When it comes to writing any type of letter, the number one thing to focus on is creating a catchy introduction. You only have a few seconds to impress the person you are writing to, and if your opening bores them, you’ll lose out on potential business partnerships.
Today, we’re going to share some of our top tips to help you write an irresistible business letter introduction. If you follow these suggestions, you’ll win over anyone you write to and o make your business more profitable this year.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
⏱ 14 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Get Straight to the Point
Most business owners or people working in busy companies deal with hundreds of letters and emails each week. They don’t have the time to read through a lengthy introduction to try to figure out what you are offering them. For that reason, you need to make sure that your introduction quickly gets to the point of what your letter is about and the aim of your contact with the recipient. While you should certainly start with a friendly opening and greeting, from there, try to cut to the chase and discuss the matter at hand so you don’t waste anyone’s time.
Use a Professional Greeting
Although you may think it would be fun to add a casual greeting to the start of your letter, you’ll want to ensure you remain professional during your initial introduction. Always start business letters in a formal manner, regardless of what type of product or service you offer. When you make your letters too casual or jokey, you will lose the respect of your peers in your industry, which we obviously can’t afford to do in this day and age. If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, stick with a formal greeting to ensure you don’t offend anyone.
Consider Adding a Quote to Your Introduction
If you want to stand out when sending a letter, you need to do something that will leave the recipient thinking about what you’ve written. A quote is a great way to make someone think, and it could open up future conversations that will help you get to know your clients and customers better. Try to pick a quote that’s relevant to the topic of your letter, but also one that will inspire and motivate the recipient to keep reading. It’s a fun way to add a quirky touch to your letter while still keeping the correspondence professional.
Add Statistics and Facts
In order to win over anyone you hope to do business with, you need to do something to really wow them and help them to put their trust in your business. Statistics and facts are a way to build curiosity about your business while also increasing trust in your company. If you are looking to sell a product, add some fun facts about the benefits of your offerings. Statistics can also help to increase trust in your product or service when compared to other options on the market. Make sure that any facts and figures you add are correct though, as you don’t want to be caught out by savvy clients.
Ask a Question
Asking a question is an excellent way to start a business letter, and it’s a good way to capture your audience’s attention and imagination. We recommend asking an open-ended question that will leave someone thinking deeply about what you’ve asked. This will linger in their thoughts long after your letter is over, and will make them believe that your offerings will make a difference in their life. By bringing up a potential problem or challenge they are currently facing , they’ll soon be convinced that working with your company is the best way to go forward in the future.
Research the Letter’s Recipient
There’s nothing worse than receiving a letter where it’s clear that no time or effort was put into writing to you. When you are writing to someone you’ve never spoken to before, make sure you take the time to research this person and their company. If you are too lazy to take a few minutes to discover how you could help them, then you don’t deserve their business in the first place. Find a contact name of someone at the company, as this will mean your letter is far more likely to end up in the right hands. You’ll also want to tailor the information in the letter to the company you are writing to, so that it’s relevant to their business needs. This attention to detail can set you apart in any industry, so don’t rush the research stage of letter writing.
Check and Double Check Your Letter Before Sending It
After crafting the perfect introduction and the bulk of your letter, you’ll no doubt be excited to send it to the recipient. That being said, you don’t want to rush this process. Always proofread your work more than once. This is one of the most common mistakes we see people make, and it can make or break the chance of someone working with your company. If someone notices a typo or grammar error within the first line of your letter, they are unlikely to trust your company. Just a few extra minutes of care could make all the difference to your business in the future.
By following these top tips, you can create an irresistible business letter introduction that will encourage anyone to keep reading. As a business owner, never rush the process of writing letters and emails to clients and other companies, as this could be what helps to secure you more business this year. With a little extra time and effort, you’ll be able to make great connections within any industry and take your business to new levels in the future.
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