The best email subject header hack for productivity and proper actions
Have you ever been frustrated when a colleague or someone you are working with doesn’t take on an action they should have following one of your emails?
Have you ever been frustrated with the amount of emails that you get with shit subject header lines that are generic in comparison to the content of the email?
Have you wanted to get to the point of the email before it has been opened?
If so, check this technique out – I call it an email subject header hack, catchy right? I haven’t seen anyone doing this where I work (over 7000 employees) but I am hoping it will catch on there. If you like this technique, give it a go, send it to a friend or a work colleague and share it around LinkedIn – people there ❤️ this sort of thing.
It is possible to hack the email header to generate the response you need. It almost works subconsciously for most people. I have found that they do not even notice that I have done it. Which is what I want. This should go under the radar but should hit a switch in the brain of the recipient, both before, during and after reading the email.
To get more out of this it is best to also change the way you write your emails. However, as when learning anything new it is best to break up the process. So look out for that article in the near future.
It really is simple
Let us make up a subject header. This email is intended for the recipient to give information over. However, the only likely clue to this will be a single question and a bunch of waffle in the email. This is where you will need to improve in future, but start of with the quick wins like this first.
So make it clear immediately — even before the recipient has had a chance to open the email.
Subject: [Request] Update on Q3 Sales of Product X
That is all it is. It might seem elementary or a bit stupid but it works. By placing the word request in the subject line of the email, it makes the reader instantly think – is this a request for me to do something? Or, it might make them ask the question – why does it say request?
Once they get reading the email and having already considered the word request, they should more readily understand that they should now return the information as requested at the subject line level. This should be further reinforced by the email content.
When I get a new email, or when I spend my allocated time looking at email, I also scan the subject line for emails that need actions. These are my priorities. However, most people under utilise the email subject line and instead present a generic title that is unrelated to the specific action they need me to take.
By placing the call to action in square brackets it instantly stands out from the numerous numbers of emails in my inbox. As someone who implements a zero unread email policy each day, knowing which emails actually need my attention is valuable.
Using the [Info] tag in the subject line shows that the email is there as a FYI. That is great, I can have a skim if it affects one of my action emails or I can skip over it and read it when appropriate to do so.
Example:
[Info] Financial History/Status of Supplier X
Further Uses
The oppotunities with this email subject hack are endless. You could use [Meeting] to organise a meeting, you could use [Update] to get an update on progress or simply put [Actions] so people are aware there is work that is needed, perhaps as a follow on to a meeting.
Example:
[Update] Contract Review Progress Contract Number 1039748
[Action] Review of current suppliers by 15/09/2017 12pm
Call to Action
I want you to [Share] (see what I did there???) this article with someone you think could get a lot from this. As you have seen in the examples, using key words that denote actions that the individual needs to take is critical, but highlighting what they need to do or what they will get from the email is where this hack makes an impact.
Try this out for a day, a week or a month then come back and let me know if this made a positive impact on your productivity or even the productivity of your organisation.
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