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Now that we’ve discussed what you should look for in a business email service provider, let’s look at a few notable features of some of the most popular and best free email systems.

1. Gmail – Best Free Email Service Provider

One of the most popular and best email service providers, Gmail is used for personal and business communications alike. According to statistics reported by TechCrunch in 2016, over a billion people use Gmail.

2. Outlook.com – Another Top, Free Email Provider

Microsoft’s Outlook.com email provider is a strong option if you’re looking for the best email provider. Statistics from Microsoft show that Outlook had over 400 million users in 2016.

3. iCloud Mail – Popular Email Service Provider for Apple Users

You may not realize it, but if you’ve ever created an Apple ID you can also claim an iCloud email address to associate with your Apple ID.

4. Yahoo! Mail – Professional, Free Email Service Provider

Yahoo! was one of the early Internet companies, dating back to 1994. Yahoo! Mail is popular with many users. In 2016, it was announced that the company was acquired by Verizon.

5. AOL Mail – Free Email Service With Unlimited Storage

AOL is another early Internet company. In the 1980s the company was known as America Online. It was purchased by Verizon in 2015. The email component of the organization remains a popular and strong service that has earned its place on this list of the best email services.

6. Zoho Mail– Best Ad-Free Email Service Provider

Although Zoho Mail has several premium levels available, there is also a free level available that allows you to have up to 25 users. For many small businesses, this will be enough—so we have included the email service on our list of the best free email providers.

7. GMX Email – Get a Good Free Email Account

GMX Mail offers a good, basic free email account. This is another email service that offers free unlimited email storage. It’s known for its popular mobile interface. Also, use it to get email from other email services.

8. Yandex Mail – Free, Powerful Email Service With Translations

Yandex operates Russia’s largest search engine. Their free email provider service includes spam and virus protection. They also offer unlimited storage—they start you with a 10 GB email box and add to the storage each time you have less than 200 MB free.

9. Mail.com – Free Email Account With Domain Extension

Mail.com is a free email service provider that offers several interesting features for small businesses. Choose from 200 different domains when selecting an email address. For example, if you are a graphic-designer, you could set up an email address with the @graphic-designer.com extension.

10. Lycos.com – Classic Free Email Service Provider

Lycos is another free email service provider with a rich Internet history. The company was launched in the early 1990s as an Internet search engine and web portal. While it still operates as a search engine and web portal, the company also offers a free email service.

To help you send a follow up email to a prospective client or customer, we’ve prepared 5 business follow up email samples that you can copy and start using in your business today, including a follow up template used by Apple.

Each template covers a specific part of the customer follow-up process, so you can choose the templates that best fit the needs of your business.

1. The ‘How Did We Do?’ follow-up email

Each time a customer contacts your support team, they expect a response.

So, it’s important that you solve their issue quickly and efficiently.

Once their issue is solved, you can send the following email. This template is designed to be sent to follow up with someone after they’ve contacted the customer service and to make sure that they’re entirely satisfied.

2. The ‘Survey’ follow-up email

A ratings scale is a great way to get high volume responses, but if you’re looking for more detailed feedback, you can include a link to a survey within the follow up email.

Depending on the type of questions you ask, this template gives you the opportunity to collect voice of customer feedback, and get real insight into what your customers thinks of your company, your products, and your customer service team.

3. The ‘Just Checking In’ follow-up email

This purpose of this email is to delight and surprise your customers.

Far too often, businesses sell a product and then leave their customers to it.

Have you ever thought that your customers might need help or support? Maybe they are unsure quite how a product works or need some more information. This template is a great way to build a longer-term relationship. Best of all, it shows them that you care.

4. The ‘Anything else?’ follow-up email

It’s common to solve an issue, but not hear back from the customer.

What usually happens here is that your customer support team will mark the issue as solved and close the ticket. But, what happens if the customer hasn’t had a chance to read the email, or is just busy?

