How to get clients to respond to your emails

One of the biggest stressors I see across businesses is how long it takes clients to reply to emails 😫

When you or your team are emailing a client, it’s usually for something important. And yet the process of chasing up outstanding information or tasks can often feel like herding cats 😾😾😾

This is such a lose-lose. You and your team are getting frustrated, and your client isn’t getting what they paid for ❌ ❌

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are five ways our clients have increased their email open rates, reduced response times and upped their team’s communication game so they can get more done with their clients, sooner 💡

🧠 1. Stop hurting peoples’ brains:

Long text and wordy language demand unnecessary amounts of your clients’ precious time and energy. The risk you run here isn’t them deleting your email, it’s them procrastinating on the reading and responding bit. Spending a little more time on your end to simplify your message and make your email no longer than it needs to be will pay huge dividends in the response you get. Also, don’t be afraid to drop the corporate speech and speak like a human. Your clients and their distracted brains will appreciate you for it.

📅 2. Give people a deadline:

Your clients know your stuff is important, but do they think it’s urgent enough? People love a target, so share a specific date for when you would like an action to be taken and watch the wheels of momentum start turning.

🖊 3. Create the right expectations upfront:

You’re probably setting clear payment terms with clients when they sign on with your business, but are you setting equally clear communication expectations? Make sure your clients understand and respect the importance of prompt communication from the outset, so they are more likely to respond when you need them to.

🎥 4. Experiment with videos in your emails:

This one isn’t about looking innovative, it’s about respecting the communication tools we now have beyond the written word. To put it bluntly, it’s easy for your clients to ignore a blob of text but it’s a lot harder for them to ignore your friendly voice or face. Your clients don’t want to let down the people they know and love, so inject a bit more of yourself into emails and remind your clients who is on the other end. The bonus here is that your more visually inclined clients will also appreciate the power of video.

📲 5. Send fewer emails:

Obviously, there are some times when you need to send an email, but there are many other times when you have options. People’s email inboxes are often a source of significant stress and overwhelm so where possible, avoid competing with this noise. As an example, you may be pleasantly surprised by how effective SMS requests are for generating a quick reply.

This is a post from my LinkedIn.
To connect with me on LinkedIn, head to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljback/
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