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How to get every email returned

nytimes.com

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Re: How to get every email returned

#31

Post by jimmaswell »

panarky wrote: post #21

1. Only ask one question. More than that and people skip it until later then forget. Or if they do respond they only answer one question anyway and forget the others. 2. Schedule the delivery for first thing in the morning. Email delivered during the day, after people get busy, just scrolls off the front page and gets lost. (I use Gmail's new scheduled send multiple times a day now.)

Re: #1 why can't it just be expected that people be professional and just read the whole thing, answering everything in it? Why is it acceptable that everyone is lazy and inconsiderate? Why am I the only person on the planet who would actually do that? Humanity is so disappointing sometimes.

Re: How to get every email returned

#32

Post by la_barba »

ygrtil wrote: post #19
la_barba wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you had good reasons to ignore their previous emails you should let them know.

The sender has forced themselves into my life, and I'm expected to spend my time to tell them that they're unwelcome?

If you work with the sender or if they are your friend, or otherwise are known to you - then yes. I'm obviously obviously not talking about replying to spammers here.

Re: How to get every email returned

#33

Post by la_barba »

chucksmash wrote: post #23
la_barba wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you had good reasons to ignore their previous emails you should let them know.

If you have good reasons to ignore them they probably already know them.

Depends, but I wouldn't want to work with someone who ignores my emails.

Re: How to get every email returned

#34

Post by tosser0001 »

gnicholas wrote: post #2

I've found a couple things to be useful: * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. That way when the person finishes reading the email and is deciding whether to ignore/archive or reply, they're more likely to reply. If possible, make the question yes/no instead of long answer. For example: "Is now a good time to move forward?" versus "How does this sound t…

> * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email.

Oddly enough I do the exact opposite: Within reason, I try to make the question I want answered the very first sentence.

I hate expository emails. Just tell me what you’re looking for. If I need more detail I would hope the follow on text would provide it.

Re: How to get every email returned

#35

Post by tosser0001 »

jimmaswell wrote: post #31
panarky wrote: post #21

1. Only ask one question. More than that and people skip it until later then forget. Or if they do respond they only answer one question anyway and forget the others. 2. Schedule the delivery for first thing in the morning. Email delivered during the day, after people get busy, just scrolls off the front page and gets lost. (I use Gmail's new scheduled send multiple times a day now.)

Re: #1 why can't it just be expected that people be professional and just read the whole thing, answering everything in it? Why is it acceptable that everyone is lazy and inconsiderate? Why am I the only person on the planet who would actually do that? Humanity is so disappointing sometimes.

You can’t force a bunch of text onto busy individuals and then label them “inconsiderate”. Honestly, I think it shows more consideration to assume people only have so much time to devote to interruptions and so keep the text tight and specific.

Re: How to get every email returned

#36

Post by munchbunny »

tosser0001 wrote: post #34
gnicholas wrote: post #2

I've found a couple things to be useful: * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. That way when the person finishes reading the email and is deciding whether to ignore/archive or reply, they're more likely to reply. If possible, make the question yes/no instead of long answer. For example: "Is now a good time to move forward?" versus "How does this sound t…

> * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. Oddly enough I do the exact opposite: Within reason, I try to make the question I want answered the very first sentence. I hate expository emails. Just tell me what you’re looking for. If I need more detail I would hope the follow on text would provide it.

I use a framework I learned while taking a course on legal argumentation back in college. Turns out it works fairly well in longer emails (whenever a paragraph is needed). Write your question/conclusion at the beginning and end. Stick context, evidence, and analysis in the middle in that order.

You could literally use the same sentence first and last if you just really need to get the point across and don't have time to get creative.

Re: How to get every email returned

#37

Post by jancsika »

noir_lord wrote: post #28
lisper wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

* If it's a cold call, start by introducing yourself: "Hi, my name is so-and-so. I am a [brief description of you, e.g. "student at X university", "resident of...", "software engineer working at..."]. I found you via ... I read your paper on ... and I had a question: or something like that. Never say, "I wonder if you could spare some time to answer a question?" Just ask it. If they can spare the time they'll answer,…

On that topic people who go onto support channels on IRC and then ask if it’s ok to ask a question drive me crazy. It’s a support channel, just ask.

You enter a room.

To the left is a door that leads to Comcast Support.

To the right is a door to a freenode channel guarded by a man yelling, "DON'T ASK TO ASK! JUST ASK!!!"

Which direction, gentle newbie?

Edit: intensification

Re: How to get every email returned

#38

Post by throwawaymath »

floatingatoll wrote: post #27
saagarjha wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wanted to follow up with you on this one last time This sounds rude to me, IMO. It's like a thinly veiled ultimatum–I find it interesting that you've gotten success from this, since it feels antagonistic to me.

It clearly declares the author’s intent to give up asking in the face of being ignored, without any specific insult or derogatory behavior. Either not replying is fine with the recipient or it isn’t. If it’s rude to say “I won’t bother you again if you don’t reply”, what behavior would you replace that with that clearly indicates the outcome of choosing not to reply? I encounter this frequently at work, where people…

> If it’s rude to say “I won’t bother you again if you don’t reply”, what behavior would you replace that with that clearly indicates the outcome of choosing not to reply?

Not bothering me in the first place, or maybe taking a hint.

If I didn’t reply to your first or second emails, assume I don’t want to. A motivating example: the only people who have ever emailed me repeatedly and used language like, “one last time” are cold calling salespeople and recruiters. I do nothing when they initially reach out, but when they start using tactics like this I send them directly to spam. I get that they have to sing for their supper, but I won’t respond to synthetic overtures of familiarity or urgency.

Re: How to get every email returned

#39

Post by pointytrees »

gnicholas wrote: post #2

I've found a couple things to be useful: * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. That way when the person finishes reading the email and is deciding whether to ignore/archive or reply, they're more likely to reply. If possible, make the question yes/no instead of long answer. For example: "Is now a good time to move forward?" versus "How does this sound t…

Have you considered making the question the first line?

I think I understand your reasoning. If you lead with the question, then write a bunch of stuff. When they finish reading and get to the end, they may have forgotten the initial question. I guess I have found in my professional experience that leading the with question is often more effective when talking to management. They're often quite busy and may skim the email to judge the importance.

I find that when they skim they are very likely to miss the question and I usually have to bug them a couple times. If I lead with the question and make it concise and direct, it is often answered very quickly. ;) Yes, this is filler text to share my opinion.

Re: How to get every email returned

#40

Post by jabagonuts »

tosser0001 wrote: post #34
gnicholas wrote: post #2

I've found a couple things to be useful: * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. That way when the person finishes reading the email and is deciding whether to ignore/archive or reply, they're more likely to reply. If possible, make the question yes/no instead of long answer. For example: "Is now a good time to move forward?" versus "How does this sound t…

> * If there's a question for the person to answer, make sure it is the very last sentence in the email. Oddly enough I do the exact opposite: Within reason, I try to make the question I want answered the very first sentence. I hate expository emails. Just tell me what you’re looking for. If I need more detail I would hope the follow on text would provide it.

I often do both. Very rarely do people read carefully in a business context these days. I design my work emails to be easily skimmed and I often repeat myself in different ways. You can't assume people will understand you, you must seek to be understood. Even after all of that, people will fail to respond to important emails because everyone is just so Fin burnt out these days!
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