Let’s talk about “email fails.”
I recently received the following email:
Hi!
Please, could you let me know whether you are planning for a new website design for your business or want to revamp/redesign your existing website?
Let me know if this is something you might be interested in OR if there is anything I can help you with
Regards,
Sophia.
Let’s break down this “email fail” mess:
#1: The email came from a Gmail account. I don’t know this person but I had no idea how to find her even if I was interested in what she offered.
#2: There was no last name in her signature line, no website address, no phone number… nothing. Just “Sophia.” Again, if I wanted to learn more about her and her business, I was out of luck.
#3: Her email started out on the wrong foot. Although it was focused on me, she didn’t give me a good reason to consider her services.
A better way:
- When you send an email, imagine that you just met the person at a party and you’re trying to start a conversation. What would you say?
- A good way to start any conversation is to ask a question. In this case, “Sophia” could have opened the email with a question: “Are you struggling with having a website that represents your business in the best light? Is it considered user-friendly or is it a hassle for your website visitors to navigate through?”
- Add some proof to your services or products: “I’ve worked with many small business owners and took their websites from clunky-ugly to nifty-pretty within one month. Plus they saw an increase with opt-ins to their subscriber lists. I can do the same for you.”
- Give plenty of ways to reach you. Some may want to respond to the email but others might want to call you. Provide both online and offline contact information.
Give your email recipient the answer to “why should I care?” Include provocative questions and proof. Both are a great way to keep your email from getting swiftly deleted.
