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Assisting a long time client compose a very hairy email asking for a task to be completed by the end of day.

Typical first tries were 'Thanks so much for all your help', 'Really could use your assistance'. But the email was missing the key component. The call to action.

How many times have you waded through an email looking for what the person wanted? If you're writing a sticky email, the best way to approach it is as
a sh_t sandwich.

Put in your pretty thank yous and your accolades. Then hit them between the eyes with a specific request. I need you to get me the report by 5pm today…

Then follow it up with the rest of the sh_t sandwich. You're so nice for getting this for me, I appreciate you, thanks so much, you're great. Best person I've ever
worked with in the past million years.

If its a particularly nasty task, you might even send along an Amazon gift certificate, an iTunes gift card or a something else low cost you can send over the internet,
once the task is completed.

I bet the next time you ask them to do something, you'll get whatever you want in a timely fashion. Your requests will go to the head of the line.

Merlin Mann suggests tacking this on to the end of an email:

This email is: [] actionable [] fyi [] social
Response needed: [] yes [] up to you [] no
Time-sensitive: [] immediate [] soon [] none

I like to tack this one on as well. How many times have you forwarded an email on to someone without realizing that they didn't want
to share the information with anyone?

Privacy: [] Confidential - Please don't copy or forward this email without checking with me first

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