What are some effective ways to follow up on email requests or tasks?

I agree with all of the above here. Emails bring a sense of relationship between client and account manager. This helps build rapport for deals not only being closed now but deals being closed in the future. This helps to not only build your brand but your organizational brand as well. Email communication is a key driver in making sure employees are performing their jobs to organizational standards as it provides hard evidence of topics discussed. Therefore, it is important to remain professional when emailing other professional organizations and internal employees at all times.

I am an office assistant for 4 bosses. I find that it helpful when others include me (via "cc") on emails for my bosses that need to be followed up. Many times, I am able to research the answer or gather information and with my bosses' permission respond in a timely manner. Many times, I know the info being requested and I can reply on their behalf, copying them so they know this has been taken care of. I think it is part of your "work testimony" to follow up and stay on top of things as much as possible.

Depending on the urgency of the email request I allow room for response initially of no less than 24 hours. As relationships build you are able to determine typical response rates of partners and can then change that based off of typical response times from the partner. If there is no response within 24 hours I will email again asking for feedback, and if another 24-48 hours goes by I may just pick up the phone and reach out. There could be a scenario where the person the request is being emailed to is out of the office unexpectedly or other unexpected situation(s) that happened where their attention is being pulled in another direction.

When I follow up with my bosses, I try to think of what they would like to know. I either reply with a bulleted list of steps I have accomplished to complete their task or a simple "done". My goal is to let them know things are accomplished without being extremely wordy. I feel over the 10+ years I have served them this has built the confidence they have in me. I don't just assume they know I am going to do what they ask - I like to let them know it was done.

I fully agree with this statement. If we are asking for feedback within 24 hours minimum we should do the same on our end. We cannot justifiably ask others to do things we simply cannot do ourselves.

I would most certainly avoid being over-bearing. Give the client or person some space, do not email more than once within a 24 hour period unless it is absolutely urgent. However, if there is that much urgency behind it the easiest solution would be to pick up the phone and converse with said client or person.

As we say in our place of employment "Measure Twice, three times if necessary, and cut once". If you aren't sure, ask for someone else to review the email. Always make sure emails come off as professional and not as "bro talk".