How to Get a Person to Respond to an Email

You know the frustration. You sent out that email hoping for a timely reply, but the person just isn't responding. It may be that your email didn't send out enough signals for the recipient to prioritize it. Getting a quick response often requires some strategy on your part.

Instructions

1. Be brief when writing your email. Making your recipient dig through information discourages a timely response. People typically go through their emails and answer the easiest ones first.

2. Ask specific questions. Many times, emails go without a response, because the recipient is unsure of what you are looking for. When you are specific, there is no doubt.

3. Avoid open-ended questions that require long answers. Ask questions that can be answered in a few words. This makes it easy for people to quickly respond to your emails.

4. Limit the number of people receiving your email. Learn to use blind carbon copy (BCC). If the recipient sees a long list of people, they may assume that someone else has taken care of the matter, and that a response is not necessary.

5. State in your email that you need a response by a certain time. If that time arrives without a reply, follow up with another email.

6. Set your email program to request a "Read Receipt." There is a possibility that your email may get lost in cyberspace, and a receipt indicates whether your email was received.