Secrets Of Good Email Writing

 August 7, 2009

Interview with Steven Griffith, author of Email Power
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Mike Carruthers:
Email has become a primary tool for communicating and it can get you in trouble if you're not careful.

Steven Griffith:
If there's a topic that requires dialogue or it's a sensitive topic - avoid email. If you find that when you receive an email there's any emotion that comes up - any stress, anxiety, anger or frustration - take a step back, wait twenty-four hours and then respond.

Steven Griffith, author of the book Email Power says it's important to understand that people don't read emails like they read a letter. They read it quickly and they very often don't read the whole thing.

It is important that you put your most important information right up front. And if there are multiple things that you want to address, you want to make it as concise as you can. And also you want to do it in a style that really meets their personal needs. So when you do send an email out, really look at what's in it for them, the receiver. And when we create messages that are receiver-focused we're going to get a stronger and better response.

By its nature, email is often informal but Steven cautions that particularly in business, appearance does count.

So if you have wrong grammar and misspelled words, it's a reflection on what I would compare to a sloppy dresser in person. So the more you address the formality of it, the better image you have.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here.