We’ve all done one or more of the 7 mistakes listed below, so let’s improve on that before we click send. Leave a like if you’ve learned something new and give the page a follow so you can stay up to date with future posts.
- Using all caps in your subject line: This is usually used to grab attention which will work, but unless it’s urgent don’t use it, because your recipient will perceive it as possible SPAM mail. In addition, writing in all caps to a lot of people on the internet is equivalent to shouting and is jarring, so tone it down.
- Unclear Subject Lines – “If the subject isn’t clear, [the receiver] might not know what the conversation is about,” says Moah. Be specific with the subject line so your recipient understands what the content of the message will entail. Don’t use generic subject lines such as “Hi” or “Please read” because this type of banal subject line can just be ignored. Furthermore, the subject line is subject to change when multiple emails need to be sent among a group. With that said, the main takeaway here is, that if you don’t write a new subject line, it will lead to your recipients not easily finding the thread.
- Not using “CC” or BCC” – “Adding people on an email in the ‘to:’ heading notes that input is expected, while ‘cc:’ informs recipients that they are being brought into the loop but that no action is required,” Moah says
- Writing too much or too little – This all depends on the context. The length of the message needs to be appropriate to the situation. If it’s an Email to a coworker to get lunch somewhere, a sentence or two will suffice. However, if it’s an Email that pertains to something work-related, a longer message (a paragraph or two) is usually expected.
- Not ending the Email with gratitude – It’s common courtesy to end the Email with a “Thank you” or a “Thanks in Advance”. This signifies that you appreciate their time for reading and giving your message the attention it needs. According to Boomerang, ending your email with these phrases will boost your response rate by 36 percent compared to other ones such as “Best regards’ ‘, ”Cheers”, and ”Best “.
- Sending Emails on Monday – This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send an Email on Monday, it’s just that people are not in the best mood and are more susceptible to making mistakes. Boomerang states that people sending Emails on Monday are the most negative in their subject lines and therefore won’t be responded to because no one has time for negativity.
- Expecting an immediate response – Even though Emails are quick to send, it’s not text messages, so don’t expect an immediate response because it’s not guaranteed. The recipient will respond whenever they’re ready.
Works Cited
Vozza, Stephanie. “Stop Annoying Everyone With These Common Email Mistakes.” Pocket, 31 Aug. 2018, getpocket.com/explore/item/stop-annoying-everyone-with-these-common-email-mistakes?utm_source=pocket-newtab&fbclid=IwAR3aTCnVlK1FAjnoBNMWNZ_caz4pNW_iadJGR1_WXjuq361Hl7iT2Xu0GGA.
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