How To Get An Instant Response To Your Urgent EMail!

In the business world, "You've Got Mail" has turned into a curse. Fact is, the average business user spends an average of over two hours a day just dealing with email! If you have an urgent issue requiring an immediate response, how do you get your colleague, the average business user, to pay attention and take action?

Here's a typical scenario:

You are sending an urgent email to a colleague, Notina Hurry. Only Notina knows the location of a budget file you need desperately. You called her, but her phone is tied up. How do you get your important email read, and then responded to as quickly as possible?

1. Write a headline in the subject area that will grab your colleague's attention.

You need to get the recipient to notice and WANT to open your e-mail. According to the experts, you have to make it specific enough to be intriguing but vague enough to provoke curiosity. And, it's a real advantage if you know the recipient.

For example, Notina is a good-hearted person but is always getting blamed for screw-ups. So, you decide you will headline a plea for help in the Subject area.

You decide against "Where did you put the @*!!%& file?" and opt for "Help! Help! Last week's budget file is so lost!" as your headline in the Subject area of the e-mail.

2. Next, write a specific, easy-to-read message.

Short sentences are best. Tell the reader what's in it for them. Remember that everyone is tuned into the radio station WIIFM (What's In It For Me).

Here's an example:

Hi Notina:

I hope your day is turning out better than mine -- I can't find last week's budget file.

I looked in the e/budgets/weekly folder, but it's not there.

Please let me know the entire path to the budget file dated 8-05-02.

You know I'll owe you a coffee tomorrow when I see you in the cafe.

Thanks very much,
Ima Desperate
Idesperate@ohwell.com
X6502

3. Leave your name, email address, and phone number(s) at the end of the email.

This may sound obvious, but sometimes, even with an electronic signature, key contact information is missing. Remember, you want to make it easy for e-mail recipients to communicate in the mode most comfortable for them.

4. Emphasize the urgency.

Convey URGENCY in the body of the message or in a postscript. Better still, if you infrequently send mail at the High Importance level, use it or its equivalent in your messaging system. In Microsoft Outlook, High Importance highlights the received email with a red exclamation point. I would send Notina's email marked High Importance.

So, you've written an attention-getting headline. You've written a short, urgent message. You've answered that all-important recipient quesion "WIIFM". And, you left sufficient contact information. Now, hit the SEND button and expect a very quick response!

Copyright 2005 by Valerie Mills

Valerie Mills is a sales copywriter specializing in direct mail and web advertising. She has written sales letters, web pages, and brochures for the finance, self-help, and technology areas. Using her background and experience as an educator and corporate trainer, Valerie has also written several articles and an ebook for parents(http://www.teachyourkidsaboutmoney.com to view ebook samples)

Also refer to the web site http://v.mills.home.att.net

Contact Valerie at parents@teachyourkidsaboutmoney.com

---

5 Things You NEED to Know About Your AOL 9.0 Subscribers

In Fall 2003, America Online (AOL) released its brand new... Read More

Email Aesthetics- APPEARANCE is Everything!

Email AestheticsIt`s an old, old saying, but it`s true: you... Read More

How You Can Automate Your Business Using Autoresponders

What is an Autoresponder?An Autoresponder is a program or service... Read More

The Key (Board) to Success: Effective Emailing

Email is THE medium of communication for business transactions. Unfortunately,... Read More

The Lazy Way To Build A Responsive Opt-In Email List

If you're in business on the Internet to make a... Read More

Whats on YOUR Subscriber Thank-You Page?

When I coach my clients on how to... Read More

Email Hosting ? Learn How To Use eMail To Grow Your Business

Email is a wonderful thing. It costs next to nothing... Read More

Lesson #5: Four Easy Ways to Kill Your Business Using Your Autoresponder... And How to Avoid Them

The importance of building an opt-in list over spamming (a.k.a.,... Read More

Three Phases to Email Sensitivity

The neurophysiological dynamics of understanding each email message are very... Read More

10 Persuasive Triggers To Plug Into Your Ad

1. Most people want to win over others. Tell your... Read More

11 Extraordinary Ways To Expand Your Subscriber List

Here are 11 ways to expand your subscriber list: 1.... Read More

How?s Your E-mail Etiquette

In a fast moving global economy, e-mail offers you the... Read More

Top 10 Business E-Mail Basics

When it comes to your business e-mail communications, you need... Read More

Email Etiquette IV

Further to my previous issues this subject continues - part... Read More

What Do Your E-Mail Messages Say About You?

There probably isn't a business person alive who hasn't at... Read More

How To Use a Message Sequence to Increase Your Sales

If there's one thing I've learnt in over 3 years... Read More

4 Tips On Taming Your Email

I remember when I was first introduced to email. I... Read More

Single or Double Opt--In?

You heard the message before. Your e-mail list is the... Read More

Combating List Building Frenzy: Take The Time To Promote

It is an accepted fact among the experts now that... Read More

Email Marketing - Building A Mail List

Millions of people use their computer everyday as a form... Read More

An Aspirin or an Autoresponder!

Tired of silly old email enquiries? Say hello to autoresponders!If... Read More

Creative and Profitable Ways to Use Autoreponders

An interested visitor who has been strolling through your site... Read More

Top 3 Reasons Why RSS Is Better Than Email

Everyone is talking about RSS. Blogs, newsites and the like... Read More

Why Autoresponders Are An Essential Tool For Your Business

Did you know that one of the major purposes of... Read More

Could This Be The End of Sp^am?

The war on sp^am has so far been waged on... Read More

How To Create An Irresistible Subject Line For Your Next E-mail Promotion

As I logged into my e-mail account, I clicked on... Read More

My Emails Are Not Being Delivered. Black Lists and White Lists Explained.

Over 40% of all emails within your marketing campaign are... Read More

Make All Your Mailing Lists Double Opt-In

Accusations of spam can be so harmful to your business... Read More

Website Promotion Through Newsletters

Website promotion is certainly a main focus of all business... Read More

Using Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) For Email Privacy

Need for PrivacyPeople have become hypersensitive about their privacy during... Read More

The Power Of Email Marketing

Have You Considered The Power Of Email MarketingOld vs. NewIf... Read More

Should You Publish a PAID E-zine?

Many of my clients ask me whether they should publish... Read More

Do You Build Or Buy? (Tips On Leadgeneration)

Every marketer needs leads, they are the lifeblood of your... Read More