Email Subject Field Attention Getters

Are you looking for the proper way to address e-mails that may be hot issues or need further assistance (asking for help, needing a response, clarification)?

First let me reiterate that when conversations get “hot”, I always recommend that you first wait, preferably until the next morning, before you reply so that you can do so with a cool head.

Back to the topic of addressing e-mail to encourage specific results, what I do is use the Subject: field to help set expectations and the tone for my e-mails. Before the established Subject:, on ongoing conversations I use:

FOLLOW UP:
FYI:
QUESTION:
UPDATE:

You could also use:

PLEASE RESPOND:
RESPONSE REQUIRED:
COMMENTS PLEASE:

You get the idea… This lets the other side know basically why I am replying to that specific subject and what I am looking for. You may also find that those you communicate with appreciate this little “hint” in the Subject: field too!

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• 10 E-mail Etiquette Resolutions for 2010