Seth Godin’s Email Checklist

Godin’s email checklist has been around for a few years, so you may have seen it.  If not, it is definitely worth a read.  There are too many recommendations to be practically used as a checklist, however, they are all good.  Here are the most important recommendations to consider for your professional email:

13.  Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour).
14.  Could I do this note better with a phone call?
21.  Could this email be shorter?
22.  Is there anyone copied on this email who could be left off the list?
23.  Have I attached any files that are very big? (If so, google something like ‘send big files’ and consider your options.)
25.  Are there any 🙂 or other emoticons involved? (If so, reconsider).
27.  Am I forwarding someone else’s mail? (If so, will they be happy when they find out?)
29.  Did I hit ‘reply all’? If so, am I glad I did? Does every person on the list need to see it?
35.  Bonus: Does the subject line make it easy to understand what’s to come and likely it will get filed properly?
36.  If I had to pay 42 cents to send this email, would I?

Read Godin’s entire list here.

Related Career-ology Posts:

• Save Our Inboxes!  Adopt the Email Charter