Whenever you’re in doubt about your 9-word emails, and you’re not sure if you’ve done them correctly…
A quick “Starbucks test” will tell you if you’re on the right track.
But before I show you how to do it, you need to remember: There's no magic to the number 9. Meaning, you’re not forced to use only 9 words - or else.
So many times people get worried they’ve written one word too many. And then they try to fit their 12-word sentence into 9 words.
But number nine is just a guideline. It’s there to remind you that what you’re looking for is simplicity.
One thought conveyed in a conversational way. In one sentence.
And to make sure you’re on the right track, use the Starbucks test.
Here’s an example...
Say, you’re a Realtor. And you’re trying to write a 9-word email to everyone who inquired about buying a home in Georgetown, but they never followed up on it…
The way you come up with a conversational sentence is to picture yourself going into Starbucks...
And as you approach the counter, you recognize someone from your email list, who’s standing in line there.
So you go right up to them, and…
What do you say next?
Probably something like, “Oh, hey! Are you still looking for a house in Georgetown?”
And that’s your 9-word email right there.
If it feels natural, something you see yourself saying in real life, to a real person, then you’ve nailed it.
But it gets better.
When you ask somebody that kind of question… and you make eye contact with them… it becomes very, very awkward for them to remain silent and not responding. Even if it’s to say “no”.
And these 9-word emails are designed to replicate real-life scenarios like the one I described above.
Sure, you send them to the whole list at once. But the effect you get is as if you’re sending one email to each subscriber separately.
In other words, you’re engaging in a dialogue with one person at a time...
And that’s why it’s so hard NOT to reply.