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Getting
too many emails? Spending exorbitant amounts of time doing replies, deletes,
and filing? You are not alone! Today we address how to help people (and you)
to be more effective with this techno touch - the Subject line!
First
off and most important: Put something in the subject line. Some email
programs won't let you send without filling the subject line in which just
goes to show that even a machine thinks it's important.
So
what do you put in the subject line? This is the question that makes you
either effective or ineffective and also shows your professionalism and
style.
If
it's a new email ask yourself how you want to be perceived by the reader
when they get your email. I recently spoke to a woman who gets more emails
than she wants and feels capable of handling. She's in email overload like a
lot of us. She spoke at length about how ineffective many people are in
using subject lines. She is brutal in deleting anything without a subject
line, with a subject line she doesn't think applies to her or that seems
like an ad. She scans down that subject line and gets busy deleting first
thing.
It
occurred to me that she may be missing some things that may be of value that
she possibly needs to see etc. but with over a hundred emails coming in each
day she feels the risk is worth the wasted time. This is a decision that she
has made and works for her but if people would use subject lines more
effectively she won't have to worry because emails with valuable information
will state that in the subject line. At least yours will after reading this
article!
If
you want busy people to read or reply you MUST put in a relevant subject
line.
Here
are a few ideas on subject lines:
1.
Be Specific and familiar
Subject:
Here's the status xyz project
Subject:
Completion of project xyz is on time
Subject:
Please RSVP for Nov. administrator conference
Subject:
Company picnic info
2.
Be Concise
Subject:
Your order is on its way
Subject:
It arrived!
Subject:
Deadline is March 1
Subject:
Final outline
Subject:
[Name of ezine]
To
be more effective on email read the subject line first and if it states
something you feel could be of value then glance at the sender and you
either open it or delete it and others can do the same to you.
Be
careful of sending real generic subjects or ones that may seem like an ad.
Those are the first emails busy people delete and your important information
may go in the trash without a glance. This could be why you don't get
replies sometimes from people you send information to.
I
do realize that spammers are getting very clever with the subject lines they
use which is why some of the icky stuff makes it past filters but with a
little thought you can be a lot more effective by using subject lines
specifically and concisely!
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Shawna
Schuh, Certified Speaking Professional helps organizations attract more
business, enhance credibility and develop deeper connections with people.
Flying out of Portland, Oregon Shawna is available for speaking engagements
that can help your organization! Contact Sandy McCready at Sandy@BusinessGraces.com
Or
call toll free 877-377-1946 to find out more about how this Finesse
Philosopher can help your bottom line!
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