10 Tips for Better Results with your Direct Email Communications

Persistence, persistence, persistence….. My mother always said the squeaky wheel gets the oil!  This couldn’t be truer when it comes to communicating.  If you purchase off the internet or deal with vendors, manufacturer’s or personal auction sites like eBay I am sure you have run into issues where you have been waiting for an email or a follow up from someone.

The tips below will help you on your way to writing more effective and concise email communications with your recipients.

10 Tips for Better Results with your Direct Email Communications

1. Sound professional – Give your emails a business tone and use correct grammar.
2. Short and sweet – Get to the point and make it quick.  Don’t bury your questions and comments in multiple paragraphs so the reader has to search for the subject of your email.
3. Make your subject line descriptive but not wordy – Set your expectations in the subject line.
4. Use emails as a form of communication not the only form – Ask for a phone number – It’s always better to get someone on the phone rather than waiting for days for an answer.
5. Don’t purchase items without getting your questions answered – Vendors and sellers will have more incentive to respond prior to a purchase rather than after.
6. Break down your questions – Use a numbered or bulleted format for questions. This way your vendors know what you are actually asking them and you can expect to get a response for all your inquiries.
7. Give contact information – If you have an important email ask the recipient to call you directly. Give your phone number and include your email in your signature. This also will help if they are reluctant to give you their phone number.
8. Keep copies of sent and received emails for your records – All too many times I have had to refer back to past emails for verification and accountability.
9. Leave out the emotion – Leave the criticism and “flame mail” for over the phone or face to face conversations if they are warranted. It is ok to inject humor but keep emoticons, smiley faces, etc to a minimum.
10. .  FOLLOW UP!!!!!  Be consistent, on those occasions where you are stuck waiting for a response send another email.  Remember what mom said! The squeaky wheel gets the oil!