How long should an email be?
As long as a piece of string.
At first glance, this answer doesn't make sense. After all, what does string have to do with email? But, think about it for a minute. When you're using a string you know instinctively to cut it off as soon as you have enough. That is because it is as long as it needs to be.
This is your answer to email. Your email should only be as long as it needs to be.
No longer, no shorter.
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to email length because each email needs to be a different length depending on outside factors.
Your audience
Perhaps the biggest question you need to consider before sending your email is: who is receiving it? Individuals have different preferences when it comes to how much content they want in an email or newsletter. Are you sending to a group of English literature professors or busy parents? Chances are the first group would appreciate extra content whereas the latter would prefer you quickly summarize what you are saying. Your audience is key to determining how long your piece of string needs to be.
Your message
The next thing you need to consider before you send your email is your content. Different types of content require more or less explaining. Are you offering your audience a special promotion? Are you telling them about a historic novel you wrote? Your audience expects different lengths of emails depending on the content. Don't bombard your audience with a thousand words when they only expect a couple hundred depending on what you're sending. Don't waste your string and disengage your audience.
Your filler
Lastly, is your message as good as it can be? Is it concise? It's human nature to "fluff" things up, to add filler, to use extra string. However, the best emails are the ones that lay the facts outright and don't beat around the bush. If you can say something in fewer words, do it. If you are able to shorten your email and make it clearer, it will be more compelling and engaging for your audience.
So how long should an email be?
When it comes to email, and string, it's important not to waste, or use extra, where you don't need to. Write for your audience, consider your content, and cut the filler every time and you will always have the perfect length email.
Now that we've answered your question of "How long should an email be?," be sure to contact us today if you have any other questions about any of our products!
