| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 758 - Jan. 16, 2019 |
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How to Avoid Annoying Email Phrases |
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As I also mention in this week's Fun at Work Tip, if you want to communicate more effectively with customers and coworkers, speak human! In other words, speak and write conversationally. Avoid annoying buzzwords and tired cliches like the plague (oops). Add humor. Add some personality and some
energy so people can hear your authentic voice shining through.
On that note, Fast Company magazine published a list of the 9 most annoying email phrases - phrases that make us sound a tad less personable:
1. Not sure if you saw my last email?
2. Per my last email
3. Per our conversation
4. Any update on this?
5. Sorry for the double email
6. Please advise
7. As previously stated
8. As discussed
9. Re-attaching for your convenience
Most of these annoying examples are related to not hearing back from someone. In those cases, you might recall a study I referenced last year that suggested that sales emails with humor in them have a 46% higher open rate! So why not try something along the lines of an email I got last week from a salesperson wondering why I hadn't got back to him. He offered me three multiple choice options, including option #3: "If you are trapped under something heavy, please let me know and
I'll be happy to phone 911 for you." I smiled when I read that, and yes, I got back to him!
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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Always look for ways to surprise and delight your customers, whether they are internal customers (i.e. your fabulous teammates) or your external customers. For example, when I ordered hand razors from the delightfully quirky (and aptly-named) Harry's, I was given the chance to add a "mystery item" for $5.00, which "may contain a wizard's blessing." What a fun up sell technique!
So for only five clams and out of curiosity I naturally added it to the order (it was, sadly, not a wizard's blessing, but instead a fabulous aftershave balm). Harry's carried their quirky branding through with their shaving tips booklet, which featured such memorable tips as: "Massage the gel into your beard - whispering a love sonnet is optional".
Remember - when you make it fun for your customers, you make it fun for you as well!
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Quote of the Week |
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"Something can be important without being serious."
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It's a Wacky World |
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An African grey parrot by the name of Rocco made news last month after he ordered several food items and a kite from Amazon's voice-activated Alexa! This isn't the first time Rocco has made the news: He was previously in trouble due to his penchant for bad language while
staying at the National Animal Welfare Trust wildlife shelter in England.
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Copyright © 2019 Humor at Work. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
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