10 Tips To Get People To Act On Your Emails

One session I found useful at the ASAE Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference was "Develop Response Ability — Secrets to Getting Email Replies," led by Karen Purves. It didn't directly apply to sending blast emails, which upset some attendees, but I think these suggestions could be applied to all types of  e-communication, including calls to action for events, meetings and renewal. We all want our requests and ideas to be acted upon. Some of Purves' tips:

1. Use a question mark whenever possible in subject line of your email. It wakes readers up and grabs their attention.
2. If you have two or more questions in an email, pull them out in a list format. It makes responding to each question easier for the reader.
3. End at least one paragraph with a question mark. You want to induce guilt and make readers act.
4. Instead of saying "I look forward to next steps"  try "What do you suggest as a next step?"

5. Cold email outreach should be metered out month to month – just change the subjectlines and keep the body text the same.
6. Keep the love flowing. Don't point out tiny details or failings of recipient (i.e., you completely missed what I have already explained to you 3 times…)
7. A "magical" 4-letter word to get a reply on just about anything — "help." Use it in subjectlines.
8. If you have a referral, mention that person in the first two WORDS of the body of the email, NOT the subjectline. * She didn't get into details as to why this worked, just that is has been tested repeatedly and was more effective.
9. Don't tell your recipient what to DO ("Come to the show", "Sign up today"), write what it IS you have of *value* ("Beat the competition").
10. Give real examples instead of jargon and buzzwords when discussing yourself, the association or your business.  Make those examples relevant to the reader.

Purves shared at least 20 tips over the course of the session and was an energetic, engaging speaker. Did anyone else attend? What suggestion would you use today?

This post was written by SmartBrief Partnership Sales Director Jessica Strelitz. She's live tweeting during his week's ASAE Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference.

Thanks to SmartBlog Insights