123PostcardMarketing.com REAL Relationship Marketing … Easy as 1-2-3

Writing An Effective Email

There are a few key steps to keep in mind when writing effective emails:

Have a Meaningful Subject Line: This is important for two reasons. First, anything that appears insignificant could very well get lost in the shuffle. Firstly, it needs to give the reader an idea of what they can expect upon opening the email. Having a subject line that’s unrelated to the email is a recipe for miscommunication and possible disaster. Secondly, anything that appears insignificant could very well get lost in the shuffle. A subject line needs to contain information that’s not only important to the reader but interesting as well.

Stay Focused: When a writer strays off topic, so will the reader. Figure out what your message is and stick to it. Creat several emails if possible. This will ensure that each message has focus, enabling the reader to respond to them (or not) with equal focus.

Also, always begin your email with your most important points. If you don’t get their attention quick you will lose them.

Play by the Rules: Follow the rules of standard capitalization and spelling. Capitalizing everything is equivalent to shouting, and using all lower case is amateurish at best. Writing an email this way, however, will translate into a pedestrian attempt and convey the wrong message.

Also, many people’s email readers aren’t equipped to handle strange fonts or indentions. Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial. When you begin a new paragraph, try skipping a line rather than tabbing over.

Avoid Spamming and Attachments: Everyone has at least one friend who has sent so many frivolous emails that you no longer even bother to look at his or her messages. Don’t become that person. Attachments aren’t necessarily a bad thing; but if you can fit your message within the body of an email, then you should do so. Attachments take time to download, may carry viruses, and take up space on a recipient’s hard drive. In addition, they don’t always translate, especially if the reader is opening the email on a PDA.

Be Nice: Being overly critical in an email or disciplining via email is tacky and can lead to more trouble.

It’s also important to keep in mind that email is not always confidential. Once you’ve put something in writing, it can be used against you at a later time, potentially even in court!

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread: Regardless of the author, if an email is being sent out on your behalf, it is your responsibility to proofread it. Not just once, but two or three times.

Learn more about Email Marketing. Stop by Matthew Krause’s site where you can find out all about Email Testimonials and what it can do for you.