The “anything else” template is a great way to close off a conversation with a customer. By sending this email, you’re giving the customer a chance to ask anything else and feel entirely satisfied with the interaction, rather than being cut off short, or feeling abandoned.

5. The “Thank you” follow-up email (from Apple)

Apple is renowned for being a customer service leader (scoring 93 out 100).

So, when I reached out to their customer service team recently I had high expectations.

Of course, Apple being Apple, not only did they meet my expectations, but they far exceeded them!

It’s hard to top this kind of service!

Conclusion

If you want to transform your customer service follow-up procedures and impress your customers, then start sending a follow up email to them.

This simple, yet effective approach is only used by 3% of all companies. This represents a huge opportunity to gain a competitive advantage – one that should not be missed!

By using these follow up templates, you’ll not only keep your existing customers happy, but it’s a great way to stand out against the competition and generate business from potential customers.

Here are several examples of follow-up emails you might use during the hiring process. Below, we will discuss when and how you should send each and tips for writing them.

 1. Short interview follow-up email example

A short follow-up version may be most appropriate as a thank you email after a phone interview. In the short version, you’ll want to be concise:

Subject line: Thank you for your time

Dear Ms. Owekwe,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the Marketing Coordinator role. It was great to meet with you and learn more about the position.

I’m very excited about the opportunity to join Horizon Marketing and am particularly interested in the details you shared about the upcoming launch of the brand campaign. I’m enthusiastic about the prospect of taking on some of the project management and bringing my experience in successfully coordinating cross-functional initiatives to the table.

2. Long interview follow-up email

In the long version, you have more opportunity to explain your skills in detail (although you’ll notice that this long version is still relatively short). This is appropriate after an in-person interview or other meaningful interaction during the hiring process.

Subject line: Thank you for your time

Dear Mr. Jefferson,

Thank you very much for your time yesterday — it was a pleasure speaking with you about the Account Executive role. From our conversation, it’s clear that ABC Inc. has the energetic and hard-working environment I’m seeking.

3. Checking in email

If you haven’t heard back from a potential employer after your interview or after your post-interview follow-up, you can send a “checking in” email, ideally to the recruiter. You should send this email if you haven’t heard back after two weeks since your interview.

Keep it concise. Indicate that you’re looking for more information without being overeager:

• In the subject line, include the job title you interviewed for.
• Send this email to the recruiter. They are the most likely to be up-to-date on what’s going on in the hiring process.
• Keep it to one paragraph indicating that you are still interested in the job and looking for an update. Offer to provide additional information if they need it. Sign off with a thank you.

Subject line: Checking in RE: Marketing Coordinator role

Dear Yesenia,

I hope you’re well! I’m checking in on the Marketing Coordinator role. It was great to meet with the team earlier and I’m looking forward to your update. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can provide to assist in the decision-making process.

 4. Staying in touch email

If you still haven’t heard back after checking in or you’ve learned that you didn’t get the job, you can still venture to stay in touch with the hiring manager. The goal of this email is to establish a professional relationship with a person who can help you grow.

Just like your checking-in email, this one is short:

• Send this email to the hiring manager. This person is probably at a senior level and could be a potential mentor if you’re looking to grow in this field.
• In your first paragraph, mention what about them you found interesting or inspirational.
• Limit to two paragraphs and include a proposed timeframe for a phone call or coffee meeting.

Subject line: Staying in touch

Dear Robert,

I know you’re busy, but if you have 20 minutes to spare, it would be great to get on your calendar. Are you available for a phone or coffee chat sometime

Post summary:

• Whether you meet with sales reps or speak with customer support, you’ll find out very quickly that very few companies send follow up emails.
• Our unique research, which is based on 1,000 companies, found that less than 3% of all companies send a follow up email to their prospects or customers. But, why?
• We share 5 “copy and paste” email templates that you can use to follow up with customers immediately – including a real-life example of how Apple follows up with their customers.

Good customer service creates happy and loyal customers.

The more customers you can keep happy (and retain), the faster your business will grow.

