Upgrade your digital communication and leave a lasting impression

Yo, friend. Tired of sending emails and wondering if they even landed in the right inbox? Wish people would actually read what you write instead of tossing you a quick “k”? Yeah, we’ve been there.

The truth is, email is still a major player in the biz world, whether you’re job hunting, managing a team, or running your own show. And nailing email etiquette? A superpower. Picture it: responses rolling in, deals getting signed, and coworkers actually taking the time to read what you have to say.

Time to ditch those cringey habits and step into some serious email swagger. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or total newbie, these tips will have you sending out messages worthy of a virtual high-five.

1. Subject Line Supercharge

First impressions count, and that includes the measly few words of your subject line. It’s the difference between being clicked open or straight-up ignored. Think of it as a headline that has to make someone stop scrolling.

• Stay Specific: Ditch the boring “Hello” in favor of something that grabs attention. A project name, question, or even a deadline can do wonders for your open rate.
• Short and Sweet: Your recipient might be checking on a tiny phone screen. Get to the point and ditch unnecessary fluff.
• Urgent? Own It: Need a response ASAP? Use power words like “Urgent” or “Time Sensitive” at the beginning of that line. Just don’t overuse this tactic!

2. Greeting Glory

“Dear” and “Sincerely”? So last century. While there’s nothing horribly wrong with them, a little personality can go a long way. Here’s where you gauge formality:

• Know Your Audience: Client you’ve never met? “Hello” works. Teammate you chat with daily? “Hey [name]” fits the bill.
• The “Thanks!” Opener: Showing gratitude immediately sets a positive tone. Try “Thanks for the quick heads up” or “Great chatting with you earlier – following up on…”
• Direct & to the Point: Sometimes, all you need is the person’s name and a comma. This is efficient and shows you value their time.

3. The Main Event

You’ve reeled them in, now hit them with your perfectly crafted content. But don’t make ’em work for it!

• Concise is Key: Ain’t nobody got time to decode your essay. Get to the main points quick.
• Formatting = Your Friend: Break up text with bullet points, bolded highlights, and white space. Your reader’s eyes will thank you.
• Links Matter: Instead of pasting long URLs, shorten them with services like Bitly, or turn the words you want clickable into the link itself.

4. Proofread & Then Proofread Again

Typos, wonky phrasing…they scream unprofessional and distract from your awesome message.

• Don’t Rely on Spellcheck: It won’t catch “your” when you meant “you’re”.
• Read It Out Loud: You’ll catch unnatural wording more easily.
• Tools to the Rescue: Grammarly (free option available) will point out more subtle errors you might miss.

5. Signature Style

This little space at the bottom of your emails is branding gold! Don’t settle for default settings.

• The Basics: Name, title, company, phone, website. Duh.
• Links Win: Add icons for your social platforms to encourage clicks.
• Creative Call-to-Action: Promote a new blog post, free download, or your booking link with a quick line of text.