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SUBJECT: As We Discussed

by
  • This is what you wanted
  • As per our conversation
  • RE:
  • For you John
  • Fwd:
  • Hello
  • My details
  • Thanks!
  • One more question
The above are REAL subject lines that I recieved from real clients, friends, and other folks e-mailing me – not spammers. Those e-mails have variations of medication names, offers for expensive watches, and so forth. Instead, the above e-mails contained:
  • This is what you wanted – included details on the room # of an assignment
  • As per our conversation – This is from a vendor with details about some equipment I wanted to order
  • RE: – This was from a client about where she wanted the CD delivered
  • For you John – This was from a friend about a restaurant I was looking into
  • Fwd: – This was from a client who had a shot list I needed for an assignment in two days
  • Hello – This from someone who wanted me to send them an estimate
  • My details – An assistant sent me her contact information for an upcoming assignment
  • Thanks! – A client wanted to express their appreciation for a job well done
  • One more question – a client had…yes…one more question about a negotiation we were close to closing
Instead, try these:
  • ASSIGNMENT DETAILS for: Tuesday, July 17
  • Need a photographer on 7.26
  • Quote Request for …
  • Photo Estimate for: Friday, July 13
  • In Reference to photos from the President’s …
  • Photo Assignment Status request for: Monday, July 25
  • JHarrington Photo – Invoice status inquiry
  • JHarrington Photo – Invoice for …
  • John Harrington W-9 Form
All of the above are succinct, descriptive, and useful. They are all exact e-mail subject lines we either sent, or recieved recently. The use of them increases peoples interest and willingness to preview, read, act, or forward on to the necessary party regarding the contents.

Next time you send an e-mail, think about your subject lines!
Please post your comments by clicking the link below. If you’ve got questions, please pose them in our Photo Business Forum Flickr Group Discussion Threads.

Originally published on Photo Business News & Forum on July 16, 2007. Comments are closed; this post is part of the archive.

8 thoughts on “SUBJECT: As We Discussed”

  1. I should have known, that you of all people would be able to lead us down the shining path when it comes to being concise with e-mails.

    Now; if you could only tell me the best brand of toilet paper to use, my life will be complete.
  2. Unlike the first poster, I thought this blog entry on email subject lines was really helpful.

    Thanks, John!
  3. If only I could get half the people I work with to not use “hey”, or “when you get a minute”. Of course, there is the inverse too, when they write 90% of the email in the subject line.
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