Hack Your Subject Lines To Improve E-Mail Productivity

Want to get immediate productivity gains with your e-mail? Implementing some simple e-mail protocols can really ramp up your efficiency. GetPredictableSuccess offers these suggestions.

Use the subject line coupled with EOM. If you can convey the entire message in less than 60 characters or so, put the whole message in the subject line and end with [EOM]. This keeps your reader from having to actually open an e-mail. Example: Staff meeting today at 3 p.m. in Conference Room 2 [EOM]
No reply required? Use NRR. Example: Agenda for staff meeting attached. [NRR]
Call out a Y/N question. If a simple yes or no is all that's needed, alert the reader in the subject line. Example: Decision needed on location of staff meeting [Y/N]
Get a timely reply using RB+. A week from now = [RB+7], a month = [RB+30], etc. Need it today? [RB+0]. An hour from now? [RB+0.1] Example: Will you be attending the staff meeting? [RB+2] [EOM]
Acknowledge a previous request with PYR. If you're responding to a previous request, let them know your e-mail isn't initiating a new action. Example: Agenda attached for staff meeting [PYR].

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