Are you tired of your emails going unread?

The answer is yes. And the good news is it’s your fault. That is good news because you can do something about it with a few changes:

1. Why are you writing

Before typing the first word, ask yourself, “Why am I sending the email? When they are done reading this, what do I need them to do, or not do.” This seems obvious. But it’s vital for the next step.

2. Don’t bury the lede

Put the most important thing at the top. Assume the first line is all they’ll read. Tell them the action(s) they need to take or the one thing you need them to know.

3. Make it scannable

Like it or not, most people don’t read. They are busy. They scan. They are looking for the point. They need emails to be scannable.

4. Supporting information

And then, if they need or you want to give them context, a story, or an example, you can add it.

Will this guarantee your emails are read?

Probably not. But it will increase the chances.