How can you use email to negotiate more effectively?

2 Write with clarity and confidence

Your email should be concise, clear, and confident. Avoid vague or ambiguous language, such as "maybe", "possibly", or "I think". Use positive and assertive words, such as "yes", "definitely", or "I know". Make sure your email has a clear structure, with a catchy subject line, a personalized greeting, a compelling value proposition, a specific call to action, and a polite sign-off. Proofread your email for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

3 Use questions and feedback

One of the challenges of email negotiation is that you can't see or hear the other person's reactions. To overcome this, you need to use questions and feedback to engage them, understand their needs, and address their concerns. Questions can help you uncover their pain points , goals, preferences, and decision-making process. Feedback can help you confirm their interest, acknowledge their objections, and show empathy. Use open-ended questions, such as "What are your main challenges?" or "How do you measure success?" and feedback statements, such as "I appreciate your honesty" or "I understand your situation".

4 Leverage social proof and urgency

Another way to persuade the other person to agree with your offer is to use social proof and urgency. Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to trust and follow what others are doing or saying. You can use social proof by mentioning testimonials, case studies, referrals, or endorsements from other customers or experts. Urgency is the idea that people are more likely to act quickly if they perceive a limited time or availability. You can use urgency by mentioning deadlines, incentives, or consequences of not taking action.

5 Follow up and follow through

The final tip for email negotiation is to follow up and follow through. Follow up means to send timely and relevant emails to keep the conversation going, remind the other person of your value proposition, and overcome any obstacles. Follow through means to deliver on your promises, confirm the details, and close the deal. You can use tools, such as calendars, reminders, or automation, to help you follow up and follow through effectively.