Quick Tip: 3 Email Tips to Keep Your Clients Happy By Lori Appling

It wasn't too long ago that all correspondence with clients was done via mail (or the more expensive option of FedEx). But today, almost all your contact will be through email.

Here are three simple but important tips for contacting your client through email:

1. Write subject lines that are meaningful to both you and your client. For example:
   • First draft: <product name> from Susan Smith
   • Bio and photo of <author's name> for August catalog
   • Invoice #567 for <project name> from Stan Smith

   Avoid subject lines like: Here it is!

2. ALWAYS include your complete contact information (usually as a signature file):

   E. A. Poe
   3333 Northumberland Drive
   Salem, MA 11111
   Phone: (555) 555-1234
   Fax: (555) 555-5678
   eapoe@nevermore.org

3. Include the entire email message thread.

   In other words, when you reply to a client's email, you should always include the original and subsequent message(s) in your reply. This saves your client and you time and frustration if either of you needs to refer to previous emails.