ABA Journal The digital English academy
Nowadays, email has almost completely replaced paper and is the preferred means of communication for work, shopping, and communication in general.
Follow-up emails in particular, if they are well written, can be decisive for getting a job, catching the attention of a salesperson, and confirming decisions made with a friend or a colleague.
Characteristics of a good e-mail in English
To achieve the desired effects, a follow-up email must have precise characteristics. Here are some tips that you should consider:
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Keep your goal in mind.
A follow-up email is not written by chance, but rather is made with a specific objective. If you keep in mind the motivation behind your email, you will pay attention to its tone and style.
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Refer to any previous emails.
Whatever the purpose of your email, it is important to remind the recipient of any previous communication, especially if it is not someone you know well and with whom you have frequent contact. Mention something that caught your attention during a previous meeting and explain why.
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Be specific.
Do not mince words. Clarify your goal and explicitly present your request and the reason for sending your email.
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Make the subject of the email well-composed.
The subject is essential to make the recipient open the email and read it. Make it clear that this is a quick and urgent request.
Now let’s look at some practical examples of follow-up emails in English.
1. After a meeting
Subject: Quick Feedback After Yesterday’s Meeting
Good morning, Mr. John.
It was great meeting you at the convention yesterday. I really appreciated the way that you have met the different challenges the market has presented to your company this year.
Have you considered our brand’s proposal? I am sure that it would be great for our companies to cooperate and to start the new project which I highlighted in my presentation.
Please let me know what you think about the project.
Regards,
2. With respect to an undelivered purchase
Subject: Item Not Delivered
Good morning,
I am writing regarding delivery n°34rg5km. Unfortunately, the item has not been delivered to my address despite the payment having gone through already. Could you please check to see what the problem is as soon as possible?
Regards,
3. When an online payment is not processed
Subject: Problem With Payment
Good morning,
I am writing regarding delivery n°34rg5km. I tried to pay for the item and my bank card is in order, but the payment is not confirmed. Can you help me solve this problem as soon as possible?
Thank you.
Regards,
4. After a job interview
Subject: Thank You for Your Time
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the digital marketing coordinator role. It was great to meet you and to learn more about the position.
I am excited about the opportunity to join Uda. I am confident that my experience and my interest in the brand’s growth will enable me to fulfil the job requirements effectively. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks again,
5. To confirm decisions related to a group purchase
Subject: Regarding the Gift
Hi,
After our discussion yesterday, I have found it practical to review what we have decided. The wedding is fast approaching and there is not much time left. There are 5 of us in total and each of us will contribute £20, so we will have £100 total. Since our manager loves cooking, we will buy the Italian dish set from McMillan’s. Is anyone available to go tomorrow morning before work?
Thanks,
To write effective emails in English, you need to have a solid knowledge of the language.
Remember that with our online course you’ll be able to perfect the many different aspects of English so that you’ll be able to express yourself like a true English speaker.
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