Short, direct email messages have a reputation for generating quick responses. With each additional line you pile into a message, the higher your reader’s resistance rises. When a recipient sees two or three chunky paragraphs, the immediate thought tends to be: “I don’t have time for this now, I’ll come back to it later.”
If you’re serious about a response, write a message you can fit in the subject line. We’re not kidding. If the entirety of the message is conveyed in the subject line, and the request is relatively simple to answer, your recipient may immediately dash off a reply.
Why? A few reasons:
1. No time investment, no switching tasks. If they know, they can say right away.
2. An immediate reply to an easy question feels like progress. Things are in motion. The recipient gets a little dopamine kick in the brain from “accomplishing something.”
3. People appreciate a direct communicator and will reply in kind.
Some examples of “all in the subject” email messages:
Re: 123 Main St. – Will you take photos Wednesday?
Re: 6711 Appian Ct. – Open house is this Sunday 2 – 4PM. Be there?
Re: Contract on 167 Washington Heights Unit B – Did you have a chance to review?
Re: New offer, please call me at 555-123-4567.
As you can see, this format is fairly specific to property information. These are so short you’re almost text messaging people via email.
For the body of these messages, paste the subject line again and if absolutely necessary, include a few additional details.
The busier we are, the more brevity is rewarded. Pay heed and you’ll move deals along!
