Email remains a vital business tool. And, for many reasons, it is one we love to hate. If we all follow a few etiquette rules, email can become much more useful and much less painful.
Here is Email Etiquette Rule #4:
The “ask” goes first.
After writing a smart subject line, start the body of your email with your request (or “ask”) of the reader. If you want to ask a question, ask it. If you want to request an action, do so. If you wish for them to read, watch, or listen to something, say so in the first sentence. Follow the “ask” with any needed context or content to help them do what you’ve asked.
As with Email Etiquette Rule #3, flipping the explanations with the ask helps us focus our thinking and make our readers’ jobs easier.
In your corner,
Mike