As virtual assistants we often cold email prospects that we REALLY want to do business with. I’ve emailed plenty and sometimes I got a response and sometimes I didn’t. Knowing what I know now and what I’m about to share with you the chances that your cold email will get read (and responded to) are a whole lot higher. Read on. With the help of a couple of really sharp dudes you’re going to learn how to write an email to anyone and actually get a response.
Here’s a great post by Geoffrey James titled “How To Write A Convincing Email”. It’s full of really simple, yet effective tips that you could use right now to email your virtual assistant client prospects.
I love his theory that you should start writing with the conclusion first. Check out his post and create an email following his strategy.
The next blog post will make you smile. This is a really great story about an entrepreneur by the name of Noah Kagan, the founder of AppSumo.
He got an email from someone who wanted Noah to take a look at an app he created. Noah gets a ton of emails every day from people claiming they have the next best app.
How did one guy rise up through the noise and grab Noah’s attention? Read Noah’s blog post titled “One of the best cold emails I’ve ever received” to find out and see how you can use the same strategy to email a potential client.
Let me know what you think of these email strategies by leaving me a comment below. I want to know if you’re going to use them!
Rock on,
Reese
0 thoughts on “How To Write An Email That Will Get Read”
Loved the articles you recommended, Reese!I’ll definitely try to use these strategies!
Thanks!
Thanks, Simone! I just loved the 2nd article. What a story!!
I get an error code (404 not on this server) on the second hot link – “One of the best cold emails I’ve ever received” – sure would like to read this article. I’m sending it to a friend who writes “cold” emails every day. Thanks!
This comes at a perfect time as I opened the local paper and saw an ad for a local business needing admin support. Do they want someone to hold down a desk? Maybe, but it can’t hurt to find out. Excellent! Thanks Reese!
YAY! Go Marie! Let us know how it goes with the local biz!
I’m afraid I disagree with Geoffrey James’s examples of the “right” and “wrong” way to compose a convincing email. We should not overlook the common courtesies and proper etiquette that we use when speaking when we write. Mr. James’s “wrong” way is the right way in my view. I posted a more comprehensive comment on his blog. What we learned in school was the “right” way, after all.
Jeanne, while I agree with you that is not what we were taught, I’m looking at the fact that these 2 guys are 25-35 and that is how they do business in their field. If I sent that to one of my 72 year old trust clients, I’d be fired! Got to know your audience.
Ellen, love it! 🙂
Jeanne, I SOOOO appreciate you’re opinion and point of view. You’ll balance me out for sure! 🙂
Very timely, Reese, as I’m in the process of doing a cold e-mail campaign in my local area. Need to take another look at my message. Thanks!
Joan, check back in with me and let me know how the “new” cold email is received!
Thanks for another great post Reese. I loved both stories (particularly the second one). We all want to stand out from the crowd, and they show us a way to do so. I agreed with the majority of Geoffrey James’ advice. Times have changed a bit, and people want to know what they’re reading about straight away (… and yes, I am one of those people who reads the last chapter of a book first).
Tracy, you sound like me. I also read the last chapter first!
I must admit that I would’ve been guilty of the waffle in the ‘wrong’ email which is perhaps due to being a part of the pre-email, letter writing generation! However, I do recognise the necessity of composing messages for a very different media and audience. The first article certainly demonstrated how to do this, how to grab attention.
Excellent links Reece, thanks for sharing. Let us know how you get on with your email to the entrepreneur…..
Hey Nancy, LOVED your comment. I’ll definitely let you know just as soon as I send my email to that entrepreneur I mentioned in my blog post!
Hi Reese,
Great resource. Sending cold emails is rather tricky. Reputable ESPs can shut you down for email marketing w/o permission. There is also a risk of being blacklisted. How can biz owners prospecting in this manner stay in compliance with the anti-spam laws in this regard? Thanks.