Email Follow Up Subject: Field Attention Getters

Do you need a response to a previous e-mail and want to do a follow-up but are unsure how to make a point that you really really need a response?

First, if you are frustrated due to a lack of response consider whether picking up the phone and actually having a person-to-person discussion may be more productive than sending a follow-up that may be perceived as terse in tone or demanding in intent.

To encourage specific results, what I do is use the Subject: field to help set expectations for my email follow ups. Before the established Subject: field on ongoing conversations I use:

FOLLOW UP:
FYI:
QUESTION:
UPDATE:

You could also use:

PLEASE RESPOND:
RESPONSE REQUIRED:
COMMENTS PLEASE:

You get the idea… Now, this doesn’t mean you just change the Subject: field and hit Send with no further comment in the e-mail itself! You still need to follow the 5 Essentials of Every E-mail — you are simply clarifying with the Subject: field the need for a response.

This lets the other side know why I am replying to that specific subject combined with my new comments explaining the details needed to back up this approach. You may also find that those you communicate with appreciate this little “hint” in the Subject: field too!