- be brief: write like you’re using a mobile device and have fat fingers
- write a helpful subject: recipients will see your name and the subject and decide whether to open based on those two bits of information
- use bullet points: better than sentences buried in paragraphs
- highlight action items: pull out from the rest of the text so they are easy to recognize and act on
- use a three act format: friendly intro, bullet point facts, clear action items
2 Comments
B.L.U.F. Bottom Line Up Front. After typing an email I always review to see if I can make my point the first thing they read. This comes from the military and is not natural for most of us.
Putting your question or main point first helps the reader especially if you are asking them a question. They will be able to read your email with a clear understanding of what you are wanting them to do or think about. Burying your question or main point in the third or fourth paragraph inevitably forces your reader to re-read your email in order to gain context.
I’m catching up on your blog so not sure if adding comments to old posts matters but BLUF has been really helpful for me as are your suggestions above so I thought I would share.
Gary
Great tip. Appreciate you sharing!
Levi