The Top 5 Reasons Your Emails Aren’t Being Read

Reason Number One:

The subject isn’t relevant to the person receiving the email.

I received one this morning that read: “The top 5 reasons why your golf game sucks!”

I don’t play golf for a start, so I already know that my game would suck if I got out on to the golf course.

Why don’t I play golf? Well, it could have something to do with the fact that when I was younger a mate and I got lost on the golf course.

After much hilarity and a game of hit and giggle, we ended up at the 19th hole, and it continued to go down hill from there.

Enough said.

Reason Number Two:

The person receiving the email isn’t subscribed to your list.

As much as I try and keep my inbox tidy, and free of spam, a lot of unsolicited email still seems to get through the filter.

If I didn’t subscribe, and I don’t know you from Adam, chances are your email won’t get read at all.

Especially if you tell me my that golf game sucks!

It’s sort of like having a few friends and family over for a dinner party, and a heap of uninvited people turn up as well!

It’s my party and if you didn’t get invited, it’s probably because.. I don’t know you!

You may be a nice person and all the rest of it, but there are protocols.

Reason Number Three:

The subject line is full of spelling errors!

If you can’t take the time to check your spelling and grammar, what ever product you’re selling will probably be wonky too.

I’m not saying that people who can’t spell properly are stupid, or dumb, but what I am saying is that attention to detail is important.

It probably means that other details are unimportant to you as well, such as the fact that I’ve never subscribed to your list in the first place.

Reason Number Four:

My “you beaut” anti virus software picks up a threat in the email.

This one’s a no brainer – I will never open any email when this happens, even if it is supposedly from a friend or acquaintance. I’d ask them if they’d sent it though, and alert them to the fact that they have a problem.

And finally…

Reason Number Five:

I’m too busy with everything else that is going on, and your heading is too bland!

If you want to grab peoples’ attention, you have to have a subject line that grabs them by the short and curlies, and drags them in.

I’ve been talking about the noise on social media lately, and email is no different.

A typical morning here has me checking email, reading social media and checking stats, while planning my day and getting organized to go out and meet customers, all the while complaining about the lousy barista we employ, and why we should get a new one. (I make my own coffee… I’m a lousy barista. In fact I’m not a barista at all, but that’s another story!)

At midday when I check my emails I’ve already been busy and done a half day’s work, been in contact with a number of people and am still complaining about my coffee.

Of an evening, I will probably have my grandson asking me to stream a movie, or will be fielding phone calls from friends and family.

The Summary:

Well written content always has a better chance of getting read, no ifs buts or maybes! Check and recheck your work!

Correct grammar and spelling is important. If English isn’t your first language, it pays to get someone to help in this field. If English is your first language and you make this error, you need help anyway.

Don’t send unsolicited offers via email to people that you don’t know. Ever!

Make sure that your internet security is up to date!

Finally, make sure that your email stands out. You may have a great product, but your promotional material (email, website, images and video) needs to reflect this in order to beat the noise!

The price of being average is that you don’t stand out from the crowd.

Below average doesn’t cut it at all!

If you need help, contact a professional! (I’m available on a short/medium term basis to help build your business!)