Email Excellence: Essentials of Email Etiquette

Email Excellence: Essentials of Email Etiquette


Email is one of the most powerful tools you will use to grow your business. Often, it is the only way you will have to interact with prospects, many of whom will be in countries far away from your own. Follow these simple rules and you will have mastered the art of effective communication via email.

1. Be concise and to the point

2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions

3. Make it personal. Use their name. People want to feel special!

4. Use a meaningful subject that grabs their attention

5. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation

6. Use active instead of passive words

7. Use templates for frequently used responses these can be found in your promotional briefcase

8. Answer quickly

9. Use proper structure & layout. Make it easy on the eyes. Put some space between sentences or paragraphs.

10. Bullet points are very effective in pointing out benefits

11. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons

12. Avoid long sentences

13. Write like you speak. Use plain, easy to understand English.

14. Do not write in CAPITALS. This is the equivalent of shouting at someone online

15. Take care with rich text and HTML messages

16. Keep your language gender neutral and always speak to only one person

17. Add disclaimers to your emails regarding SPAM

18. Read the email before you send it. Often you will find mistakes the 2nd time around

19. Do not overuse the high priority option. If used too much, it will lose its effectiveness

20. Do not overuse Reply to All

21. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT

22. Dont leave out the message thread

23. In Group Mailings, use the bcc: field or do a mail merge

24. Do not attach unnecessary files

25. Do not forward chain letters

26. Do not request delivery and read receipts

27. Do not ask to recall a message

28. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission

29. Do not use email to discuss confidential information

30. Dont send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks

31. Dont forward virus hoaxes and chain letters

32. Dont reply to spam

Like any other business, you must understand the proper way to use the tools of the trade. Learn these email techniques and you will increase your response rate tremendously.

 

By: Anne Ahira
Editor The BEST Affiliate Newsletter
 

 

Elements of an Effective Email Message

Email is one of the few things that all internet users have in common. Email is free, user friendly and everywhere! This is what makes it such a powerful marketing tool!

Email marketing allows you to have instant and repeated communication with prospects and team members. You can promote your products, services, website, anything you like, over and over again! A well-crafted email campaign can really make your sales skyrocket with little initial investment.

So, what are the elements of an effective email campaign

Send emails to targeted prospects. You will be wasting your marketing dollars if you dont. Not everyone is going to be interested in your product or service. Dont waste your time with those who arent!

Personalize all your emails . This can increase your response ratio by over 50%! People are overwhelmed with email these days. One that has their name in the headline is much more likely to catch your prospects eye. Also, inserting their name in the copy of the letter tends to keep them reading your message.

The headline must be eye catching! We will go into this in the next chapter. Just know that this is the MOST important part of your email message. It doesnt matter if you have the best written message in the world if no one opens your email to read it, you will have wasted your time.

The first paragraph should summarize your entire message. It should refer to the headline and give an over all view of the information you are trying to get across. This paragraph should create excitement and curiosity. You want the prospect to continue to read the message so you must hold his or her attention! Remember, focus on benefits! How will they benefit by reading your email What will they learn Will it make their life easier

Make your copy easy to read. Look through the Email Excellence section again better yet, print it out and refer to it when youre writing your email.

Test your emails effectiveness. You should test the headline, the opening paragraph, and the body. Make sure you only change one thing at a time so you can accurately measure the results.

Develop a great signature file. Your signature file is a 3 or 4 line footer that you can attach to all of your messages. It appears right below your name and should tell the person who you are and how they can contact you. You can include an email address, your phone number, URL, company name and slogan etc. Remember, the slogan should always focus on the benefits your prospect will receive.

Email gives you the opportunity to contact thousands of prospective members very easily. Unfortunately, it also gives that opportunity to many others. Take the time to design effective email messages and you will stand out from the crowd!

 

By: Anne Ahira
Editor The BEST Affiliate Newsletter
 

 

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