Here is the complete transcript of the podcast
Welcome back. Happy Thursday morning to you. Again on the podcast today, I’m answering a question, a career-related question that came in a while ago, which I completely missed out on. I have no idea how.
The question goes like this, “How to write emails at work efficiently? And succinctly, I always feel other people can write very nice, quick, clear, and to-the-point emails. I think efficient writing or speaking professionally, sometimes in personal life plays a huge role in overall success and satisfaction. So any advice to improve the skill will be highly appreciated. Thank you, as always.”
Thank you, as always, for your great questions. You’re right, efficient writing and speaking can completely change the game in a big way, in a good way, and create higher success. And that is why on this podcast, I keep driving the point, but most people don’t. And, interestingly, both writing and speaking are learned skills. So if you choose to just learn the skill of how to write, and how to speak, you could become really, I mean, really, really good. And I’m a live example of that I was not a good speaker I presented before, but I was not Never a good speaker. I don’t think I’m a good speaker either. But it’s just that, you know, some events in my life that triggered me to really focus on speaking. And as I was speaking, to promote my business, it so happened that people started to listen to my speaking more and listen less on the topic I was speaking about, which was promoting my business. So long story short speaking changed my life in a very, very big way. I don’t think I’m a good writer, it’s valid in the sense that I write in, I used to write a lot of emails, and emails really made my life before the radio date. But I don’t think I’m a good writer, I can get a few thoughts, and then I can put them together. But then I don’t think I write well. So I’m going to share with you a formula because this question is about writing emails, I’m gonna share a formula that is not mine, it has been around for a very, very long time, I’m gonna give you my spin on it. And this is the formula I use when I write emails. Now you can modify this formula to write any email so that you can also get the same level of clarity to the point. And now you can write a very nice email, quick, clear to the point. But the real purpose of an email is to get a response, a favorable response. People write nice things. It sounds good, but does it really produce the result?
For example, I’m doing the podcast, and this podcast may sound good because we are producing through the sound and all that. And maybe I’m also saying everything right? On this podcast, my English is good, or whatever. The way I’m speaking, it’s making sense. And I’m not saying too many hours on Yes, who knows. And I’m not pausing too much all is good. But then it doesn’t really create change in people. So for example, you asked me the question, and I’m recording this podcast. And what happens if this doesn’t really resonate with you, it doesn’t really produce the outcome for you, then what, then I failed. So it doesn’t matter how good of a show I produced, or how good of a podcast I produced. It’s an exercise futile, it doesn’t work. And there is no end outcome collective. Neither I succeeded nor succeeded. So there’s no point.
So in my opinion, an email should doesn’t matter how it’s written, it should generate the desired outcome. So what I’m going to do, I’m going to share with you a formula on how to write an email that produces the desired outcome, because that’s what I have done. It doesn’t matter. The languaging you’re using the vocabulary, the phrases, the rhythm, the rhyme, none of that matters. What matters is a formula. And what matters is a formula when used correctly, produces the desired outcome. Okay, so that being said, let’s get into this. The formula for writing a good responsive email or copy or a paragraph or a letter is simply put, the acronym is A.I.D.A. Okay.
The first alphabet A in the acronym stands for attention. So whatever you are trying to say your first thing your first job is to get the attention of the reader That’s the first thing, I use in this podcast. If you are a career-minded professional, today’s podcast is for you. If you are a financial professional, today’s podcast is for you, if you are looking to lose weight, or you’re looking to get in shape, or you’re trying to bring some healthy habits into your diet, then today’s podcast is for you. So I qualify, I get the attention. That’s step number one.
Then the second step is interesting. The second alphabet in this acronym got to create some interest, then we create some desire. And then we do what is called the last alphabet in this acronym is, which is we do what is called a call to action. Okay, so first, get the attention, and span, create the interest, generate the desire, and then call to action. This is the structure. But let’s take this example in weight loss, it’s used in weight loss extensively, lose 20 pounds in 20 days, that’s a massive attention opener, you might have seen these ads all over the place. 20 pounds in 30 days. Interesting. So that’s the tension it got your attention. Next is interest, no pills, no diet changes, and no exercise. See that interest, then the desire is to get into your wedding dress in time for your daughter’s or son’s wedding. Right, that’s the desire to look good. And then the call to action only two spots remaining call now. limited supplies call now. Whatever, right? You got the idea. Now. There’s also one more step in between tension between desire and a call to action. And that step is called agitate. So get the attention, create the interest, build the desire, and then agitate and then call to action. Now how do you agitate people who are trying to lose weight? By simply saying, hey, how long do you want to do this alone? How long will you allow others to judge you? You’re not getting younger by the day. Right? So you induce some guilt, some apathy, some FOMO into that, into that agitate area, and then you do call to action? Hey, only two spots, so many call now. Correct. That’s how the weight loss industry works more or less.
Now, because your question was more about how this applies. In my career, I’ll give you an example. It’s very, very widely used. And again, it depends contextually you can keep changing this format. But I want you to understand this. I’m going to give you an example. At work. Attention, this is your opportunity to sign one on one with our CEO John. Very simple, a manager sends out an email and says this is your opportunity to shine, and one on one with our CEO, John, entrust, I’m looking for someone to represent me and present the group update to our CEO John as I will be traveling or I’m on vacation next week, something like that, right. So that is interesting. So one on one present an update and of informing, okay. And you can also say there is just one slight update, not not not much all that. So it’s kind of built interest. So tell them that there is not much to be done, everything is already done. Just go in there, present the update and come back then you build a desire, this is your chance to increase your leverage and your reach. Okay, this is your chance to get the attention of the higher-ups, this is your chance that otherwise most people do not get work 10 or 15 years in the organization. Okay, something like that. And then call to action. I can nominate a couple of people that I have on my mind, but thought of opening this up to everyone on the team.
The first response gets it. If you want to induce an agitate in the middle between the desire and call to action, you can say hey, how long do you want to sit on the sidelines, your time to shine is now things like that you can add That’s how simple this formula is. And this formula works and again, there are so many other 40 mil so many other different ways to approach the writing, but this is how I approach and you can moderate this, you know, you kind of tone it down a bit, and then be very simple. This is brilliant how this works. It has been working for hundreds of years ever since the marketing world sales world started working and many many copywriters back in the early 19th 20th century, use this, this formula to really sell some crazy crazy stuff.
Okay, so try this formula. Let me know how it worked for you. Okay. Yes. You know, at some point in time, I may do a career workshop, and if time permits, then I’m going to walk through several different formulas for writing these emails and creating a different impression and different positioning in the minds of the readers and things like that. That’s for a different day for a different discussion. But this is all for now. Hopefully, this helps. If it does, let me know. And that’s all for now today. Have a wonderful Thursday and I’ll catch up with you all as early as tomorrow. Take care. Bye now.