Email is the go-to method of communication in the workplace, trumping phone calls and face-to-face exchanges by a landslide. Texting is OK for quick correspondence or follow-up in certain circumstances, depending on the field you are in, but email reigns supreme, and we surely send (and receive) a lot of it.
But when we don't get a reply, anxiety sets in. Did the recipient get my email? And if they did, why haven't they responded? Did they even open it? Should I send a friendly reminder? But what if they don't get that one either, or don't open it yet again? The questions are common but can be avoided by knowing there is a better chance that your recipient will be inclined to open an email from you if you make some changes in your sending habits.
Here are 5 ways you can increase the likelihood that your email will be opened, read, and hopefully responded to. A few tweaks to your current emailing regime can make a major difference in your correspondence productiveness.
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Keep the Subject Brief
Short and sweet is the name of the game when it comes to email subjects. Too short (as in a word or two) and it probably won't make sense, so aim for 6-10 words to craft a clear and concise subject line that is meaningful and to-the-point.
According to Entrepreneur, "People who regularly read email messages typically scan the subject line quickly, only seeing the first three to five words, especially if they're using a smartphone or tablet to check email. This means putting the most important part of your subject line at the beginning."
Start off strong and make your words count.
Timing is Everything
When you send can be as important as what your sending. If you are working tirelessly in the wee hours of the morning and send an email at 4am, your recipient may not even see it once it moves down their mailbox once all the rest of the morning's emails flow in.
Inc. notes, "Think about when your (recipient) is most likely to be in a frame of mind to be open to your (message)."
Additionally, if you send emails all the time to a particular recipient, they may overlook the truly important ones. Only email when absolutely necessary so they are not overloaded with emails from you, not knowing which to open first. Because they may become overwhelmed and not open any at all.
Be Specific
Along with a short subject line, you need to have a clear message. "Please advise on this topic," and "A few ideas for so and so," are not eye-catching or evidently urgent. Your recipient wants to have an idea of what the content of your email will be to entice them to open it.
As per Entrepreneur, "The better you can communicate your story in just a few words, the more likely your email will be opened."
Another tip, "Lead with a benefit," as B2B Marketing recommends. "It gives them an incentive to open your email."
Write a personalized and actionable subject line so the recipient sees a need to reply immediately or in a timely fashion upon getting the gist of what you're after.
Get the Recipient Curious
Once you lead in with a subject line that is clear and specific, leave the recipient longing for more by catering to their natural curiosity.
One way to spark interest is by asking a question in the subject line. According to B2B Marketing, "Questions are a great way to pique your reader's curiosity and inspire them to open your emails in search for more information."
And Entrepreneur adds, "People like inside information, secrets and exclusive information. Communicate those characteristics as appropriate. Funny works too!"
Make Sure They Know Who It's From
If your recipient doesn't know who an email is from, they may think it is spam/junk or unwanted marketing messaging. Be sure it is obvious that your email is from you and the recipient can see this immediately. And if you get a new email address, make note of this in your subject line.
Entrepreneur advises, "Send the email from you--your name--not an impersonal or vague email address."
WikiHowadds, "Use a professional email, as your email will show up alongside the subject line."
With so many emails filling everyone's inbox, weeding through them all is like a finding a needle in a haystack. Get your email seen and opened by following this advice. Just get ready to respond in the fashion you're seeking from others!
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Every time payday rolls around, I’m on top of the world. Jeff Bezos-level rich - even though I’m anything but. And then somehow the very next day, rent is due.
The cycle continues. The next payday, bills for my apartment. I find myself without a surplus of savings since I just moved and newly-furnished my apartment completely.
Even more terrifying is the looming presence of the holiday season. Halloween’s officially over and before we know it, hello Thanksgiving…and then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s insane.
I’ve been feeling very British lately. Not in a Union-Jack-obsessed, “Keep Calm and Carry-On” way. I went through that phase in 2012 with everyone else… no thank you. And it’s not even a surge of patriotism catalyzed by the Queen dying — I’m firmly team Diana and team Meghan.
Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will sweep in and I’ll have to contend with the fact that I won’t be spending them with my family in the UK. I went home to London earlier this year, so there’s not much left in my travel budget for another trip across the pond. A few domestic jaunts might be in my future, but the closest I’ll get to England this winter is watching Love Island and Love, Actually.
So in that spirit, I’ve been filling my days with content from my favorite Brits. I’m listening to all the old British rock bands I grew up listening to, patiently awaiting the new Arctic Monkeys album, and rewatching anything with Michaela Coel in it. I even shipped myself an order of British Baked Beans, so you know it’s dire.
