The best way to stand out is to do what others aren’t doing.
No matter what marketing role you’re in, the key to differentiating yourself is to find the little but important things you can do that others aren’t willing to and then do them repeatedly. This can do wonders for your growth and development.
One of the best tools you can use to differentiate yourself is email. We all send emails, but very few of us think about how to strategically use email to demonstrate value, build relationships, and establish new connections. It’s a simple practice, but doing it right takes time, discipline, and thoughtfulness which is why so few people do it. But it’s an opportunity for you to stand out.
Today I want to show you three emails you can send each week (templates included) to separate yourself from other marketers and level up your growth.
This post was inspired by Eric Barker’s post on How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails. It inspired me to create a version for marketers.
Email 1 – Send a recap email to your boss
At the end of each week (ideally early to mid-day Friday), send a quick recap email to your manager sharing what you accomplished in the past week, what roadblocks you faced, and what you’ve got lined up for the upcoming week.
Your manager has a lot on his plate and doesn’t always have the time to check in with every employee to see how they’re doing. They’ve got their own role to play, responsibilities to take care of, and career to manage.
Sending them a recap email each week – one that’s quick, well organized, and easy to consume – helps them see where you’re making progress and where they can support you in your role. They’ll never have to think about or question what you’re doing because you’ll be sharing your progress every week. It’s an indicator of ownership, initiative, and professionalism.
If you want to get ahead in your career, this is the one email you want to send because it will leave a strong impression.
Here’s a template:
Subject: Weekly recap: DATE - DATE
Hey [manager],
Here's a quick recap of what I worked on last week:
Here are 3 key things I accomplished:
1) I finished X and sent it to the team to review
2) I ...
3) I ...
Here are the challenges I'm facing:
1) I'm having trouble getting a response from Joe on project X
2) ...
3) ...
Here are the 3 things I'm focusing on next week:
1) I will wrap up project Y
2) ...
3) ...
Let me know if you have any thoughts or inputs.
Have a great weekend.Email 2 – Send a note of gratitude to a colleague
Once a week, send a quick note of appreciation to a colleague, direct report, or someone on the leadership team.
We’re often too busy to give praise. We tend to only send emails when we need something. When you send an email just to say thank you or share your appreciation for someone on your team, it stops people in their tracks.
One of the most memorable emails I ever received was from our CEO at Crossrope a few years back. My team and I had worked tirelessly on a new product launch and after an exhausting few weeks we pulled it off. Once it was all done, our CEO sent me a simple email titled ‘thank you’ and all it included was a little note of appreciation for what we had done. Years later I still remember it.
That’s the power of this type of email – it’s memorable. If you get into the habit of sending genuine notes of appreciation, people will remember you. They’ll want to help you when you need help. That’s how people work.
You can send this email to a colleague on your team, your boss, your direct report, someone you worked with in another department, someone on the leadership team (they get the least amount of praise so that’s an opportunity). Keep it short and genuine and people will remember that.
This one is more contextual, but here’s a simple example:
Subject: Thanks for your help!
Hey [name],
I hope you're having a great day.
I just wanted to say thank you for helping me with project X last week. I really appreciate you spending the time to show me how to do Y and Z. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks!
Email 3 – Send an email to someone new
This one is the most challenging of the three to execute, but the one that can really unlock career growth.
Each week, send an email to someone in your space/network and ask them a thoughtful question. This does not have to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 organization (although it can be). It can be a copywriter who’s work you admire, a marketing director from a brand you love, or a creative strategist who’s ads you can’t stop sharing. It should be someone you can learn from.
Ramit Sethi calls this natural networking and it’s a fantastic way to meet new people in your space and build lasting relationships. The key with this type of email is to come from a place of curiosity. You don’t want to come across as wanting or needing something.
There have been books and lengthy articles written about successful cold outreach, networking, etc. so I’ll refrain from sharing lengthy tips. I recommend you read these posts (here and here) and learn how to do the necessary research and write compelling outreach emails.
If you can get into the habit of connecting with new people regularly and break through that uncomfortable feeling of asking strangers questions, you’ll build a new level of confidence, build new relationships, and unlock new opportunities for yourself.
To get you started, here’s a simple template:
Subject: Thanks for your article
Hey [name],
My name is X - I'm a [role].
You recently published an article on topic Y and it really resonated with me. I like how you Z.
I'm curious - [question]?
I would love to connect and learn more if you're open to it.
Best,
- [your name]Final Thoughts
If you want to stand out as a marketer, do what other marketers aren’t doing.
Crafting and sending these emails each week will take time, discipline, and practice, but the ROI you’ll get is immense if you stick to it long enough.
Your manager will love you because you’re helping them do their job well. Your colleagues will appreciate you because of your notes of genuine gratitude. And you’ll meet new and interesting people along the way as you reach out and create new connections.
I hope you found this guide helpful. If you know other marketers who would find it helpful, please share it with them.
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