How to start an email (Tips + templates)

With over 300 billion emails sent and received every day, email is an essential means of communication. Figuring out how to start a business email in a professional way – especially when you’re writing to someone you don’t know – can be a challenge for marketers, salespeople, and customer service reps alike.

In fact, how you start your email can make the difference between your recipient closing the email right away (and deleting it) or reading on. The following article provides a few tips on how to start an email along with some of the most common email greetings and email starters you can use in your business correspondence. From transition emails to networking emails, having the right template at your disposal can be a blessing. We also have you covered if you need business email ending templates.

What to include at the start of your emails

1. Salutation or greeting

Start with an appropriate greeting depending on how formal you need to be. Always include the recipient’s name (if you know it) to make the greeting more personable. Last but not least, double-check that you’ve spelled the recipient’s name correctly. Our pro tip? Copy and paste their name as seen in previous emails, email signatures, or websites to ensure you don’t make a typo. Having a variety of promotional email templates at your disposal can make your marketing efforts much more efficient and effective

2. Introduction and reason for writing (if necessary)

When writing to someone for the first time, introduce yourself and include a concise sentence about the goal of your email. This sentence can determine whether the recipient will read your email or ignore it, so make sure your purpose is clear and convincing.

If you have mutual friends, colleagues, or acquaintances, mention them as this can increase your chances of getting a response. For example, you could do a subtle name drop like this: “Hi [Name], I ran into our mutual friend Richard (from [Company]) over the weekend and he mentioned that you needed a new help desk tool, as your current provider just isn’t cutting it anymore…”

3. An opening phrase/ well wishes (optional)

If you haven’t written to the recipient for a long time or if you have a casual relationship with the recipient, it would be appropriate to include a quick, positive note like “I hope you’re doing well.” This can set the right tone for the rest of your email.

Alternatively, if the recipient has shared some updates on LinkedIn or other social media, feel free to congratulate them on their latest achievements (both personal and professional). You could say something like “Congratulations on your promotion” or “Congratulations, it’s exciting to see [Recipient’s Company] acquire such an important client like [Company].”

4. A thank you line (optional)

Based on the context, you can add a short ‘thank you’ line to your email correspondence. For example, if your prospect/customer has contacted you with an inquiry, “Thank you for reaching out” or “Thank you for contacting [Company]” is a must-have. However, whenever you put in a thank you note, it’s important to make it personalized, as standard thank you notes (like the ones mentioned above) are a bit too generic and can come off as cold or standoffish.

By simply adding a name before your thank you line, the message sounds warmer and inviting. Here’s an example: “Emily, thank you so much for contacting [Company] and for raising this issue. You’re absolutely right…”

Examples and templates to start an email

Professional email greetings

“Hi [Name]” is probably the most common and the most widely used email salutation in the business world. This greeting is generally recommended for semi-formal and informal communication styles. If you want to be slightly more formal, “Hi” can be replaced with “Hello.”

“Dear [Name]” is also appropriate for both formal and informal communication. For your convenience, we’ve prepared a whole list of other generic greetings that you can choose from when starting your professional email. Check them out:

General email opening phrases

Following the greeting, you can include a short opening sentence to kick-start your email. However, it’s best to avoid sentences like these if you’re writing a formal email or cold emailing a potential customer, as they can come too friendly. You should also be wary of the tone you’re using in, for example, a company apology letter. Here are some of the most common examples of email openers:

Follow up email opening phrases

If you’re not sure what to write at the beginning of your follow-up email, consider including one of the following email opening phrases that can break the ice:

Reply email opening phrases

When replying to a customer or a prospect, a short “Thank you” line is appropriate in many cases. If you’re not sure how to incorporate a “Thank you” or need some more inspiration check out some of our alternatives:

How to start a cold sales email

When writing a cold email to a prospect, the first paragraph is going to determine whether your prospect will find your message worth reading, so it’s important to impress and stand out. Here are some examples of what you can include in your introductory paragraph:

If you would like to learn more, check out cold sales email templates.

How to start a sales follow up email

Following up on a prospect, especially if they haven’t replied to your previous message(s) can be tricky. If that’s the case, try out one of these effective email opening sentences– they might be helpful!

