Whether you're a seasoned writer or just getting started with email marketing, you may find yourself wondering what kind of training you need for composing and sending emails. Many people think they know it all, but unfortunately, a surprising number of individuals fall into the trap of poor email writing skills. It's a shame, because it is not as difficult as many make it out to be. With a little guidance, anyone can improve their email writing skills.
Writing email takes some basic skills - familiarity with the basic Internet vocabulary, an ability to express oneself in a clear and concise manner, and the ability to make readers feel comfortable when reading your content. The Internet can be a scary place, full of complex language, advanced technology, and potential viruses. If you are sending unsolicited email that is threatening or harassing, you could find yourself facing criminal prosecution. Even if the message is only meant as a friendly reminder, you could find yourself in serious legal trouble for transmitting spam. Make sure your messages arrive from a trusted source and always include your name, address, and telephone number.
When it comes to writing, the most important part is the content. You want to write emails to encourage or inform someone, not to harass or annoy. Keep the content interesting and above all, relevant. Make sure your topic is something the recipient will find useful. Don't send information about how to steal someone's identity or spam them, just because you're writing a "how to" article on how to protect your home computer from malware.
Be careful with wording, too. Avoid using words like "free", "discounts", "freebie", "discount", "buy", and similar phrases. These will cause people to misunderstand what you're saying, leading to annoyance rather than helpfulness. Instead of sending people links to sites you have on your site, why not send them an email with an offer for more information?
Be concise when editing your emails. Most people don't want to read a list of boring things. Keep the content short and simple - don't go into excessive detail. If you have a lot of information to send out, explain what you're doing in each email, and then give people options for more information. For example, you might explain that you have an online survey that you need responses for, and then give the link to your survey in the email.
Be sure to include your contact information. It's best to include your name, address, phone number, fax number, website, and even an email address where others can reach you. This way, your email stays clean of spelling and grammatical errors. Try to keep your signature - your name - short and to the point, as well. You should also use one line of canned advice, which is a two-liner explanation of your viewpoint that you can paste into your email.
In addition, be careful about what you choose to send through your emails. Spam filters will usually catch most spam, but there are still some loopholes. Don't send credit card numbers through email. Don't tell people you're going out of business if you aren't going out of business. Even if you are going to a legit website to collect your monthly fees, don't include sensitive information like your bank account or other financial details.
Overall, these are just a few pointers on how to write effective emails. Keep in mind that there are tons of ways to generate email traffic online, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about being perfect at first. Just be yourself and let your creative juices flow! Remember, the goal is to make your email sound as though it was written by a real person, which will encourage people to open and read it.
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