Ten instant ways to improve your email content

When it comes to email, are we being as courteous and concise as we can be to respect others' time, our own time and move business forward?

Ten instant improvements for your emails. Just add pixels:

1. Write like no one has time to read your email. They probably don't.
2. Write like your email will be skimmed. It probably will be.
3. Try to keep it to five sentences or less.
4. Three sentences may be even better.
5. If you can't keep it that short, use sub-headlines as skimming guideposts.
6. Blobs of text will fall into an attention black hole. Turn blobs into bulleted lists. Or pick up a phone.
7. Be compelling with your subject line. You are competing for attention just like any other communication outreach.
8. Write like you'll be reading the email in a Blackberry. You'll write less. Or better yet, write the email from your Blackberry. You'll write less that way, too.
9. If you are ticked off, don't send it. Back away and wait five minutes. Or a day. Or pick up a phone.
10. Close with a requested action step. What am I missing? Add your tips to the comments.