Succeed As Your Own Boss

ENDING SMALL BUSINESS FAILURE

  • Home
  • About
  • Book Melinda
  • Consulting
  • SBL Store
    • Books/Workbooks
    • LifePlanningJournal
    • 30 Day Fast Start Program
    • Become Your Own Boss Bundle
    • Fix Your Business Masterclass
    • Write A Business Plan Course
    • Mastermind Group
    • One-on-One VIP Coaching
  • #Smallbizchat
    • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Subscribe to Podcast
  • FAQ
  • Blog
    • Write For Us
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Guest Articles / Effective Emails That Save Time

Effective Emails That Save Time

March 8, 2011 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Feel free to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

As a Professional Organizer, I’ve heard all sorts of excuses about email.  Still, my all time favorite is when I called a new client and asked if they had received my email. “Oh, sorry about that, I declared email bankruptcy and deleted everything in my inbox. I do this about twice a year. If it’s really important they will get back to me.”

Of course he did this because his inbox was FULL, the IT department was yelling at him and he had no hope of finding anything in is his inbox anyway. So before you are tempted to hit delete, keep reading. Believe it or not, sending effective emails yourself will actually save you time and help tame your unruly inbox.

Dedicated Email for Business  I know that the “joke of the day” emails Aunt Iris sends are funny, but honestly, they are clogging up your inbox. The biggest sources of clutter in our inbox are emails we get from friends and family. Personal emails are usually cute, but rarely actionable. Plus, because they are from loved ones, we resist deleting them. So there they sit, smiley faces and all. Keeping a dedicated business email means that clients come first and you can go over your personal emails on the weekends.

To Send Effective Emails is to Receive Effective Emails  Start saving time by making your own emails as actionable as possible. This has two benefits. First, you raise your professionalism and credibility with your contact. Second, you subtly train your email senders to do the same. This can only help the greater good of all email-kind.

Action Oriented Subject Lines  Want your contact to act on your email first? Make the subject line compelling or at the very least something where it is obvious that an action is required. “Action: Johnson Proposal” is good, and “Decision on Johnson Proposal due by 12/28” is even better. This also makes it easier for you to key word search and look for emails where a response is past due. And if you do send the rare email that is “Info Only” put that in the subject line too so they can read it at their leisure.

Anticipate Questions  Who, what, when, where and why are crucial questions for reporters. They are also the keys to helping your contact make that decision or take that action as soon as they open your email. It’s ok to have an introductory paragraph, but after that, make it clear why they should read and answer your email sooner rather than later. Use unique formatting so the reader’s eyes can easily scan for the answers to these questions. If your contact has to read a novel, then guess what? Your email won’t be answered until later, much later.

One Subject per Email  While it may be tempting to pile on all the things you need to say to your contact in one email, keep it to one subject at a time. That way you can track your email threads separately and it makes it easier to key word search at a later date.

When you combine subjects in a single email, most likely the email won’t be replied to as quickly. Worse yet, when you finally do get a reply, you may not get all the subjects answered. This happens quite often when people are responding via blackberry.

Call, then Email  I know this is an article on effective emails, but sometimes it is just best to call. Is it a sensitive topic? Are emotions running high or is there room for misunderstandings? Then call your contact first. Hash out the specifics and then follow-up with a summary email of the agreements and next steps.

All of these tips will help you make your emails be more effective to the pleasant surprise of your customers and co-workers. They will save you time and hopefully head off the temptation to declare email bankruptcy on your own inbox! Just remember my motto: The Secret to Success is getting Started!

Sarah Kirkish is a Certified Coach and Professional Organizer with over 18 years of project management experience in corporate America. She helps busy professionals simplify their lives from the inside out with her down-to-earth coaching and interactive workshops. Follow her on Twitter: WorkLifeOrg or visit her website at: www.worklifeorganization.com

Updated on May 8, 2014

Feel free to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: Guest Articles Tagged With: communicating in business, Sarah Kirkish, small business, smallbizlady, staying organized

Fix Your Business Now!

Order SmallBizLady's new book Fix Your Business, 90-Day plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business. It includes the 12 Ps of Running a Successful Business and readers will finish the book with a new strategic plan to take their business to the next level.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America's leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. Her latest ebook, How To Become a Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online was released in 2012.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Let me send my best blog posts to your inbox each week.

Click Here to Sign Up!

Get 2 FREE Chapters of SmallBizLady’s Book,
"Become Your Own Boss"!

Become Your Own Boss Download Two FREE Chapters

Most Popular Posts

>Seven Ways to be More Profitable in Your Small Business
> 7 Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business
> 6 Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
> How to Run a Successful Multilevel Marketing Business
> 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram
> How to Sell on Facebook
> How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a New Business

Featured Videos

#SmallBizChat LIVE from NYC
May 2017

MSNBC Interview
Top Tip: Never Let a Customer Down

National Speakers Association
Winter Conference 2016

Tune in to Exhale, Wednesdays at 9 pm EST, only on ASPiRE. Join the conversation at #EXHALETV

Fox Business
Five Steps to Becoming a ‘Social Media Ninja

MSNBC
The importance of job mentoring for women

#SmallBizChat Live
National Small Business Week: Q&A

Good Day Philadelphia
Expert Shares Tips on How to Become Your Own Boss

Google
Best Practice for Social Media

Testimonials

Become Your Own Boss is a must read if you’re thinking of launching a business of your own.
Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
Great step-by-step advice for anyone looking to start their own business.
Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Melinda Emerson has written a remarkable book. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to make the transition from working girl to successfully working it, as an entrepreneur.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
The perfect companion for those planning to go out on their own. Melinda delivers firsthand practical advice on how to be the successful entrepreneur. Read it if you want to get it right the first time.
Kenneth L. Shropshire, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.
Heather Van Sickle Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.
Tennille M. Robinson Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine
Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow success…
Laurie Dalton White Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs …
Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

SmallBizChat

  • Twitter

Latest #SmallBizChat

How to Have a Healthy Lifestyle While Running a Small Business Featured Image

How to Have a Healthy Lifestyle While Running a Small Business

Ranique McFarlane @Iamranique is an online health and fitness coach. He helps lady bosses feel comfortable in your body, have more energy, and build confidence outside of work. He helps his clients have better eating habits, even with no time. His strategies help women with being successful in business and feeling secure with their body image. For […]

Recent Comments

  • Stephanie Chandler on Top 10 Small Business Experts to Follow Online
  • Jack on How to Beat the Odds As a Small Business
  • Jack on 7 Hard Questions to Ask Yourself When Your Business is Struggling
  • Callum Palmer on 5 Things to Consider When Selecting Accounting Software for Your Small Business
  • Eric Ainsworth on The Secret to a Successful Retail Business

#SmallBizChat

  • SmallBizChat Archive
  • @SmallBizLady

Business Advice

  • How to Start

SmallBizLady Store

  • Products
  • Free Chapter

Get In Touch

  • Write For Us
  • FAQ
  • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2019
Quintessence Group
PO Box 280
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 352-0680
Privacy Policy · Refund Policy

Copyright © 2019 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in