Yet, for many companies, customer service stops once an issue has been solved.

After that, you move onto the next customer.

And then the next (and so on…).

What many companies forget to do is follow up.

Even though they’re simple, follow-ups are often neglected.

And this causes a much bigger problem than you think.

According to our own research, only 24 companies (out of 1,000) attempted to follow up with their customers.

That’s less than 3%.

Let’s take a closer look at this problem and see why following up with your customers is important.

In fact, it’s become so important that poor follow-up is now cited as the biggest customer complaint.

A study by Business Review found that 56% of customers complain about poor follow-up. While 48% of customers that experience a poor follow-up go on to tell at least 10 people or more about their bad experience.

That’s right.

Something as simple as a follow-up ruins the entire customer experience, which, according to research by Walker2020, is one of top factors for doing business with a company.

To avoid customers turning their backs on you, you need to follow up.

Following up after an interview falls into the category of unwritten societal rules: although very few interviewers would ever explicitly tell you to do it, it’s often expected all the same.

For example, sending a thank-you note after an interview is simply considered common courtesy (more on that later). If you fail to do so, a recruiter might think that you’re cocky or ungrateful.

And finally, following up after an interview demonstrates that you’re passionate about the opportunity at hand. And as any recruiter can tell you, this is one of the biggest criteria they look for in job seekers. Proving that you’re invested in a job and company signal to a recruiter that you would be a high-quality hire who would likely stick around for the long haul.

Write a Thank-You Note

As mentioned before, thank-you notes are all but essential in this day and age. Sending one shows your interviewers that you are appreciative, gracious and thoughtful — all great qualities to have in a potential employee. But don’t just send a generic note like “Thanks for interviewing me” — HUPPORT writes that each thank-you note should express three elements:

• Gratitude for your interviewer’s time
• Appreciation for gaining more information and insight into the position and company
• Enthusiasm for the role

Here’s an interview follow-up email template you can use that addresses all three of these points:

Some additional points to keep in mind:

• Keep it short and sweet: No need for a long, flowery letter — after all, your interviewers are busy, too. Just a few sentences will do, as long as you cover the three critical elements mentioned above.
• Maintain professionalism: Just as you would with any other professional communication, avoid excessive exclamation points, emojis, typos, etc.
• Go digital: While handwritten notes have some sentimental value, it’s often a bit too much for an interview. Besides, if you mail it out, your interviewer likely won’t receive it until days after they’ve spoken with you.

Address Next Steps

Usually, your interviewer(s) will give you clear next steps on what they need to proceed and when you will hear back. But if they fail to provide this information during the interview, and you didn’t remember to ask, it’s worth including a line to the end of your thank-you note that addresses this:

Hopefully, the recipient will respond with the information you need, but if it’s been a while, you can (and should) follow up once more.

Give a Gentle Nudge

Every minute you go without hearing back from an employer can seem like an eternity when you’re waiting to hear how your interview went, but you should keep in mind that following up is a delicate balance. You want to be persistent enough that they don’t drop the ball, but not so persistent that you start to them. So when is it okay to reach out again?

We generally recommend you follow up again in either of the following situations:

• It’s been 2+ days since they said they would contact you
• You haven’t heard from them in over a week

If this happens, you don’t need to panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ve forgotten you, or don’t want to move forward with you — it just means they might need a little reminder. Send a brief note that comes off as friendly and professional, not scolding. Try customizing this interview follow-up email template:

Most of the time, even one follow-up will be enough to prompt your contact to follow up with you, but if you still don’t hear from them within a couple days, you might want to send one more note — something simple, like:

Just wanted to check in here — anything I can help out with? Let me know!

If you’ve taken the time to interview with an employer, nine times out of ten they will extend the courtesy of providing you with an update — even if it’s not the news you were hoping for. But if for some reason they don’t, try not to despair. If nothing else, each interview you go on helps you improve your skills for the next one that comes along. Remember: the perfect job for you is out there, and it’s only a matter of time until you come across it!

