<\/p>\n
| Email style<\/b><\/td>\n | June 15, 2005<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n This email style works for myself.<\/p>\n Newspaper style email<\/h2>\nStudy how newspaper article is structured. It begins with a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hook.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A simple sentence designed for capture the reader\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attention. For email, this is the combination of the subject line and the 1st sentence.<\/p>\n \nThe first paragraph tells the reader what is the bottom line, conclusion, decision, action item, or whatever the purpose of the email message. It needs to be clear what the readers are supposed to do with this message.<\/p>\n \nFollow it by a slightly longer paragraph on the basic supporting argument for the 1st paragraph. Do this in the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153executive summary\u00e2\u20ac\u009d style by focusing on high-level judgment, summary of facts, and the key reasons.<\/p>\n \nNext are the supporting data. Try to be short.<\/p>\n \nWrite the email as if you are a reporter writing a newspaper story. At almost anytime, the reader can skip the rest of the story without losing the key points.<\/p>\n Fact or Opinion?<\/h2>\n\nAre you delivering facts or you are expressing opinions? It is OK to mix them, but do so with care. It is not a good idea to deliver opinions as if they are facts. If you are delivering facts, make sure they are. It does not matter if your source was wrong. It is your email.<\/p>\n In general, for VP or higher, the general guideline is to have 3 levels of back-ups. Every point you are making must be based on data, not just someone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (or your) opinion. Those data should be based on more substantial and detail data too. Only the 3rd level can be based on people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s thoughts or opinions. It is OK to deviate from this guidelines, but you should know how much of your material is based on facts or just opinions.<\/p>\n Pay attention to headers<\/h2>\n\nParticularly, who are on the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153To\u00e2\u20ac\u009d list and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cc?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the subject line?<\/p>\n If you are replying to a message, are you sure the recipients are still right? Should you remove few or add someone? Is the subject line still sensible? Remove excessive \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Re\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153FWD\u00e2\u20ac\u009d tags.<\/p>\n \nInclude just the right amount of the original message. It is a good idea to cull unnecessary forwarded messages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Email style June 15, 2005 This email style works for myself. Newspaper style email Study how newspaper article is structured. It begins with a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hook.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A simple sentence designed for capture the reader\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attention. For email, this is the combination … Continue reading |