Tips For Writing Short And Effective Emails

How the military writes emails: I served in the Navy. And I learned a few tactics that changed how I approach email at work. The secret? Let's call it military precision. In the military, precision isn't just about the drill. It's about how folks communicate: Everything from mission briefings to day-to-day emails. Here's the breakdown: - BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front ↳ Always start with your main point. - Start emails with action-oriented subject lines ↳ e.g., "INFO: Q4 Sales Report" or "REVIEW: Client Proposal Due 12/15" - Use Active voice and BE direct ↳ "The team completed the project" is leagues better than "The project was completed by the team" - Follow the 1 idea per paragraph rule ↳ (It really forces you to be clear and concise) - Use bullet points where possible ↳ The bullet points aren't just a layout choice. They force you to be concise. Here's the result: Faster responses. Quicker decision-making. Clearer communication. This approach wasn't just about being formal. It's about getting things done. Whether it's a military mission or a corporate task... Clear and decisive communication wins the day, every time. Try it and see what difference it makes. What’s your take on effective email communication? Any protocols that give consistent results? ♻ Repost to help folks in your network email with military precision. ➕ Follow Kabir Sehgal for daily tips on growth, productivity, & building your portfolio career.

Yesterday I had a front-row seat and gained valuable insights during a discussion with a CEO about the daily barrage of sales emails he faces Here’s what he shared about what grabs his attention—and some tips to help you stand out 🔹 Immediate value is key The first few lines must deliver something valuable. He said "If someone sent me that email, I’d be like F*** off and [dismiss it]. There's no value created in that email. Make sure your opening offers a clear benefit or useful resource 🔹 Impactful subject lines Your subject line is your foot in the door. He mentioned the need for change if there's no initial response: "If they didn't respond to the first email, then you try a different header." Make it count by being specific, intriguing, and relevant to their interests 🔹 Brevity wins: Keep your email concise. As he noted, "First sentence, you've got like 2 seconds." Busy professionals appreciate brevity. Make your point clearly and quickly Now here are some actionable tips based on these insights Value prop front and center Start your email with a clear value prop Example: "Thought you might be interested in these industry benchmarks we just released—already helping companies like yours increase efficiency." Test your subject lines Don’t be afraid to A/B test different subject lines to see what resonates best with your audience. Sometimes a small tweak can make a big difference Personalize thoughtfully Use the information you have about their business challenges to tailor your message. This shows you’ve done your homework and aren’t just sending a blanket email Let’s make their experience with our emails as positive and relevant as possible Do you have any email strategies that have worked well for you lately?

I was a Chief Customer Officer by 29 (and a millionaire by 30) I joined Buddy Media at 26 as a project manager In 3 years, I ran a 100-person team In 4 years, we sold the company for $745M I became a millionaire in the process The # 1 factor in my success? Clear communication! (yes, it’s that simple) I get 20-50 terrible emails a day. - They ramble. - They bury the lead. - They’re unclear on the ask. - They use jargon to look smart. - They want me to do all the work. And they wonder why their career is stuck.  (spoiler: you’re a bad communicator) (and it’s hurting your career) Here’s how to fix it. 👇 And write perfect emails to your boss. 1. Main Point First   → Open with your key message or ask.   Bad: Rambling intro   Good: “Sales are up 15%. I need approval to expand ads.”     2. Context Second   → Give brief, relevant data after your point.  *Bad: Long backstory   Good: “North up 20%, South down 10%.”     3. Be Specific   → Propose a solution and make a clear ask.   Bad: “What do you think?”   Good: “Can we launch the campaign tomorrow?”     4. Use Bullets   → Break complex info into bullets.   Bad: Dense paragraph   Good: 3-line bullet list showing key trends     5. Anticipate Questions   → Answer what your manager will likely ask.   Bad: Let me know if you have questions   Good: “Attached is the South region breakdown.”     6. Respect Their Time   → Keep it tight. Don’t default to a meeting.   Bad: Long-winded, multiple long paragraphs   Good: “Summary below. Happy to meet if needed.”     It seems so simple. And the good news? It IS simple. Yet, most employees pull up a blank email and start spewing. Then wonder why they're stuck. Don’t be one of them. Tighten up your communication. And watch your career take off! 🚀 P.S. How many bad emails do you get per day?

