Don't Look Spammy

Based on this weekend's legit email that ended up in my Junk/Trash box, I thought it would be a good idea to offer you these tips to avoid looking spammy:

Most importantly, keep in mind that your SUBJECT: field could determine whether your email is read or not.

Things to keep in mind:

* 35% of respondents cited the "Subject" line as the most important factor motivating them to open emails.

* Do not send an e-mail without noting a relevant SUBJECT: do not leave the subject field blank.

* Do not use the recipient's name in the Subject line - if your name is not recognized you could be perceived as a possible spammer.

* Use proper punctuation and capitalization where necessary. Do not use multiple !!! or ???.

* Make sure your name is properly formatted in your settings both in case and punctuation. John A. Doe not JOHN A. DOE, john a doe or jdoe@isp.com

* Always have a SUBJECT: that gives a clear indication of the e-mail's topic.

* Refrain from using Help, Hi or Please Respond type comments.

* When replying, take the extra step to type REPLY: at the start of the subject field for a extra hint of professionalism and detail letting the recipient know you are replying to their specific inquiry.

The tips above just may help to ensure your e-mail is not incorrectly identified as spam and deleted before read.

HTH!