Still waiting on a reply back from someone and not sure how to approach the situation? Figuring out the right words can be tricky – but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Emails often times go unanswered simply because there’s too many of them. If you’re waiting on a reply back that you need in order to finish up a project, there are ways you can politely write a deadline reminder email.
Here are three tips to get your emails answered.
1. Include urgency in the email subject
Of course, the first thing the recipient sees in an email is the subject line, so it’s important to make it count. Flag your email as high urgency and use “Response required” or “Overdue” in your subject line. This way, the receiver knows they need to prioritize your email and your chances of getting a response are higher.
2. Explain the situation
Communication is key in this situation. You want to express why you are emailing again and remind the receiver of the upcoming deadline. Remind them of your last interaction and when you set your expectations and the deadline. Next, set a call to action, such as
“Are you able to get back to me by tomorrow morning? It will allow us to meet the project deadline and stay within the timeline.”
This way the receiver knows what you are expecting from them and can work towards meeting those needs.
3. Keep it short
If you’re still waiting on a reply, it’s likely because the receiver simply has too many emails and hasn’t had a chance to take a look at yours. With that being said, it is important to keep your email short and straight to the point. Nobody wants to read a long email that could have been summarized into a couple of sentences. The first sentence should clearly explain your reasoning for reaching out, followed up by a call to action as mentioned above.
It’s important to keep it short since it is a deadline reminder email, and you do want to maximize the amount of time they have to work on the project after all!
Learn about how to optimize your outlook inbox here.
