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Your email is competing with fifty others. The shorter and clearer it is, the faster it gets a reply. Writing effectively means respecting the other person's time — and saving yours.
A subject line that says it all
The subject line decides whether your message gets opened, and when. Be specific: "Verso Studio quote — approval before Friday" is a thousand times better than "Question".
A good subject line also helps your recipient prioritise — and find the thread again later.
One request
One email, one request. Ask three questions and you'll get an answer to one — or none. Isolate what you really want.
Make the request stand out, ideally in the first line. A busy reader should grasp the expected action in three seconds.
Short, but not curt
Aim for five sentences. Cut empty phrases, keep essential courtesy. Brevity isn't coldness: it's respect.
End with a clear call to action: "Can you confirm by Thursday?" An explicit next step triggers the reply.
Write with the follow-up in mind
A clear message is easier to follow up on: the context is already there. Our tips on follow-ups complement these.
And remember: sometimes the best email is the one you don't send. Before writing, ask whether another channel would be faster — that's also well-designed asynchronous communication.
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