How to write reader-friendly emails

I've been meaning to blog for a while. The marketing gurus told me I should a long time ago. I just didn't know what to blog about and then it hit me.

In my early freelance days, I published an e-newsletter called

The Writer's Block. It was short and pretty sweet. Once a month I shared writing tips, word trivia and more, with a few hundred clients, colleagues and friends. In the spirit of the New Year, I'm dusting off the content of this newsletter and resolving to pick up where I left off.

I’m not embarking on an uptight grammar blog. Heck, I’m the first to begin a sentence with and or but. (Gasp.) This is simply a place for me to flag some common writing errors and share good-to-know writing tips so that you can make a better impression in your letters, sales kits, web content or whatever else you’re writing. Even emails.

Want people to read your emails?

Sometimes there's simply no avoiding a lengthy email, but if you must send one, take a few steps to avoid losing your audience. Long, continuous screenfuls of text are as laborious to read as the small print on your refrigerator warranty. Consider these tips to help keep longer messages reader-friendly:

• Open with a list that outlines the major points your message will cover.
• Use bold, heads, subheads and white space to organize your text.
• Avoid the use of uppercase UNLESS YOU WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION YOU’RE SHOUTING.
• Don't forget to spell-check your work; your writing is a reflection of you, no matter what medium it's in.
• If you’re requesting a response, make this known at the top of your email – just in case your readers’ minds wander before they reach the end.

That's it for now. If you found this helpful, feel free to share.