5 Ways to Get Personal and Get Relevant
Just take a look at the examples here.
- From: Newark Museum
- From: ChildFund International
- From: Becca Neubardt, Corporate Accountability International
- From: Reeves-Reed Arboretum
- From: Steve Pasierb, The Partnership at Drugfree.org
- From: Amy K. Dacey
- From: Amy Bloustine, The Partnership at Drugfree.org
Which approach draws you in more? Name plus organization is even better than just a name, which just isn’t enough context, (especially if it’s from a celebrity).
It’s always good to know that there’s a human being there on the other end, and this simple change makes your e-mails more recognizable in the daily onslaught.
2. Make your own name more personal in your professional e-mail “from line” — make it Kathy Dempsey rather than Dempsey, Kathy or kathy@infolib.org.
3. Be yourself in the tone and style of your writing. You want to ensure it’s a person-to-person communication, rather than institution-to-person.
Of course, you have to sound like yourself within the framework of your organization’s voice (make sure that’s clearly defined, shared and practiced organizationwide) for consistency’s sake, but a robust organizational voice enables individual personalities to flourish.
4. Share more of yourself than you currently do, in keeping with the culture of your organization and the preferences of your community. Here are a few ways to do so:
- Include a mention of your passions or family in your professional bio, and make sure your colleagues do the same. (Read more on strong organizational bios here.)
- Feature your photo in your e-mail, letter or Facebook page. You plus beneficiaries, volunteers or donors (with caption) is a refreshing variation.
- When you are at a face-to-face event, introduce yourself (no hovering in the back) and follow up on those brief conversations quickly via e-mail. Let blog readers and Facebook likers know your professional travel schedule and plan a casual get-together (over coffee, perhaps). Face-to-face remains unequaled for strengthening connections.
