Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Follow-Up Emails: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Raise your hand if you ever received multiple emails from a business and immediately marked them as trash? No judgment here because we all do it! Most companies send out repetitive and vague follow-up emails on a daily basis. And we all know where these emails go—the junk folder.

As an Event Professional, your emails are important—even the follow-ups—so don’t let them join the junk folder crowd. Luckily, we have some tips to help you become a follow-up email pro, getting you out of the trash and into the reply pile in no time!

Context, Context, Get a Clue!

It’s true—people hate reading promotional material unless it applies specifically to them. Sending an effective follow-up email is all about establishing a personal connection and making the content relevant to your client. Here’s what we do at Inspherio!

We like to think back to the last conversation we had with our client. Did they need a new website, or did they need help managing their leads? Even if it’s just tidbits of information, we use it to provide context and make a connection with our clients.

Before sending out that follow-up email, be sure to add a bit of personalization. It can make the difference between your messages being read or ignored.

The Good Email:

Dear Tammy,

Last I spoke to you, you were planning a baby shower for your good friend, Sarah. I’m eager to hear back from you to know how it all went, as well as to speak with you about any future events you plan to host…

The Bad Email:

Dear Tammy,

I hope you are doing well! I wanted to reach out to you and let you know about a huge discount on pictures. You can save up to 50 percent on any package that you choose…

The Ugly Email:

Hey,

I just wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing. Also, I’m having a discount on picture packages. If you are interested, please respond back.

Don’t Beat Around the Bush- Be Specific

When it comes to a follow-up email, be specific! (See, we even kept this section short to emphasize the point of specificity)

The Good Email:

After reading the event information for your wedding, I’m working on providing you with a custom quote for your pictures, and selecting photos that fit your personality the best. Would you prefer candid stills throughout the event or do you wish to have a set list of pictures taken at a particular time?  

The Bad Email:

After reading your event information for your wedding, I am working on providing you with a quote and selecting the moments you want to cherish in pictures. What type of pictures do you want for the event?

The Ugly Email:

In preparation for your event, what pictures did you want?

Stand Out from the Crowd

Recently, I received four cleverly marketed emails from a company asking me to sign up for their monthly newsletter. I ignored the first email. The second email added some compelling attributes, but I wasn’t convinced yet. But as the emails kept coming, I was beginning to laugh more and more. The company’s follow-up emails only got funnier as time passed. By the fourth email, I signed up for the newsletter.

The best way to have your client’s take an interest in your emails is by adding personality to it, and maybe even a little humor. Trust us, it’ll help you stand out from the crowd, get your emails noticed, and best of all—replied to!

The Good Email:

Dear Tammy,

You’re probably thinking, “Wow, four emails! This person has heart.  Are they climbing Mount Everest next?” Well, Tammy, as cool as that experience might be, there’s no WiFi up there! But I do want to share something even cooler with you…

The Bad Email:

Dear Tammy,

You’re probably thinking, “Wow, four emails! Does this person know when enough’s enough?” Well, Tammy, we don’t!

The Ugly Email:

You’re probably thinking, “Stop emailing me this is the fourth email!” But we’re not going to!

Just like with everything, there is the good way, the bad way, and the ugly way. So just follow these tips, and get your follow-up email out of the junk folder today. And remember, our world-class support is always here, so let us know how we can help.

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