If you would like to learn more, check out sales follow-up email templates.

How to start a post-purchase/ customer welcome email

Whenever someone buys your product or signs up for your service, you should thank them, or welcome them to the ‘family’ to ensure your relationship is off to a great start. The best way to do this is by writing a welcome email that includes a thank you note, a short introduction, and any useful information.

Feel free to check more post-purchase email templates and welcome email templates.

How to start a customer service email

Almost every customer service email should start with a “Thank you” note, whether it’s replying to a simple customer service request or answering a customer complaint. Here’s how it can look like:

If you would like to learn more, check out customer service templates.

How to start a customer apology email

When responding to angry or disgruntled customers, be sure to showcase empathy and send an apologetic email on behalf of your business. Here’s how you can do it:

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Watch how to write Emails In English – Formal, Semi-Formal or Informal

Writing Emails In English - Formal, Semi-Formal or Informal? | Derek Callan - English for ProfessionalsP0Y0M0DT0H0M673S

Derek Callan - English for ProfessionalsOctober 14, 2024

hi everybody and welcome back to english.
for professionals i'm derek and i'm here.
with another short lesson for you busy.
people in this business english emails.
lesson i'm going to show you the.
differences between formal.
semi-formal and informal emails.
[Music].
before we get started if you need.
english for work and you're interested.
in short lessons to help you with your.
business english then subscribe to my.
channel now hit the red button and don't.
forget to click on the little bell that.
way you'll be notified every time i.
upload a new lesson and now.
let's get started.
we're going to do three things in this.
lesson.
first of all we'll talk about the.
different kinds of people we write.
emails to and we'll categorize them into.
formal semi-formal and informal after.
that i'll show you example emails in.
each style and at the end of the lesson.
i'll show you lots of extra example.
phrases in each style.
let's start with formal emails we.
usually use a formal style when we write.
to new customers suppliers and business.
partners and also to people who are in.
higher positions managers bosses and.
directors.
we usually use a semi-formal style with.
colleagues we know but not very well and.
also with existing customers suppliers.
and business partners.
we use an informal style when we write.
to friends and family and also to.
colleagues or business partners we know.
very well and work with on a regular.
basis.
the most common style to use in business.
is the semi-formal style but of course.
there are exceptions.
for example it's quite possible that we.
could use an informal style to write to.
a customer or a supplier but only if we.
know that person very well and if we.
have a good and long relationship with.
them and one more thing the style you.
use also depends on the culture in your.
company as well as the business culture.
in the countries you work within so you.
need to be aware of those factors.
and now it's time to look at some.
examples we'll start with the formal.
style and the email we're going to look.
at is a follow-up email after a formal.
business meeting with a potential new.
business partner.
we start with a formal greeting dear.
miss amir.
first of all i would like to thank you.
for the productive meeting on monday it.
was lovely to meet you and learn more.
about your business here we have formal.
phrases like i would like to and it was.
lovely to meet you.
as discussed in the meeting i am sending.
you the additional information about.
that you requested i have attached a.
document with all of the details and.
here we have more examples of very.
formal phrases as discussed in the.
meeting.
that you requested and so on if you.
require any further information please.
do not hesitate to contact me again a.
typical formal style.
i look forward to our next meeting on.
january 10th.
best regards derek callum.
i look forward to and best regards our.
typical phrases we use to close a formal.
email.
so there we have the formal style now.
let's compare that one to a semi-formal.
version of the same kind of email.
in this case it's a follow-up email.
after a less formal meeting with a.
potential new business partner and as.
you'll see in a moment we're already.
using first names.
dear nidra first of all i just wanted to.
say thanks for the productive meeting on.
monday it was great to meet you and find.
out more about your business so here you.
can already see a big difference first.
of all first names so imagine that first.
meeting was less formal and by the end.
of the meeting we were using first names.
also in that first line we don't have.
the i would like to we have i just.
wanted to say.
and also rather than saying it was.
lovely to meet you and learn more about.
your business we have the less formal it.
was great to meet you and find out more.
about your business.
i've attached a document with the extra.
information about.
that you asked for here we see more.
examples of a less formal style instead.
