Anatomy of an Ideal Email Invite

Though it might look simple, it's good to go over the components that make a solid meeting invitation email.

1. A striking subject line

The subject is the first (or perhaps only) shot at catching the recipient's attention. Your strategy should be to get them to notice your email first. Once you succeed at grabbing their attention, you need to set the appropriate context and deliver content in line with the subject.

Some pointers to get your subject line to click for you:

  • Keep it concise and to the point (60 characters or less).
  • Use power words that spur action.
  • Use appropriate emojis to catch the eye.

You'll want to avoid doing any of the items below. Chances are, your emails would be written off without being read, or even marked as spam.

  • Never mislead them.
  • Don't use too many exclamation points.

People can see through your intentions easily. So, be as sincere and assertive as possible. It's not just about getting them to click on your email. Plan your email with customer interaction in mind, which can bloom into life-long loyalty towards your brand/business.

Here are some example subject lines that could strike a chord with your invitees:

  • Let’s talk 'Successful Marketing' this Wednesday.
  • Donuts and coffee are on us this Saturday!
  • Free workshop on 'Qualifying your leads'. Are you available tomorrow?
  • One minute reading this can save you a month of work!

Scott's UX Design Workshop - 25% off this week

2. The email body

Congratulations! You have successfully capture the recipient's attention. Now, on to the more concrete aspects. As fits the description, the body of the meeting invite is the heart of your email. Possible pieces that constitute your email are as follows:

3. The greeting

The meeting host, in most cases, is new to the participants of the meeting. So, it might be a good idea to open the email with a brief introduction to the host. A sharp and compelling description of the host can win the confidence of the participants. If the participants and host already know each other, the greeting may be just stating the name of the host, or you might skip straight to the agenda.

Hey Walter,

I'm Scott. I've been teaching design for close to 14 years. I'm a media designer and content creator – so I can figure out what it takes to fit you in.

4. The meeting agenda

Setting the agenda is crucial in encouraging participants to show up. You need to clearly state what they are signing up for and highlight the possible benefits. With a well-defined program, invitees should know that:

  • The meeting is beneficial for them
  • The meeting solves their problems or consolidates their current position
  • There is a probable gain in revenue or knowledge

Hey Walter,

I'm Scott. I've been teaching design for close to 14 years. I'm a media designer and content creator – so I can figure out what it takes to fit you in.

What you get:
  • Understand print and digital publishing, leverage design essentials.
  • Be a part of a larger Design Community, share and collaborate with connections.
  • Join my workshop and get a 25% discount on the normal fee.

5. The meeting details

Meeting information could range from the basic details, like:

  • The date & time of the meeting
  • The venue or joining details

...to more specific information, like:

  • Mode of booking
  • Amount or fee details (in case of services)
  • The host's contact information
  • Instructions on how to reschedule if they need to do that

Remember to include the following details in your email:

  • Meeting purpose
  • Number of participants
  • Start time
  • Location or meeting link
  • Meeting host

Hey Walter,

I'm Scott. I've been teaching design for close to 14 years. I'm a media designer and content creator – so I can figure out what it takes to fit you in.

What you get:

  • Understand print and digital publishing, leverage design essentials.
  • Be a part of a larger Design Community, share and collaborate with connections.
  • Join my workshop and get a 25% discount on the normal fee.

How do we do this:

Sign up for a 2-day boot camp by selecting the best time that works for you.

Course Link: https://www.scott-designs.com/design-essentials/learn

P.S: The course is up for grabs for the next two days, so make sure you pick your slot soon

6. The signature

Be sure to include the name of the host or the person running the business in the signature. Though it might feel redundant to you, the signature of the email shows how much effort you've put into this email. In the case of automated emails, signatures sometimes are those of a generic business or just a staff designation, both of which can feel impersonal or off-putting to your participants. A human name with a simple "thanks" or "regards" adds a little warmth and friendliness to the email.

Hey Walter,

I'm Scott. I've been teaching design for close to 14 years. I'm a media designer and content creator – so I can figure out what it takes to fit you in.

What you get:

  • Understand print and digital publishing, leverage design essentials.
  • Be a part of a larger Design Community, share and collaborate with connections.
  • Join my workshop and get a 25% discount on the normal fee.

How do we do this:

Sign up for a 2-day boot camp by selecting the best time that works for you.

