Are your emails too long?
If you can’t write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don’t have a clear idea.
~David Belasco
Leo Babauta from ZenHabits breaks it down:
Why Long Emails Suck
- It takes too long to read.
Is your email more important than all the others in the inbox? - It doesn’t respect the readers time.
When you send an email, you are requesting time. Is your time worth more? - Get to the point!
Make the point, ask the question, and just get to it. - Too many questions.
Every answer takes time. Cut down your questions or prepare to be put off. - No response.
No one responds to the long emails first.
Here’s how to shorten up those emails:
Rules for Short, Effective Emails
- Keep it to 5 sentences.
No more, always less. - Figure out your main point.
Need more than 5 sentences, try again. What is your main point? - Ask one thing.
One question, two at the most. Ten questions? Never. - Edit.
If you wrote 8 sentences, cut out 3. - Link.
If you need to refer to info, link it. - Post it.
If the info you need to share isn’t on the web, put it there.
… and that is why this post was written in the first place.
[via ZenHabits]
Graham says
Agreed. I’ve been keeping my emails short for years. Just give the information needed. Nothing more.
Eric Dye says
No long comments on this post, eh?
😉
Graham says
I suppose I could have eliminated the last two sentences. Sorry… 😉
Eric Dye says
k
Graham says
You win
Eric Dye says
.
Don Fines says
I agree most emails should be short.
But sometimes I present a logical argument with supporting examples. This makes for a longer email. This kind of email has its function and place provided it is structured well and not long for just the sake of being long.
Eric Dye says
🙂