Do you receive multiple email messages that are just damn boring? I bet you’re not alone. In today’s corporate life where every minute counts, people only want to read meaningful and pertinent emails, and mercilessly screen their inbox.
Here are four of the criteria people use when deciding if your message will be opened and read:
Subject line
The first chance you have is your subject line. Imagine you were recruiting for an open position, and you saw this in your sea of messages:
Subject: Applying for the Chief Financial Officer position
Would this stand out to you? Probably not, especially since there will be dozens of others just like it from other candidates. So why not turn the tables? Aim to deliver a more striking and resonating message to the person who will make the decision about whether or not to call you in for an interview.
Subject: This is your chance to hire a CFO who will extract costs, meet regulatory compliance, and fully support the CEO
Wouldn’t that enticing subject line resonate with you?
Clear writing
People form impressions about you as a person and a professional when reading your email. Typos and incorrect grammar will probably not go unnoticed, and can harm the impact you make on the reader.
Brevity is also very important. No one wants to read an essay, or a huge block of text with no white space. Cut out any unnecessary language, and maybe even ask that person to pick up the phone so you can advance your dialogue.
Attachments
I expect it’s happened to all of us. We’ve forgotten to attach a file to an email, or worse still, attached a file meant for someone else. Be on your guard for these errors, as delivering the wrong attachment or no attachment can harm your personal brand.
Email signature
All professionals should have a fully engaging email signature, with links to their social media profiles and websites. This is even more paramount if you are in career transition.
An email signature offers you the opportunity to very briefly tell your audience that you are seeking a new appointment, while also articulating your personal brand.
Before you send your next email message, stop and check that you’re advancing – and not hindering – your career.
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