Course Link: https://www.scott-designs.com/design-essentials/learn

P.S: The course is up for grabs for the next two days, so make sure you pick your slot soon

Hope to see you in the class!

Great day,

Scott,

Head, Sleek Design Studios

Organize and Format

Organize and Format
Organize and Format

7. Personalize

An email addressed to your customers by their names will go a long way in building a strong rapport with your product/service. Evaluate and choose a suitable tool, like Zoho Campaigns or MailChimp, that allows you to customize and automatically send emails to customers based on the name they signed up with.

Make sure to include your name, too. Customers take emails addressed from a person, say mike@products.com, more likely as personal and authentic. This also increases customer affinity with your brand.

8. Set the tone

The tone that you choose defines your business values and also makes sure your customers receive your message as you intend it to be received. You can choose a business-only or more formal tone if you want to sound serious. Your email can have a cheerful and assuring tone if you want to sound professional and friendly. Your tone can be funny and light-hearted to make your customer feel casual and relaxed. But however you wish it to sound, it's essential that it's consistently in line with your brand messaging.

9. Use standard fonts and design

Your font choices can leave a lasting impression. As much as they add visual appeal, fonts also enhance readability. You're free to use whatever fonts you want, but make sure to check whether they're web-safe. This ensures that your emails will show up on any device. If you intend to use fancy fonts, using them in images would make sure they're displayed properly. Email Design has a comprehensive list of fonts that are safe across devices and platforms. Here are a few of the more popular choices:

  • Arial
  • Courier
  • Georgia
  • Helvetica
  • Lucida Sans
  • Tahoma
  • Times New Roman
  • Trebuchet MS
  • Verdana

Additionally, an email editor, which can aid in adding dynamic values related to the meeting, will save time that would otherwise be spent customizing the content.

10. Make it error-free

When was the last time you felt comfortable purchasing from a brand whose emails had typos or incorrect grammar? You might have the most sought-after services or products to offer your customers. But having errors in your email copy reads as being careless or taking customers lightly. So, make sure to test your content thoroughly before it reaches customer inboxes. You can use the efficient and free grammar checker provided by Zoho Writer to verify that your writing is error-free before it's sent to the participants.

Going the Extra Mile for Better Engagement

Though the email invite will get clicks and make people join your meeting, it doesn't just stop there. With the help of reporting tools in email marketing software, you can track important metrics that make your emails effective and quantify your efforts.

Let's see what you can include in your meeting invitation email to increase engagement.

Going the Extra Mile for Better Engagement
Going the Extra Mile for Better Engagement

11. Showcase work or impart knowledge

Who says it has to be all about only that meeting? It can also be a sales pitch for your products/services. You can say a little about you and your business and turn your invite email into a showcase of your work. Here are some things you can include:

  • Service/product catalogue: This can increase your chances of up-selling and cross-selling to new customers.
  • Testimonials: Testimonials go a long way in winning your customers' trust.
  • Landing pages: Encourage customers to take a look at your best landing pages.
  • Tips & tricks: Share tips about the industry you deal with, the latest happenings in your field, or anything that will add value for the customer receiving your email.
  • Industry news: Share industry news and trends related to your business and show them how your business is on the cutting edge.

This can help your email stand out among the numerous emails flooding customer inboxes and help you achieve better ROI from them.

Seal Your Meeting with a Branded Booking Page

12. Booking page URL

You've now captured the attention of your participants, made them realize your work, and convinced them that it's worth it. Seize the moment to make it easy for them to book a meeting with you at a convenient time instantly. A booking page URL in the body of your email invite should do the trick. The URL can lead your participants to a branded booking page hosted on your business domain. A carefully designed booking form can capture participant information and give them additional information regarding the meeting. With a booking page to engage your recipients, you increase your chances of securing a meeting with them.

Booking page URL

A Word from Zoho Bookings

13. Know your audience

A customer might be putting up with an unresolved query with your support team, or there might be a billing dispute awaiting a refund delay. Knowing what your customers are going through can help you personalize the content of your email.

  • Use analytics to deliver promotional or business-specific content to a selective list of participants.
  • Create curated email lists and sort your recipients based on the different content types you send out to your customers.
  • Experiment to see what interests them, what content they respond to, and which one sells with them.

As with any good business, the intent should be to deliver value to customers and inspire them to grow with you.

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