Ask Should my emails tell stories or get straight to the point?

[Newman]

Both styles can work, depending on your goal and your readers. A story can keep people engaged because it gives context and makes the message feel personal and easier to follow. Stories can also help explain ideas that might otherwise feel too plain. But if your readers prefer quick updates, then short and direct messages might fit better. You can even mix both styles by opening with a short example and then moving to the main message. Testing both can help you understand what your readers respond to most. Do you think stories make messages more enjoyable, or do they sometimes slow things down?

 

[Daniel084]

It depends on what you are trying to achieve with the email and who you are sending it to. If you are sending a promotional email where people need to take quick action like buying a product or signing up for something, getting straight to the point usually works better.

 

[Edward22]

A good story about how your product helped someone or how you overcame a challenge makes your email more human and relatable. People remember stories much longer than they remember a list of features or benefits written in plain bullet points. But stories take more space and time to tell, which means your email will be longer.

 

[Anthony Joshua]

If your audience does not have patience for longer emails or if they are busy professionals who need information fast, they might get frustrated and delete your message before reaching the important part. Know your audience and how much time they typically have when reading your emails.

 

[Brendan]

Some audiences love personal stories and engage more with narrative emails, while others prefer getting information quickly without extra fluff. The only way to know for sure is to test with your own people and let their behavior guide your decisions about email style going forward.

 

[Brajet]

Straight to the point. Always. Your busy reader doesn't have time for a three-act arc about how you found that attachment. Work emails are about respect: respect for their clock, their sanity, and their ever-growing inbox.

Save storytelling for your newsletter, your blog, or drinks with friends. For email? Write your subject line, then your ask or update. Then stop. .