Spam, spam, spam, spam. Spam, spam, spam, spam. Spamity spam wonderful spam! If you’re a Monty Python fan you hear the song in your head as soon as you hear the word spam. It’s also what employers, family and friends hear when you don’t pay attention to email subjects or social networking status updates.
Hiring managers can receive a plethora of replies through all sorts of channels to ads they’ve posted offering job opportunities. If you email them and fail to enter a subject on the line and add an attachment you can be sure it probably didn’t make it through the filters they have on their email account. Even if it breaks through the firewall it will likely be deleted before opening for being suspicious.
Likewise answering an ad with a subject line that consists of Re: and the exact title of the original post isn’t good practice. Not only do you run the risk of being bunched with all the other applicants who can’t be bothered to customize a subject line, it can be cause for the recipient to consider that the message was sent by a bot instead of an actual person.
Instead of sticking to the stock info or skipping the step altogether, take some time to offer important information in the subject line. It’s a good practice to include the position title, job reference number and source of the ad in the subject line.
Getting creative is always encouraged but it easily backfires if done incorrectly. Responding to an ad with a subject like “I’m the one you’re looking for!” might be mistaken for an attempt to sign someone up for a dating service. Set yourself apart by being specific and say something like, “Graphic Designer with degree requests consideration for Nexxt Job #123456”
Status updates are also an area where you have to be weary of sounding like spam especially if you’re trying to promote yourself or a business. If the daily deliberations you choose to share are always asking your friends list to buy, like, share, do, or join something you need to rethink your social networking strategy. Casual acquaintances will drop off your list and even your close friends will hide your posts from displaying on their wall.
Even of you only post the occasional business opportunity for your friends to take advantage of, be sure to watch the wording. A good friend of mine recently updated her Facebook with a prefabricated brochure and status saying, “Attention Facebook Family… If you are someone that is looking for a way to make more money in your spare time, then inbox me ASAP! I honestly have a way that you can make $2000 in 30 days.”
Instantly I assumed it was spam and almost commented something suggesting the possibility that she had been hacked and a bot posted a get rich quick scheme to her status. Fortunately I hesitated because it turned out she was really trying to offer an authentic opportunity to others where she has started to find success.
Make sure any offerings include a personal touch to let people know you really posted spam-possible material. Had my friend mentioned in her status the she was going to use her new found income to buy shoes I would have had no question that the update was legit and quickly clicked to see what she was offering. Another way to verify a status update for the skeptical is to post a follow up comment.
If you’re not sure about your subject lines and status updates ask friends for feedback. Most people are pretty particular about what they’re willing to click on so run some samples by your buddies before sending anything else out.
What subject lines and status updates have you used to get noticed?
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