We’ve all been there – staring at a blank email draft, wondering how to make that message sound professional yet personable, short yet informative. Well, wonder no more! Here are a few tips and tricks to elevate your business email game and make your colleagues, clients and boss sit up and take notice.
- Keep it short and sweet: Unless you’re writing a novel, nobody has the time or patience to read through a long-winded email. Get to the point, and keep it concise.
- Be formal, but not too formal: Remember, you’re not writing a letter to the Queen. While it’s important to use formal language, don’t be afraid to add a touch of personality to make your message more relatable.
- Use the subject line wisely: The subject line of your email is like the headline of a newspaper article – it needs to be attention-grabbing and give an idea of what the email is about. Avoid using vague or misleading subject lines like “Hello” or “Meeting”, instead be specific like “Meeting Agenda for January 26th”
- Watch your tone: Business emails are not the place for sarcasm, jokes or passive-aggressiveness. Keep your tone neutral, and avoid using emoticons or exclamation marks.
- Proofread, proofread, proofread: Before hitting the “send” button, make sure you’ve re-read your email and corrected any spelling or grammatical errors. Nothing says “I don’t take this seriously” like a typo-riddled email.
- Be polite and use a courteous closing: Use polite phrases like “Thank you for your time” or “I look forward to hearing from you soon” to end your email, and always include your contact information.
So, there you have it – the secret sauce to writing killer business emails. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and formats until you find the one that works best for you. Happy emailing!
Here’s a sample business email that incorporates the tips and tricks we discussed:
Subject: Request for Meeting on March 15th
Dear [Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request a meeting with you to discuss [topic of discussion]. I believe that this meeting would be beneficial for both of us as it would provide an opportunity for us to discuss [what you want to achieve from the meeting].
I would like to schedule the meeting for March 15th at 2 PM. If this time does not work for you, please let me know and we can arrange for a different time that suits your schedule.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards, [Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
In this email, we’ve kept it short and sweet, used formal yet personable language, and have a clear subject line. Also, we made a polite request and added a courteous closing. And, we also added a specific date and time for the meeting, which makes it more effective.
