In today’s busy world, there are many different ways that one can use to send someone a message. The most conventional way to do so is through the use of email. Still, many people find that people do not get a response. Below, we review three tips to help you better ensure that you’ll get a response.
Timing is Everything!
One possible reason why people or a particular person never hits the reply button—is simply the time you usually send your messages.
Think about it: if for example, Josh Silverstein, a sophomore you met on campus is in school at night, it’s really easy for any late messages to go completely unnoticed—or opened and then forgotten about because he didn’t have time to respond at that very moment.
And so, if you are opting to contact this person by sending an email (remember: email may not be the right way to deliver your message), email marketing firm GetResponse analyzed a whopping 21 million email messages to find the best hours for sending emails (if you want them opened). They report that a majority of emails land in the inbox in the morning. It follows that those sent in the afternoon have a greater chance of being opened and clicked on. Still, it’s important to keep in mind who your recipient is and that you probably should avoid sending emails during rush hour, class, child-bathing hour, carpool and dinner time.
Email Etiquette!
Resend the Message
Sometimes, we all just need a friendly and polite nudge/reminder. If the message is important, go ahead and resend it, saying something like “I wasn’t sure if you got this, so I’m following up to see what you thought.”
What are some of the ways that you have used to make sure that you get a timely response from a prospective student, congregant, or donor? We’d love to hear your tried and tested methods in the comments section below.
