“Per this Article” Don’t Make These Email Mistakes

E-mail has been around long enough that it’s hard to believe that people still need tips on how to write an effective one. But you’d be shocked how many people send me emails that are vague, unhelpful, flat-out unprofessional, or all of the above. Don’t be that guy.

Here are four tricks to nail your next email:

1. Write a Clear Subject Line

Duh, it’s the first thing people see, so make it count. Use something specific, accurate, and direct like “Recommendation's for the Press Kit” or “Wednesday Morning Meeting *Canceled*. And don’t ever let me catch you writing “Urgent” if it’s not.

If you are following up with a person you just met, use their name in the subject line. Do you notice that marketers will do that to entice you to open their solicitation because it pops out like they know you? They do that because it works. Try something like “Great to Meet You, Ellen.” If the contact is a little more on the personal side rather than a potential hirer, I like to think of something catchy and super clickable, like putting “AWESOME to...” in the subject and completing the sentence in the first line of the e-mail, with a “. . . meet you!”

2. Avoid Trope-y Email Speak

If you’re one to “per your last email, circle back and hope the email finds you well”… just don’t.

I know it feels easier to be on autopilot and fill in your emails with the standard jargon, but after a while, your coworkers will feel like an email from you is just a game of Mad Libs you played filling in the blanks of a new email with the same old corporate email lingo, and no one wants to read that. Get creative and personalize the message.

Also, you probably won’t ever need to hit someone with the “per my last email.” It’s one of my biggest pet peeves; it comes off as passive aggressive and closed off. No one wants to work with someone like that. If you feel like you’re throwing that line in because you’re annoyed that your coworker didn’t read your email carefully enough and you want them to feel sloppy… well, it will probably work, and do you actually want them to feel that way? Is that actually helpful?

The only time I’ve been tempted to make an exception is a scenario in which your boss is jumping down your throat asking you why you haven’t sent that thing that you’ve already sent three times (been there).

Even in that case, I wouldn’t do a “per my last email.” Instead, I would give your boss a call and say “I sent you what you were looking for earlier today, but I’m happy to walk you through it now.” Bonus points if you prove you’re a critical problem-solver and throw something in like “It seems like sending you this information over email wasn’t a perfect system. If there is a different way I can get you this information in the future, please let me know.”

3. Chill with the Exclamation Points

With your friends sure, go exclamation point crazy, but keep it classy at work or you’ll come across looking childish or immature. I KNOW you are excited by all the amazing work you’re doing but keep that excitement to yourself and show it with only one little but powerful exclamation point.

4. Add the Email Addresses AFTER You’ve Checked Your work

Oh yeah, I’ve been there, and I’m sure you have, too. You start drafting an email and you don’t finish it before you accidentally push Send.

It’s not the end of the world, but it’s not the best practice at work to have to send another note to explain that you were “typing too fast.” It gives off just the slightest whiff of sloppiness, and that’s the kind of perception you don’t want. The foolproof way to avoid this snafu is to get in the habit of adding in the email address of the recipient last. If you’re replying to a message, delete the recipient address before you start drafting it, and add it back later.

For now, our Money Minute is up. Until next time, don’t do anything with your money that I wouldn’t do!

xo,