10 Unique Email Greetings to Help You Stand Out in a Crowded Inbox

The subject line of your email is critical. It can influence whether your reader continues to read the email. Or whether the email will be considered SPAM by the reader. Opening with “I hope this email finds you well” can be impersonal and unprofessional.

But how come this is the case? What are some alternatives you could use instead? Let’s get right into your questions.

Why Is Your Email Salutation Important?

The greeting in your email can set the tone for the reader. The reader must decipher what the email is about because we are interpreting human tone or communication tone through text.

If you’re writing a professional email, letter, or even a cover letter, you should begin with something that makes the reader feel as if you’re speaking directly to them.

Some people prefer the phrase “I hope this email finds you well.” Unfortunately, that tone suggests that the email may be negative. Is that correct? Is this a threatening email? If it is, consider using an alternative so that the reader decides, even in the face of a negative email, that responding to your requests in the email is worthwhile.

This Phrase and SPAM

The phrase “I hope this email finds you well” is often used by spam email senders because it is a common and seemingly harmless phrase. However, because it is so frequently used in spam emails, many email protocols such as Gmail and Microsoft Outlook have started to automatically filter emails that use this phrase into the spam folder. This means that if you use this phrase in your email, there is a chance that it will not be seen by the intended recipient. It is always best to avoid using common spam phrases in your emails to ensure that they are not automatically filtered as spam.

Many email protocols such as Gmail and Microsoft Outlook have started automatically filtering emails that use common spam phrases, including “I hope this email finds you well,” into the spam folder. This means that if you use this phrase in your email, there is a chance that it will not be seen by the intended recipient. To avoid this problem, it is always best to use alternative phrases that are less likely to be flagged as spam. Some suggestions for alternatives to “I hope this email finds you well” are included in the previous response. By using these alternative phrases, you can help ensure that your email is read and that you receive a response from the recipient.

10 Best Alternatives to “I Hope This Email Finds You Well”

  1. “I hope this message reaches you in good health” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is in good physical health and feeling well when they receive your message. By using the word “health” instead of “well,” you are specifically focusing on the person’s physical well-being, rather than their overall well-being.
  2. “I hope this email finds you in good spirits” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is in a good mood or feeling positive and happy when they receive your message. By using the phrase “good spirits,” you are focusing on the person’s emotional state, rather than their physical health.
  3. “I hope this message finds you well” – This is a slightly more general version of the original phrase, expressing a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is doing well in general when they receive your message. This phrase does not specifically focus on either the person’s physical health or emotional state, but rather suggests that you hope they are doing well overall.
  4. “I hope you’re doing well” – This is another general way of expressing a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is doing well when they receive your message. Like the previous phrase, this does not focus on any specific aspect of the person’s well-being, but rather suggests that you hope they are doing well in general.
  5. “I hope you’re having a great day” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is having a good day when they receive your message. By using the word “day,” you are specifically focusing on the person’s current situation, rather than their overall well-being.
  6. “I hope this email finds you enjoying the (day of the week/season)” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is enjoying the current day of the week or season when they receive your message. By mentioning the day of the week or season, you are focusing on the person’s current circumstances, rather than their overall well-being.
  7. “I hope this message finds you well and happy” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is both doing well and feeling happy when they receive your message. By using the words “well and happy,” you are suggesting that you hope the person is doing well both physically and emotionally when they receive your message.
  8. “I hope all is well with you” – This is another general way of expressing a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is doing well when they receive your message. By saying “all is well,” you are suggesting that you hope the person is doing well in all aspects of their life, rather than focusing on any specific aspect of their well-being.
  9. “I hope you’re having a fantastic week” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is having a great week when they receive your message. By mentioning the week, you are focusing on the person’s current circumstances, rather than their overall well-being.
  10. “I hope you’re having a great start to your (day/week/month)” – This phrase expresses a hope or wish that the person you are sending the email to is having a good start to their current day, week, or month when they receive your message.

Athina Iliadis is a Human Resources Professional with over 25 years’ experience in corporate environments working for companies such as Pearson, LexisNexis, Hershey, and Reckitt. In her current role as a consultant working with clients around the world, she coaches managers and employees on HR issues, supports leaders in their business, produces content about careers, interviews, and job opportunities. She is fluent in English, French and Greek, and she holds a BBA with a major in HR from Université du Québec à Montréal. Find her on LinkedIn and at athinailiadis.com

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