Writing Professional Emails
Let’s get started with the most-used business communication tool: email. The emails you send at work are not like the ones you send in your personal life. Every time you send an email from your work account, you’re making an impression on a prospect, vendor, customer or future employer.
Use the WHY Technique
I found this great technique on the Iced Gems Blog at www.simply-communicate.com. The WHY technique helps you structure each email you write into three distinct sections.
W stands for What – What is the email about? Explain it in your first sentence or paragraph. (But keep those paragraphs to 3-4 sentences!)
H stands for Hook – Next, add the reasons why the reader should be interested in what you are saying. Answer the question: “What’s in it for me (the reader)?”
Y stands for You – Always finish with a call to action or clear request. You’re explaining “what I want YOU to do” as a result of the email.
Focused Subject Line
Don’t forget the importance of the subject line! The words in that line not only make a first impression, but they also determine whether your message will be read. Your subject line should include the hook, your call to action or the purpose of the email.
Emails sent from work are just like the business letters of decades ago. Just because email is easier and faster doesn’t mean your email messages can’t be professional and polished.
Tags: Business Communication, how to communicate at work, writing emails at work
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.