The document provides tips for writing effective emails. It recommends making the subject line clear and concise, using an appropriate greeting, keeping the page layout easy to read with shorter paragraphs and less words, formatting the email for readability, keeping the message focused, using appropriate language, proofreading before sending, and using the To and Cc fields appropriately. Key tips include having an informative subject line, being brief, putting the main point up front, making it easy for the reader to reply, and ending with the next step. The document also advises against leaving the subject line blank, using all capital letters or emoticons/abbreviations, sending without checking for mistakes, or assuming the reader has time for a long message.
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Tip 1: Make the Subject Line clearand concise
When someone scans through a new email, the only thing he/she
initially reads is the subject line. Thishelpstherecipient to decidewhether
to open, forward, file, or trash amessage.
So makesure:-
TheSubject clearly summarizesyour e-mail’sintentions.
Keep it short - you never know how widethetext display on theperson's
email reader is- long subject lineswill get truncated.
Don't ever send an email with an empty subject line.
Don't havethesubject as"Hi" or "Hello there" unlessthepurposeof your
email isto simply say hello.
If your reply is no t relevant at all to the subject line, start a new thread with aIf your reply is no t relevant at all to the subject line, start a new thread with a
fresh subject line whichmo re accurately reflects the e-mail’ s actual co ntents.fresh subject line whichmo re accurately reflects the e-mail’ s actual co ntents.
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Example of a Bad Subject Line :
Subject: Meeting
Hi Jim,
I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have
scheduled next week. Do let me know if you have any
questions!
Best wishes,
Mark
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Example of a Good Subject Line :
Subject: Reminder of 10am Meeting Sched. 10/05 on
PASS Process.
Hi Jim,
I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have
scheduled for Monday, October 5, at 10:00am. It's being
held in conference room A, and we'll be discussing the
new PASS Process.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch
(x3024).
Best Wishes,
Mark
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Tip 2: Use an appropriate greeting
The first line of youremail should be a greeting, followed by an empty
line and then yourmessage body.
If it isthefirst timeyou areemailing somebody, "Hi (name),“ or Dear (name)
should bepreferred.
Salutations are tricky, especially if you are crossing cultures.
Frequently, titlesaredifferent for men and women, and you may not beableto
tell which you areaddressing.
Thefamily nameisfirst in someculturesand last in others.
Honorificsmay vary based on status, ageor region.
Makesureyou havegot all thisright beforeyou proceed with theemail.
E.g.: It issafer to use"Ms." instead of "Miss" or "Mrs." unlessyou know the
preferenceof thewoman in question.
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Tip 3: The Page Layout
Usually people find it hard to read words on a computerscreen
than on paper. To makeyour email easy to read :-
1. Use ShorterParagraphs - Consider breaking up paragraphsto only afew
sentencesapiece. That way thereaderscan easily seenew paragraphsas
they end and begin. They don't haveto scroll.
2. Use Less Words - Long sentencesarenot appropriatefor most e-mail,
especially businesse-mail. Keep your sentencesto amaximum of 12-15
words.
3. Keep it Short - A good ruleof thumb isto keep everything on one"page"
or one"screen." In most casesthismeansabout 20-30 lines.
4. Provide blank lines between each paragraph.
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Tip 4: Formatting
Put all important details at the top of the email body (oreven
better, in the Subject line). Don't bury akey pieceof information in alarge
paragraph and expect abusy person to extract it upon first reading. Thelarger
theparagraph (and themoreparagraphsthereare), themorelikely arethe
chancesof thereader missing aparticular point you aretrying to make.
Keep the rest of the email short (8 sentences max.). After you've
madeyour main point, therest of thesentencesin your email should provide
additional supporting information.
Yourgoalis tohavethepersonreadyouremailandhopefullyrespondtoit
withinashorttimeperiod, sokeepyoure-mailas shortas possibletomakeit
easierforyourreadertocomprehend.
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Tip 5: Keep the message focused and readable.
Often recipientsonly read partway through along message, hit "reply" assoon
asthey havesomething to contribute, and forget to keep reading. Thisispart of
human nature.
If youre-mail contains multiple messages that areonly loosely related, in
order to avoid therisk that your reader will reply only to thefirst item that grabs
hisor her fancy, you could numberyourpoints to ensurethey areall read.
The final sentence - Eitherprovide something concrete to reply to or
make it clearthat a reply is not necessary.
E.g.: "Pleaselet meknow what appointment timeswork best for you." or "I
look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 1pm in my office."
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Example depicting Multiple Messages –
Not Preferred
Subject: Revisions For Sales Report
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for sending in that report last week. I read through it
yesterday and feel that you need more specific information
regarding our sales figures in Chapter 2. I also felt that the tone
could be a bit more formal. The report is going to be read by our
Executive Team, and needs to reflect our professionalism.
Also, I wanted to let you know that I've scheduled a meeting with
the PR department for this Friday, regarding the new ad
campaign. It's at 11:00, and will be in the small conference room.
Please let me know if you can make that time.
Thanks!
Monica
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Multiple reasons to be sent as 2 emails
Subject: Revisions For Sales Report
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for sending in that report last week. I read
through it yesterday and feel that you need more
specific information regarding our sales figures in
Chapter 2. I also felt that the tone could be a bit more
formal. The report is going to be read by our Executive
Team, and needs to reflect our professionalism.