I’ve also been watching British YouTubers like Grace Beverley — my favorite. Generally, I only go on YouTube to watch Vogue Beauty Secrets and AD Open Door videos. But I’m so glad I stumbled on Grace. Her content is a mix of London lifestyle (what lured me in), relatable entrepreneurship, and mindful productivity. I’m not a hustle-and-grind-girlboss, but as a creative person in a 9-to-5, I need all the help I can get to stay plugged in. So, the video “how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmed” changed my approach to WFH.
Grace outlines her own productivity method: the to-do table. Instead of making a simple to-do list, she divides her tasks into a table that anyone can follow. As someone who’s survived with to-do lists for years, I recently implemented Grace’s method, and it’s revolutionized my workdays.
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I follow her routine to a tee. Here’s how it works:
Essentially, she divides her daily responsibilities into four categories: quick ticks, tasks, projects, and non-negotiables.
- Quick Ticks: Actions that take less than 5-minutes
- Tasks: To-do’s that take up to 30-minutes. Probably don’t take too much brain energy.
- Projects: Long-term list items. These help guide your priorities, even if you’re not crossing them off in one day.
- Non-negotiables: Pick 3 things each day that you must get done. This is how you’ll truly measure success.
With everything written down and sorted, next address your schedule. Meetings, deadlines, and time blocks — whatever works best for you. Write it down. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to them.
This way of categorization provides a roadmap for prioritizing your day — making you far more productive. Have you ever spent the entire day on small tasks and then suddenly realized you hadn’t moved the needle on any task? Or do you spend way too much time on tasks that aren’t a priority? No more. With your non-negotiables laid out, you know what to laser-focus on and what to dedicate energy towards.
Also, it pays to know your working style. I’m not a morning person. Yet, I have to be up and at ‘em super early. So, first thing in the morning, I march through my Quick Ticks to warm me up. I set a time limit, so I can knock out some easy wins which is totally inspiring. Then I move on to bigger things without lingering on emails or admin. For others, it might be more helpful to tackle the big things with all that early-in-the-day brain power earlier.
Grace has great tips on avoiding overwhelm and burnout. My favorite is taking more intentional breaks rather than scrolling through social media. I call this scrolling “productive” because I’m “coming up with pitches.” Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. It’s more productive in the long run to giving my brain a break with non-screen related stimuli.
Grace’s solution? Set a timer to read a real, an actual book. I’ve never thought of this. It’s a genius way to check off some books on my TBR and kickstart my creativity. After reading a good book, I’m completely inspired to write. So having books near my desk helps me step away from the computer during my lunch break for an actual reset. (And yes, the current books I’m reading are by British authors: Assembly by Natasha Brown, and Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalolu.)
In my pursuit of switching out my WFH set-up and getting my life together, I’ve engineered my workstation for success. With my new WFH essentials and Grace’s productivity technique, I’m revitalized for work — despite the fall blues and my melancholy about the pending holidays.
Here are the things getting me hyped for work and helping me crush my Grace Beverley-inspired to-do tables — no lists in sight:
Southwest Airlines Sale 2022
Pack your bags — Southwest Airlines is having a major sale! Fares are as low as $59 one-way if you book by October 3rd.
This end-of-summer super sale is a game-changer for your travel plans through the end of the year. Summertime travel gets all the glory. But why not take advantage of your long weekends, holidays, and PTO this fall. You’ll be surprised at how much travel you can fit in. Keep the fall/winter season exciting with domestic trips that give you all the excitement without breaking the bank. All thanks to Southwest.
Here’s the breakdown:
Where can you go?
You’ll find discounted tickets to and from most airports. Sale fares apply to cross country travel, and even Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean! Whether you’re visiting a new city or revisiting your last beach vacation, this sale has fares to make your travel dreams come true.
What do the fares cover?
Southwest Airlines has multiple fare tiers, each with various benefits. Wanna Get Away fares start at $59, while Wanna Get Away Plus fares start at $89. You can also find great deals on Anytime fares, which offer priority boarding and express lanes. Then there’s Business Select tickets for a luxe experience at an affordable price point.
Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member?
You may think these sale fares are too good to be true. Is there a catch? Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to access them? You’re in luck — anyone can attain these fares for a limited time.
But, insider tip, you should consider signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards. With a free sign up, you earn points and miles with each trip you take. And with this sale, each dollar you spend on these discounted tix can stretch super far until you eventually earn free travel. The only thing better than a sale is free stuff.
So pack your bags and brace yourself for those chaotic airport lines. Everyone’s hopping on this deal so get on it. Don’t miss out — grab your sale tickets by October 3rd!
I’ve been browsing the Southwest Airlines site, checking out flights and dreaming.