Quick Copy Tip: Emails That Get Results

Hello you, and thanks for stopping by for another Quick Copywriting Tip on this fantastic Wednesday.

Copywriting techniques aren’t just useful for your business websites, sales pages and newsletters; they are ideal in creating emails to prospective clients because copywriting teaches you to write for your audience.

Many people submit important requests and proposals via email and forget to appeal to the person they are writing to.

If you’ve got something important to say and want to make sure your message gets across in a way that is going to make the reader more receptive to your requests, these quick tips can make it easier to get your message across:

Non-Spammy, personable headline

If it’s important, never leave the subject line blank or just have a “Hi!” in there. Your email is in competition with all the other emails in your reader’s inbox. To get a good response it should stand out not because you’ve triple exclamation marked them, but because it is of interest to them. It should also let the reader know what to expect from the email.

For example: Re: free web design help in exchange for testimonial?

Get to the point in the first line

Don’t build up to make your point in the last line of your email. If you are offering something that your reader might be interested in, let them know straight away. You don’t have to give them all the details, but they should know whether they will want to move on from there.

Be respectful

Emails have softened the boundaries of written etiquette, and whilst a smiley face here and there shows that you are personable, remember that unless this person is a very close friend, don’t jump in without a “Dear Sally” or “Dear Andrew” etc. especially if it’s the first email.

If you admire your recipient’s work, let them know, and try to be specific without gushing. So stay away from the

“Oh my God, I would just die if I got a chance to work with you, I love everything that you do!”

and try something like:

“I love that you want to educate your audience about the environment and really enjoyed the article you wrote about 10 small tips to make a difference. I’ve been trying to put them into practice myself!”

Break it up

If your email is a long one, you’re going to want to break it up into bite-size pieces that can be skim read. It’s easier for them and that’s going to put them in a happy mood.

Be specific

If there is something you are proposing, make sure that this stands out. If possible, don’t include open ended suggestions such as:

“We could start with the silver package, unless you think you want a bit more work, as then we could go for the gold package, but if you’re just after a few tweaks here and there, then bronze could be good – what do you think or would you like something completely different?”

Tell them what you think is the best suggestion and why.

“If you need a full web re-design with 3 pages, the silver design is going to be a great fit.”

But let them know you’re flexible (if you are)

“If you have additional requirements do let me know and I can tailor a specific package for you.”

Be cheerful

If this person hasn’t asked you to email them, make sure you are positive in your communication, it can make a difference. Don’t talk about how the world’s against you and no one understands what you’re trying to do (don’t worry if you do feel like this – we’ve all been there, it’s just best kept for the diary ?).

Make your email a joy to read, make it short, to the point and polite and you’ll get a better response.

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