Email is essential for business communication, but more and more email is being read on smartphones instead of a computer. You can increase the likelihood that your email will get opened by front-loading the beginning of your email with eye-catching information.
Photo by Johan Larsson
Geoffrey James at business blog Inc explains that a typical email will begin with pleasantries and niceties. As James explains, however, when someone looks at the inbox on their phone, they will likely see something like this in the preview:
Dear Joe, I hope you are well and enjoying the nice weather in Florida. I’m writing…
That will get your email passed right over. James suggests that the secret to getting your email opened and not just automatically deleted is by opening with as many eye-catching words as possible. So instead, they will see openers like these in their phone’s inbox:
Joe, John Smith said you need competitive info on IBM. We just did a project…
Joe, CNN said you just acquired XYZ. I worked with John Smith on a similar…
Joe, John Smith flagged you might want insights about IBM’s reaction…
The intro is straight and to the point. Open with things like a colleague’s name, trigger events, or mentions of competitors and you’re more likely to get a tap from a curious reader. Of course, if your email doesn’t deliver the information or benefits it seems to promise in your opener, it could get you blocked out for good. So don’t just rely on this tactic and be sure your email is still professional and contains the information it needs.
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