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"Email has become the primary way we contact people \u2014 whether we\u2019re looking for a job, trying to land a freelance client or simply working to expand our network.\nSo why do so many people write terrible emails?\nSEE ALSO: 10 Creative Social Media Resumes To Learn From\n\nThe good news is whenever most people do something terribly, the field opens up for you. And because so many job seekers, networkers and freelancers write terrible emails, you\u2019ve got a great opportunity. All you have to do is write an email people will actually want to read \u2014 and you\u2019ll no doubt get where you want to be, faster.\nHere are a few tips to increase the chance of getting a positive response to your emails.\n1. Be Succinct\nThere\u2019s nothing that screams \u201CI don\u2019t respect your time\u201D more than a long email, especially if you\u2019re approaching someone you\u2019ve never communicated with before. We\u2019re all busy, and being brief shows you\u2019re in touch with reality and want to make life easier for the person you\u2019re writing to.\nNot only are long emails annoying, they\u2019re also proof that you\u2019re not a good communicator \u2014 and employers want people who can share their ideas succinctly. This is a double opportunity if you\u2019re trying to land any sort of writing job. Telling your story concisely is a great way to showcase your skills right from the get-go.\nIf you\u2019re really smart, you might even limit your emails to 50 words.\n2. Include a Clear Action Item\nIf the person on the receiving end of your email doesn\u2019t know what you want, there\u2019s no way they\u2019ll be able to give it to you \u2014 and that means your effort has gone to waste.\nSo rather than writing \u201Cjust to introduce yourself,\u201D have an action item in mind, and communicate it clearly. You don\u2019t want to ask too much the first time you contact someone, but you do want to give that person a reason to respond and continue the dialogue.\nFor example, if your action item is asking for advice, make sure your question is specific enough that the person can actually answer it. Avoid inquiries like, \u201CWhat advice do you have for new graduates?\u201D or \u201CHow\u2019d you get where you are now?\u201D \nInstead, ask specific questions that show you\u2019ve followed this person\u2019s work or blog, or done your homework in some way \u2014 and the person will be more willing to spend time crafting a helpful reply. \n3. Do Your Research\nAnyone you approach will be more willing to help you if you\u2019ve helped yourself first. So do research, and find subtle ways to show that you did.\nThe absolute most important research you can do is finding the name of the person you\u2019re writing to. Don\u2019t start your email with \u201CDear Hiring Manager\u201D or \u201CHello blogger.\u201D As an editor who manages several large blogs, I get lots of pitch emails, and anything with a generic greeting goes straight into the virtual trash. If you can\u2019t take a few minutes to figure out my name, you probably won\u2019t put forth the effort required to work together.\n4. Use Flattery\nI\u2019m talking real, authentic flattery \u2014 because we can all sniff out fake flattery a mile away. If you\u2019re a huge fan of this person\u2019s latest book, tell him! Met her brother in an airport and found him super interesting? Let her know! Is his company your dream employer? Don\u2019t be afraid to say so.\nNot only does true flattery make the other person feel good (and realize that you\u2019ve done your homework), it also shows you\u2019re an enthusiastic, engaged individual who goes after what you want.\nAfter all, that\u2019s why you\u2019re writing emails to begin with, right? To go after what you want. And if you\u2019ve bothered to put in that effort, you might as well go the extra mile to make sure your  emails actually get read.\nMashable Job Board Listings\nThe Mashable Job Board connects job seekers across the U.S. with unique career opportunities in the digital space. While we publish a wide range of job listings, we have selected a few job opportunities from the past two weeks to help get you started. Happy hunting!\n\nSocial Media and Community Manager at Blog Talk Radio in New York, N.Y.\nCommunity Intern at Meetup in New York, N.Y.\nProduct Marketing Manager - Brand Management at Atlassian in San Francisco, Calif.\n\n\n\nImage via iStockphoto, FarukUlay"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/07/13/write-awesome-emails/>