Last week Glenn Kramon, a professor at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business gave a master class on cold emailing in our class (Lean Launchpad). Glenn was an editor The New York Times for more than 25 years and has supervised reporters that have won 10 Pulitzer Prizes. I always start my emails with “How are you? Hope you are well!”. It turns out I have been doing this wrong for decades - violating rule #3  in Glenn's list (see below). I recommend you listen to Glenn in this YouTube video (minute 38 to roughly 45). It does not do justice to his full lecture but you will get a sense of his wisdom. TLDR: ✍ When writing cold emails instead of being one OF a million, be one IN a million.  🌟 To make yourself one in a million, make them feel like one in a million. Ai writing software makes emails look the same. Ask ChatGPT to write you a cold email - you will be one OF a million. Spend time following Glenn’s rules and you can stand out, making someone feel you care about them.  At the end, the person you are reaching out to is a human and your goal is to establish a connection with them that goes beyond the transaction. Glenn’s ten rules below: 1️⃣ Know something about the person to whom you’re writing, and exploit it.  2️⃣ Clear, personal subject line indicating urgency.  3️⃣ Start fast. Get to the point quickly, not at the end.  4️⃣ Begin with something she doesn’t know, not with something she does know. 5️⃣ Name someone you know whom the person you’re writing about also knows (and respects).  6️⃣ Try to compare yourself to the person you’re writing to.  7️⃣ Can you tell a story you know will make that person smile, even laugh?  8️⃣ Keep it short. Make sure there’s an “ask” or next step. And keep the ask as small as possible. Make it easy to say yes.  9️⃣ Offer something in return. Maybe you know something, or someone, that she doesn’t.  🔟 Check for accuracy, then check it again, before sending. For fun, I used ChatGPT to write a few emails and noticed that they violate many of Glenn’s rules! https://lnkd.in/gjN6j24Z

I've sent 8,200+ cold emails to strangers, and it has completely changed my life. These have landed me jobs, customers, investors, hires, business ideas, and more. Here's my 4-step framework to writing top 1% cold emails: 1/ The Opener 💌 Your first line needs to be about THEM, not you. It has to be incredibly specific, well-researched, and honest (don't fake it). Show that you've done more research vs. the last 100 people who emailed them. Example 1: "Hey [name] — I loved reading your blog on X, and appreciated your story in growing ABC co from P to Q over the last 3 years. You've inspired me to launch my own company someday." Do this well, and you're already in the top 1% of emails they receive. 2. The Quick Intro 👋 Write <20 words to introduce yourself and what you do. It needs to be dead-simple English (i.e. Grade 6 level on Hemingway App). Be direct and honest, don't oversell yourself. Example 1: "I'm Naitik – a 2nd year design student from XYZ University." Example 2: "I'm Naitik and I'm building a new no-code tool for designers." 3. The Context 💭 This is the crux of your email — give context on why you're reaching out, before making your ask. Limit it to 1-2 short and clear sentences. Bonus: The more specific value you can GIVE in your first email, the more likely you are to hear back. Example 1: Reaching out for a job as a designer? Give them 1-2 quick tips to improve their website, and how it could make them more revenue. Example 2: Reaching out someone for advice? Give them concrete context on your situation, and the specific decision you need advice on. Example 3: Reaching out to hire someone? Give them 2 ways that you can support their career & goals. 4. The Ask 🎯 This is your main call-to-action and it has to be extremely specific. The catch? You can't request anything vague: "a quick call" or "meeting to pick your brain". You don't need a phone call or meeting in 99% of the cases. Be permission-less and make your ask over email. The more specific your request, the higher the chances of you hearing back. Example 1: "Can I help you as a design intern to improve your website in the next 30 days?" Example 2: (after sharing context & the decision you need advice on) "Would you go with option A or B in this scenario and why?" Example 3: If you really need a meeting, "Can I get 10 mins of your time to ask how you'd approach job hunting if you were a student today?" That's all. Repeat this 100x, and I guarantee you will 1) get responses, and 2) open up opportunities you never thought you had access to. PS: I have a lot more to share on this, so I've recorded a deep-dive video walkthrough on how to write stellar, top 1% cold emails. If you're curious, comment "Cold Email" and I'll DM it to you by end of week. --- This is Day 8 of 30 of my writing challenge — everyday I'm sharing my ups & downs, challenges & learnings as a founder scaling StartupBake to $1M/yr in revenue. Follow along if you'd like :)