The book opens with the most important point that can be made about email to young people that do most of their communication via text messages, “Why email?” The answer is similar to what my class was told when I was in middle school regarding the sending of a typed letter versus a hand-printed one. The typed letter looks like you care about the message and the communication while the handwritten one does not. This applies to a carefully crafted email versus a text message, the email demonstrates that the sender values the communication channel.
Once the topic of the “Why?” is dealt with, Hausmann moves on to the modern equivalent to “getting your foot in the door,” in other words how you get the attention of a decision maker. In the old days it was phone calls or a formal letter that were intercepted by a secretary, or using the modern terminology, an administrative assistant. One of the primary responsibilities of this person was to screen all incoming messages, a position of great power when seen from the outside.
In the modern world where few people do not use email and nearly all decision makers do, the portal for attracting attention is via the carefully constructed email that is concise, yet thorough. Since many people of power monitor their email, your wedge is an email that exudes seriousness and competence. Understanding how to do that is where Hausmann shines.
This book is written at a level and in a tone directed at the person in the middle teen years up through graduation from college with a desire to step up and out into the world. There is a section about creating a personal profile on LinkedIn and how the young person should approach each step. For example, while “sexygirl@------.com” might get you a few giggles, an address like that diminishes your appearance. As a longtime college professor I have had female students communicate with me using addresses like that and they rarely get through the spam filter. It is hard to be taken seriously when you sound like a porn ad. As Hausmann points out, to many, your email address is a professional name and should look that way.
Hausmann completely deconstructs the stucture of an email, giving lists of what to do and the scenarios within which to do them as well as what to avoid. It reminded me of the section of my English class in high school where we completely deconstructed the basic business letter. Every component, from the structure of the opening greeting to what we closed with before our names was examined in detail. Success in communication is now done via email and like so many other areas, success is based on carrying out the context equivalents of “blocking and tackling.” Hausmann is one of the best coaches there is in the area of using email effectively.
Beginning her book with the following statement offers an indication of why Gisela believes so strongly in the importance of correct Email: ‘Sending text messages is great when communicating with friends or people you know well. However, if you want to do big things in life, you’ll probably need to send e-mails. All people of influence communicate this way. Did you know that even the late visionary and genius Steve Jobs read many Apple Inc. customers’ e-mails and replied to them - personally? Jobs’ e-mail address was no secret, he had it published on the web.’
Given that entry Gisela provides more helpful suggestions for writing meaningful and product producing emails than most of us have even considered! She lists ‘The 7 parts of an E-mail- #1 - The sender’s (your) name #2 - The best time to send an e-mail #3 - The attractive & effective subject line #4 - The greeting #5 - The spelling of the recipient’s name #6 - The body of your e-mail #7 - The ending salutation & signature.
‘ And that is just for starters. She includes chapters on The Problem with Templates Typos, Misspellings, & the most infamous Writing Error along with her hilarious ’17 examples of ludicrous emails’.
A terrific book by an established writer and excellent coach! Grady Harp, October 15
An “email evangelist” outlines the value of email for teens addicted to texting.
“If you want to do big things in life, you’ll probably need to send e-mails,” advises Hausmann, who targets text-loving teens in her latest “Naked”-branded book. While texting is fun, fast, and effective for connecting to friends “in the now,” she says, teens must understand the nuances of email to function in an adult, career-driven world.
Noting that networking is easier than ever thanks to digital communication, Hausmann details seven rules for drafting effective emails: use a professional, not colorful email address; respond within 24 hours; write a concise subject line; include a greeting (having none is too brusque); use correct spelling (particularly of the recipient’s name); ensure that all necessary information is included; and add a salutation (avoid the overused “Sincerely”).
Hausmann concludes her book by sharing some “ludicrous” emails and tweets that she has seen (“They call it e-mail, because me-mail was too long”). Hausmann (Naked News for Indie Authors: How Not to Invest Your Marketing $$$, 2016, etc.) proclaims her primer is “a non-fluff, no-nonsense book.” For the most part, she is right: her email protocols provide common-sense suggestions for emoji-obsessed teens, especially the excellent tip that readers link to their professional websites or portfolios in email signatures. She does include some fluff, however, listing websites of teenage entrepreneurs, which seems like filler in this slim book.
Overall, this is a quick, conversational kick-start for teens interested in building their professional presence.
Snappy, useful chat about email importance and etiquette.
- Kirkus Reviews