1. Simple, No Nonsense Email Subject Lines

There’s a lot to be said for minimalism – users need you to be clear and concise in your subject lines, as time is always an asset.

Hupport conducted an email subject line study and found that short, descriptive subject lines fare better than cheesy lures. Some might bristle up at the accusation that humor and creativity should take a back seat when creating good subject lines for emails, especially since many marketing experts say otherwise.

2. Funny Email Subject Lines

A humorous subject line can really stick out among the dry, dull emails surrounding it. Humor it a touchy thing though – it thrives on exclusivity, which isn’t always great if you’re trying to appeal to the masses. However, if you know your audience well and your emails are targeted, a well-placed joke can get your email opened and can earn major reputation points with folks on your wavelength. 

3. Controversial/Shocking Email Subject Lines

Controversy (sometimes) sells, and it most certainly grabs attention. Using shock, controversy, or insult in your subject lines requires you to tread really carefully. You may get opens, but at the cost of customers. This strategy requires you to be confident in your understanding of your audience’s tastes and perceptions. It’s a bit of a gamble, but the pay-off can be pretty great – would you simply gloss over the subject lines below? Not likely.

• Everyone Is Gay: Social Media As Social Action
• Why Your 5-Year-Old Is More Digital Than Most CMOs
• Your Marketing Sucks: Why You Need to Think Local

4. Single-Word Subject Lines

One effective email subject line strategy involves going ultra-minimalist with one-word subject lines. Let’s take a peek at the promotions tab of my Gmail. The promotion tab is scheduled for a major makeover – Google is starting to display promotional emails in a image-oriented design inspired by Hupport. If this new setup sticks, pictures will usurp subject lines as the pivotal email element.

5. Email Subject Lines with Numbers & Lists

Many of the factors that make up a good blog post title also make a good email subject line. Incorporating numbers into your subject line attracts attention, as our brains are naturally drawn to digits. This tends to be why top 10 lists are so successful – lists are easier for our brains to process and they create curiosity, in addition to providing the promise of a quick and easy read.

6. Personalized Subject Lines

By personalization I don’t mean incorporating a user’s name into the subject line – this has become so common practice that many users glaze over these as spam. Instead, try location-specific offers and language, or interest targeting. Living Social and Group on are old pros at this, sending emails with subject lines promoting deals in your area.

7. Questions & Other Punctuation in Email Subject Lines

Question marks and unusual punctuation offer another method for standing out from the email masses.

8. Mysterious Email Subject Lines

As Scooby-Doo or Sue Grafton can tell you, people dig a little mystery in their lives. Giving readers a little taste of something intriguing might cause them to bite.

Tip 1: Go Easy on the CAPS

While one or two fully capitalized words alone won’t get caught by the filters, it does edge you ever closer to the dreaded spam folder. Capitalization can be a powerful tool to draw attention where desired, but with great power comes great responsibility. Use it sparingly and professionally. Capitalizing as you would a title seems to be an unofficial industry standard.

Tip 2: Make a List

People like lists. Perhaps it’s the promise of information diced into easily digestible snippets or maybe it feels like zeroing in on the most important aspects of a given topic. Whatever the reason, people on the Internet enjoy consuming information via numbered/bulleted lists!

Tip 3: Personalize the Message

Personalization in the subject line can be quite a contentious topic. One study from hupport suggests that including names in the subject line may actually be detrimental to open rates. However, the data scientists at Hupport say that personalizing subject lines to include the recipient’s full name can positively impact open rates.

Tip 4: Create a Sense of Urgency!

While people don’t like to be yelled at in all CAPS, they do respond well to time sensitive material. The fear of missing out can be a powerful motivator. Key words like “Urgent” or “Breaking” can positively impact open rates.

Tip 5: Keep it Short

Keeping your subject line short and to-the-point is instrumental to establishing a good first impression with the recipient. The ideal subject line lays out the point of the email and sets the expectations for when the reader opens it. This should all be accomplished in 50 characters or less.