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Writing Tip: Use a forecasting subject line

Written by: Stan Berry

Article Overview: When you want your emails to get things done, begin with a forecasting subject line. This simple step will turn your readers from passive to active. It often determines whether your email gets read or not.

Writing Tip: Use a forecasting subject line

Productivity Tip

When you want your emails to get things done, begin with a forecasting subject line. This simple step will turn your readers from passive to active. It often determines whether your email gets read or not. Forecast the Bottom Line of Your Email in the Subject Line

Forecasting subject lines tell the reader what you're going to tell them. In other words, they forecast the business application of your email - they tell readers how your email affects them. Effective subject lines offer more than a general topic description. Assume for a moment that you work in human resources. Which of the following is more likely to pique your interest, a topic subject line or a forecasting subject line?

1. "Benefits Plan" [General topic description]
2. "Recommendation for Enhancing Our Benefits Plan" [Specific forecast of the bottom line]

The Power of Forecasting Subject Lines

People are naturally curious. Consider the previous example. By disclosing the business application of the email, readers will wonder, "What is the recommendation? How could the benefit plan be enhanced?" These questions grab the reader's attention and turn them passive to active.

Examples of Forecasting Subject Lines

Use the following subject line openers to enhance reader interest:

• Review of...
• Request for...
• Proper Handling of...
• Recommended Use of...
• Instructions for...
• Comments about...

To further increase productivity, follow these four guidelines for writing forecasting subject lines:

• Should repeat key words from paragraph 1
• Should be written last - after a rough draft is completed
• Should not be a sentence or a question
• Strive for no more than 50 characters

A Small Step that Offers Big Results

Forecasting subject lines are a simple yet powerful tool for Writing to Get Things Done. By stating the business application of your message in the subject line, you will entice your readers to learn more and take action. Consistently follow this simple tip and watch your productivity grow.

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Article Tags: benefit plan, bottom line, br, business application, email, human resources, key words, li li, paragraph, pique your interest, productivity, question li, reader interest, rough draft, subject line, subject lines, topic description, topic subject, ul



Related Forum Posts
Re: Subject lines should carry over in threads... - [quote="OmnivoreInk":2av4pw6l][quote:2av4pw6l]I think it's also important for all of us to remember to include a "Subject" heading when posting, [/quote:2av4pw6l] When one creates a new thread, one obviously has to put in a new title. BUt when one REPLIES to a thread, the original poster's subject line should carry through - so that a new title doesn't have to be typed in. What is the trick of this, anyway? Sometimes the subject line DOES come through, I seem to remember, but more often than not I have to type something in. And people sometimes dont' realize that when they hit REPLY, the subject line doesn't carry over, so they don't even realize their new post doesn't have a title.[/quote:2av4pw6l] I've found that when I click "quote" - it carries over the subject line, if I just click reply, I need to add a subject line. Shri
Subject lines should carry over in threads... - [quote:1cqzca87]I think it's also important for all of us to remember to include a "Subject" heading when posting, [/quote:1cqzca87] When one creates a new thread, one obviously has to put in a new title. BUt when one REPLIES to a thread, the original poster's subject line should carry through - so that a new title doesn't have to be typed in. What is the trick of this, anyway? Sometimes the subject line DOES come through, I seem to remember, but more often than not I have to type something in. And people sometimes dont' realize that when they hit REPLY, the subject line doesn't carry over, so they don't even realize their new post doesn't have a title.
Using a subject - Hi guys - as I mentioned in another post, the subject is automatically entered in now for replies to forum posts but feel free to change it to something more relevant than just re: (old subject line)
Re: Doing what you love - [quote="bmueller47":2mwe86yf]Hi Barbara, Quote: Maybe you can help me. I tried to quote some of your post, but for some it does not work for me. What is the correct procedure? Thankss [/quote:2mwe86yf] HI, Beat Here is the way I will be doing it from now on (so that I don't have to keep retyping the subject line.) After you finish reading a post that you want to respond to, just hit the QUOTE button at the top of the post. This will create a "new" post, with subject in the subject line, and all the text within [ quote ][ /quote ] symbols. Then, just go in and highlight with your mouse any text that you don't wan't to appear, and delete it, so you're left only with the sentence or two that you specifically want to respond to. Type your response OUTSIDE the final [ / quote ] symbol.
Re: Subject line Etiquette - [quote="jvprosperity":b50c4a20]Another email rant: Is there some place on the internet that outlines proper "Subject line" headings? There mus be a system out there that people use to be more efficient email senders. Not everything that comes into my mail box requires my immediate attention. I would love to educate myself and the people who send me emails on proper subject lines. Maybe something like: "Urgent Review: <<Title of document>>" "Decision Required: "<<Subject matter>>" just something for me to quickly scan the subject lines and decide which ones need my immediate attention. Anyone know of such email standards that exist out there?[/quote:b50c4a20] The only messages I get that say Urgent or Decision Required etc are spam. I tell people to put something relevant to their business with me in the subject line - this is especially important for the people who fall into my junk mail. Chris


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