of i have attached we use the short form.
i've attached we don't use words like.
additional information or that you.
requested we use less formal style extra.
information.
that you asked for.
and now let's look at the last part of.
the email please let me know if you need.
any more information looking forward to.
our next meeting on january 10th regards.
derek so again much less formal.
please let me know instead of the very.
formal please do not hesitate to contact.
me if you need any more information.
instead of if you require any further.
information and also in the closing part.
looking forward to instead of i look.
forward to.
and then we have regards which is.
slightly less formal than best regards.
so there we can see the differences.
between the very formal and the.
semi-formal.
and as i said before the semi-formal is.
the one we use most often in business.
correspondence but of course as i said.
earlier it always depends on who you're.
writing to company culture the business.
culture those are things you need to be.
aware of.
now let's take a look at the comparison.
between the semi-formal and the informal.
style.
this time we have another follow-up.
email but it's after a very informal.
meeting with a colleague you know very.
well.
hi tom just a quick mail to say thanks.
for the meeting on monday and to send on.
that extra info you asked for.
see attachment.
the first difference we can see here is.
in the greeting hi tom hi is less formal.
than.
deer and then also in the start of that.
first sentence just a quick mail to say.
this is a typical way to start an.
informal email.
when you're giving someone information.
and then we also have phrases like to.
send on that extra info very informal.
let's continue if you need anything else.
just get in touch so again very formal.
expression here just get in touch.
see you at the next meeting cheers derek.
so typical way to end an informal email.
see you at the next meeting.
cheers cheers can mean goodbye it can.
also mean thank you this is just one.
possibility if you want to see more ways.
to end an informal email check out my.
other lesson.
17 ways to end an email.
now it's time for the last part of the.
lesson where i show you more examples of.
typical email phrases for formal.
semi-formal and informal emails.
let's start with friendly openings it's.
often a good idea to use one of these.
after you're greeting and before you say.
why you are writing.
i hope everything is going well.
semi-formal.
i hope all's well.
and in the informal version.
hope all's well or nothing we don't.
always need to include a friendly.
opening especially to people who we are.
writing to on a daily basis or who we.
write to.
very often.
and now an example for saying why you.
are writing.
i am writing to update you on.
semi-formal i just wanted to update you.
on.
and in the informal version.
just wanted to keep you in the loop on.
keep you in the loop is a very informal.
phrase which means to keep somebody.
informed about the latest information.
about something.
requests.
formal style.
would it be possible too.
semi-formal.
is there any chance you can.
and the informal can you.
making arrangements.
i was wondering if you would be.
available for a meeting next.
semi-formal would you be available for a.
meeting next.
and informal.
can we meet next.
confirming arrangements i would like to.
confirm our meeting.
just want to confirm our meeting.
i'll be there.
giving information i am afraid i will.
not be able to.
i'm afraid i won't be able to.
and sorry but i won't make it to.
and one more example closing line.
referring to next contact.
i look forward to hearing from you soon.
looking forward to hearing from you soon.
and.
talk to you soon.
so that brings us to the end of another.
short lesson i hope you liked it and i.
hope you found it helpful don't forget.
to check out all of my other email.
lessons here on youtube.
i'll leave a link in the description if.
you did like the lesson hit the like.
button and share with your friends and.
colleagues subscribe to my channel if.
you haven't done that and don't forget.
to join my email list every two weeks i.
send out my free vocabulary email with.
additional business english words in the.
news and everyday english for you to.
learn the link is also in the.
description below thanks a lot for.
watching and talk to you soon.

Summary

The start of your business email (the greeting, the opening line, and the first sentence) is the first thing the recipient sees when they open your email. By starting your email in a professional way, you are more likely to create a positive impression on them. The greeting you use and the first few sentences you choose for the start of your professional business emails will depend on your audience and the context of your communication. Use the email greetings and email opening phrases mentioned above as prompts whenever you’re not sure how to start your next email to a customer or a cold prospect.

Remember to double-check your emails for any spelling or grammatical errors, and make sure you always spell the recipient’s name correctly. Our last tip is to keep it short and sweet, as nobody wants to be reading long emails. Get to the point quickly using the right tone of voice, and you’re golden.

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