10 Tips To Get Your Emails Opened (And Replied To) In 2020
How good are you at writing effective emails and messages?
A Forrester Research found that 85% of U.S. businesses consider email to be one of the most effective customer acquisition tactics. However, only few know how to use it properly.
In the past, I have written articles detailing my successful experiences emailing and securing major opportunities. (You can read more about my story on Marie Claire, by clicking here.)
If you’re curious about how you can reach more people, partner with premium brands, or establish closer relationships, then keep reading.
Below are the top 10 things that helped me craft better emails and secure more opportunities for myself and clients.
1. Know when to send
Traditionally, the best times to send emails are mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) during the day. I try to avoid sending emails on Fridays and Mondays; those days are typically when people see the most activity in their inbox.
2. Target the right personFree tools like Hunter helps you discover the exact email layout of people at various companies. I use this tool to make sure my email gets delivered to the right person, at the right brand.
3. Optimize the subject line
Keep it simple, relevant, and to the point. Just think to yourself: would I want to open this email if I received it?
4. Writing “you” versus “I”
Do you want to receive messages from people talking strictly about themselves and what is in it for them? Probably not. Before sending an email, review it again and minimize the first party language.
5. Mention a connection
It’s always beneficial to establish a mutual friend or connection when emailing someone cold. This is an easy find via Linkedin. Always use the first two sentences to break the ice and mention a mutual connection, if possible.
6. Make it relevant
Ask yourself: Why is this email important right now to this person? Ensuring your emails are personalized and highly relevant to the people or person you’re sending it to will increase the chances of it being responded to.
7. Minimize the word count
Every line in your email should serve a purpose. Studies show that pitches with less than 200 words typically get a higher response rate. Be clear and be concise when writing your emails.
8. Track emails
Using tools like Mailtrack helps me keep track of who is viewing my emails and what content they’re engaging most with. Doing this allows me to craft a better follow up email… more on that later.
9. Review grammar
There is no better way to ruin your chances of landing a big opportunity than having terrible grammar. Use tools like Grammarly to make your writing clear and effective. Also, this should go without saying: Always, ALWAYS spell the name right of the person whom you are sending the email to.
10. Follow Up
Very rarely do I secure deals on the first email. It typically takes about two or three follow ups before I gain traction. Make sure your follow up is as strong as your pitch when reaching out to prospects.