Do you ever dread opening your email browser? It’s a brand new morning, and the last thing you want to see, is a flood of emails requesting your response. So what do you do next? You might start from the bottom and work your way up, or, you might scan to see which ones appear most important. We’re all guilty of ignoring an email, because well, it doesn’t look appealing. Your busy schedule takes priority and the email gets thrown into the “maybe later” category. In reality we know that email probably isn’t even going to get viewed.
Now let’s put the shoe on the other foot. Suppose you’re the one sending the email. You’re seeking a job, trying to make a sale or just looking for some information, what do you put in that subject line? It’s the first thing people see and judge. What will separate your email from all the others? What will capture the reader’s attention? Just like the beginning of a story, you don’t want get off on the wrong foot and bore your reader (yikes). You want to make a great first impression. So what does all this tell me? The subject line matters… a lot!
Here are a couple tips I discovered for making a great first impression with your email, and are proven to help get your emails opened:
- Keep it short! Business Insider author, Jenna Goudreau, explains through her article, How to Write the Perfect Email Subject Line for Job Hunting, that in this day in age, most emails are often read on mobile phones, only revealing 25-30 characters of your subject line. What does this mean? Put the most important information first. If it’s short and to the point, it appears more urgent, making it an important email.
- Personalize your email. In a Forbes article, Eight Ways to Get Your Emails Opened, author Deborah Jacobs explains it’s important to focus on your reader. A little research goes a long way. Know their name and focus on THEIR goals and needs. Don’t be afraid to mention their name and briefly state what you have to offer. In the email you can detail just how spectacular your offer is, but first, get them to open it.
Finally, don’t forget that timing matters! On top of the subject line, the time of day you send your business email also makes a difference. Before clicking “send,” try to keep these in mind:
- Monday – The best day of the week to email! Early morning, before business hours, ensures your email will be at the top of the list, increasing the chances of it being opened.
- Tuesday – Thursday – 10am to 2pm. The morning rush is over and attention spans are still going strong.
- Friday – Minds are often too focused on the weekend. Your email is much less likely to be seen.
In a society that values communication through technology, it’s important to make a great first impression. When you show up to an interview, you want to walk in with a smile and freshly pressed shirt. Similarly, when you send an email, you want to sound original, confident and professional. Keep these tips in mind the next time you write an email and never forget to take one last final glance before clicking the send button!
Do you have any more tips or tricks to offer? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below!