AS PER MY LAST EMAIL

Things people really hate in emails. Also, my mistake. And, 7 other things worth your time.

And now for something completely different. Or at least, opposite.

Recently, I wrote about a handful of studies suggesting “magic words” to use in emails that, statistically speaking, increase the likelihood that people will reply.

There was a small but noticeable improvement in response rates when people opened an email with a very brief greeting like “Hey” or “Hi,” and when they closed with, “Thanks in advance.”

This prompted some robust debate among readers. And yet… I was looking through all the studies I have in my file o’ studies… and I came across a survey that dissents from the conclusions above. So, I thought I’d give this one equal time.

A company called Perkbox Insights surveyed 1,928 adults to find out what they loathe about the emails they get every day. Let me just pull out two highlights:

• 28% hated the use of the word, “Hey” to open an email

• 7% said they found the phrase “Thanks in advance” to be “grating.”

We all know these aren’t exactly double-blind studies published in pe…