for your reader. The CTA may be simple, requesting the reader to confirm receipt. It might be five tasks that you repeat as a short bulleted list. But always end with a CTA to get results from your efforts. If you don’t need a CTA, you don’t need to send the email!