Thanks for your hard work on this!
Monica
AND
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Email 2
Subject: Friday 10/9, 11am Meeting w/PR Dept
Hi Jackie,
I wanted to let you know that I've scheduled a meeting
with the PR department for this Friday, 10/9, regarding
the new ad campaign.
It's at 11:00am, and will be in the small conference
room. Please let me know if you can make that time.
Thanks!
Monica
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Specify the Response You Want
Bad Example
From: reliablelandscapes@domain.com
Subject: Proposal
Lynn,
Did you get my proposal last week? I haven't heard back
and wanted to make sure.
Can you please call me so we can discuss?
Thanks!
Peter
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Good Example
Subject: Checking On Reliable Landscapes Proposal
Dear Lynn,
I just wanted to check that you have received the landscaping
proposal I emailed to you last week. I haven't heard back and
wanted to make sure it went through.
Can you please call me by Thursday so we can discuss? This is when
our discount offer expires, and I want to make sure you don't miss
it!
The quickest way to contact me is by cell phone.
Thanks!
Peter Schuell, Owner
Reliable Landscaping, Inc.
555.135.4598 (office)
555.135.2929 (cell)
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Tip 6: Use Appropriate Language
1. Do not use:-
(a) Smilies. E.g.: :-), :-( etc.
(b) Abbreviations. E.g.: IIRC for "if I recall correctly", BTW for “by the
way”, LOL for "laughing out loud," etc.
(c) Non-standard spellings (likethat found in instant messaging or chat
rooms). E.g.: gimme(giveme), tht (that), dificlt (difficult), vil (will), etc.
These linguistic sho rtcuts are generally signs o f friendly intimacy so are
no t co nsidered appro priate fo r business e-mails.
2. All-caps means shouting. Regardlessof your intentions, peoplewill
interpret thisasyour being aggressive.
3. Use active instead of passive. Try to usetheactivevoiceof averb
wherever possible.
For instance, 'Wewill takecareof your request today', soundsbetter than
'Your request will betaken careof today'.
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Tip 7: Proof-read
If you are sending a message that will be read by a client, orsomeone
higherup on the chain of command (a superiorora manager, for
instance), orif you're about to mass-mail dozens orthousands of
people, take an extra minute ortwo before you hit "send".
Poor spelling and grammar show alack of attention to detail and sendsthe
wrong messageabout yourself and how you do business.
By reading your e-mail over beforeyou send it you can catch and correct all
sortsof mistakesbeforethey get to therecipient and possibly createabad
impression or put you and/or your company in hot water.
Spell checker won't catch every mistake, at thevery least it will catch afew
typos.
If youareaskingsomeoneelsetodoworkforyou, takethetimetomake
yourmessagelookprofessional.
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Tip 8: Use the "To:" and "Cc:" fields
appropriately Usually it isimplied that if you haveincluded someonein the "To:" field,
then he/sheisan intended recipient and should reply if required.
If someoneisin the"Cc:" field, then theemail ismerely an FYI ('for your
information') for him/her, and he/sheisnot expected to reply.
If you want aparticular person to reply to aspecific part of your email, make
that clear (e.g., "Sarah, could you forward melast week'sbudget?"), or if you
want everyoneto reply, you can say something like"I would appreciate
everyone'sfeedback about my ideas."
When an email hasmorethan onerecipient, thereisthedanger of nobody
replying becauseeveryonethinksthat someoneelsehasalready replied. That is
why "Reply to All"might beagood ideato show that you havealready replied
so that somebody elsedoesnot later duplicatetheinformation you havejust
provided.
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Lets summarize:-
DO’s :-
Write an informative subject line.
Be courteous.
Put the key point of yourmessage up front.
Be brief.
Make it easy forthe readerto reply yes orno orgive a short
answer.
End well with an appropriate next step.
Wait and check before pressing 'send' – Proof-read.
Make yourself look good online because youremail can be
forwarded to anyone oreveryone else in the company oranywhere.
Respond promptly.
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Lets summarize:-
DON’Ts :-
Don't leave the Subject Line blank.
Don't use all capital letters.
Don't use emoticons orabbreviations.
Don't send without checking formistakes.
Don’t assume that people have time to read yourentire message.
Don’t think that an e-mail is good foreverything.
Don’t write an e-mail when you are rushed.
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Exercise :
Situation :
Your monthly mobile bill was of Rs.1870 for the billing
cycle 14th
Jan-14th
Feb and while performing the online
transaction Rs.2000 was deducted from your account number.
Task :
Write an email to the concerned service provider and
ask for a refund or adjustment of the extra amount paid in the
next billing cycle.
The email must stage the following :
To :
CC:
BCC:
Subject :
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Exercise 2 :
Situation :
You had appeared for an interview for the post of
Business Development Executive at Genpact, Hyderabad.
Task :
Send a Thank you note via an email to the Company
Official who had interviewed you on the same day for the
post of Business Development Executive.
The email must stage the following :
To :
CC:
BCC:
Subject :
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Exercise 3:
Situation :
It was already informed to the participants that the
meeting would be conducted on 15th
Mar’2013 at 4.30pm in
the Firangi Pani Conference Hall, Hotel Park. Because of
some reasons the Venue has been changed to Aryabhatta
Hall, Hotel Marriot.
Task:
Write a mail to the participants stating the change
in venue.
To :
CC:
BCC:
Subject :