Why You Should Try Email Threads (+ Best Practices)

We have all experienced rummaging through our emails for that follow-up or approval.

If all our emails show up separately, by the time one finds the correct email, it’s Christmas already 😄

This is why email threads (also known as email trails) are becoming common practice for good email etiquette.

In this blog post, we will tell you everything you need to know about email threads.

See how to run them, and more importantly, how not to 🙂

Defining Email Threads

An email thread typically starts with a single email and grows through the process of email threading.

Email threading is the method of labeling individual emails based on factors such as headers, subject matter, attachments, senders, and keywords.

The email thread would be an accumulation of emails, like this 👇

email thread example from EngageBay — *EngageBay media*

Typically, the first message is at the bottom of a threaded email, while the most recent message appears first.

Unless they are no longer in copy, all replies to the original message in that thread are visible to every recipient. The replies are listed chronologically.

Email threads can be viewed as a professional chat tool. The reason somebody is predominantly left out of the thread is that the sender pressed ‘reply’ instead of ‘reply all.’

Unfortunately, not all email servers have adopted email threading.

Your reply will appear as a new email in the inbox of someone using an email client that does not support message threading.

But most email systems, such as Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo!, have this feature.

Advantages of Email Threads

Messages are typically sent and responded to individually. But suppose one needs to send messages to a group of people from the same team within a specific organization.

In that case, the conventional method would be to enter the names of multiple recipients in the ‘To’ field. It can be stressful and time-consuming to do this every time users need to provide an update or follow up on a specific project or task.

In such cases, email threading enables everyone on the team to respond to the latest messages without having to create new emails and remind everybody about the details of previous conversations.

Email threads enhance clarity

Getting caught up in email exchanges about a specific topic or project can be difficult when people email back and forth.

And, if you use an email thread or chain, you can group all emails related to a specific topic into a single email. It will assist everyone involved in the conversation in keeping track of the emails.

They make your emails seamless

Keep track of your emails with email threads if you use emails primarily for correspondence daily.

The email thread collects all emails related to the topic, making it easier to search for and track emails.

They’re a great declutter hack

Usually, when engaging in an important conversation with your team, one gets updated in the form of a new email.

Every new email can add to the inbox, and that can get overwhelming every Monday morning!

Having the inbox organized well with email threads is something that can help every professional declutter the inbox.

They help keep everybody in one loop

This is a huge time saver as there is always a team member asking to be looped in the previous conversation.

Then you are supposed to scramble through the river of emails and finally send that one email from four weeks ago to your teammate.

One may forget to include everyone involved in a project in an email.

By using an email thread, everyone can stay up to date on the project and avoid missing out on any important work conversation.

Disadvantages of an Email Thread

Nothing is perfect: there are always two sides to a coin, and the email thread is no exception.

Here are a few disadvantages of email threads.

Roping in unnecessary people

A large number of recipients are usually included in an email thread, which can be beneficial at times.

The disadvantage is that you will most likely start receiving emails that you do not want to see in your inbox.

And, if people are added to threads needlessly, it can irritate or confuse them.

You can avoid this by only adding recipients who matter in the decision-making.

via GIPHY

Not possible on every email platform

Many leading email providers, including Gmail, Apple Mail, and Outlook, offer the ability to view emails as a thread.

However, email threads are not enabled by all email providers.

If users send an email thread to a recipient whose email provider does not facilitate threads, each reply will appear in their inbox as a new email.

How Long Can One Email Thread Get?

When individuals use email threads for large-scale projects, it can result in a lot of back-and-forth communication and a seemingly never-ending email thread.

So, if someone hasn’t been following the email thread, they may end up wasting time scrolling to the start to figure out what’s going on.

👉Uncover the secrets of successful email marketing with our in-depth guide to the best trigger email strategies! 🎯

Activating Email Threads in Different Providers

Let’s look at how you can start an email thread based on the type of device you’re using.

Gmail on Andriod

Open your inbox first. On your screen, look for the Settings button.

If you’re using a laptop, it’ll be in the upper right corner or if you are on your mobile, it’ll be in the lower left corner.

Proceed to the General tab. Finally, Go to Email Conversations and simply toggle it on.

On IOS Devices

With Apple iOS, email threading can be controlled through the built-in Mail app. Click on Settings and select Mail and keep scrolling down till you find Threading.

There are several options you can customize your email with:

Organize by thread: The green color icon indicates that this setting is generally turned on by default. The setting controls whether email threads are used in emails, and it can be turned off to completely disable them.

Collapsable messages: This option closes down all previous or old email messages you’ve seen.

The recent message at the top: This option is typically disabled by default. It’s a good idea to enable it because otherwise, you’ll have to scroll through a bunch of emails to find the most recent one.

Best Practices For Using Email Threads

Using an email thread might appear simple, but it is difficult to organize the thread in a way that is convenient and comprehensible to all recipients.

Here are some quick tips for improving the way you use email threads:

Focus on one topic

When all discussion about a specific topic or project is consolidated, it is easier for people to understand what is going on in the email thread.

If you must send an email that is unrelated to the subject matter, do so in a new email.

Talking about another topic in the thread can cause confusion and prompt people to respond with a slew of questions to figure out what’s going on.

Start a thread only for topics that need multiple conversations

Concentrate on questions that require the entire team to engage.

If you must initiate a conversation that is directed to a particular person, email the person directly rather than posting it in the thread.

Don’t get chatty on email threads

Unnecessary, short replies like ‘Thanks’, ‘Got it’, or ‘Okay’ cause an email thread to become too long and cluttered.

These replies add no value to the thread and may irritate all the recipients. Set guidelines and specify how frequently people should respond to the emails in the thread.

It could be every other day, every week, or every other week.

This informs the recipients that they are not required to respond in order to acknowledge the email.

End the thread when it makes sense

Know when it is time put the thread discussion to rest.

If you continue to converse with the recipients via the same thread even after its main purpose is served, the thread becomes more of a nuisance.

If you must start a new topic, start a new thread.

👉Inject some humor into your email marketing strategy – explore these 11 hilarious email memes now! 🎭

Add only relevant people

Adding people that aren’t necessarily needed will clog up their inbox and also annoy them. Make sure the team members that are added to this email thread are important.

Keep it fairly formal

Sometimes a thread may feel like a chat, but remember that many people will see it.

Even if you are emotionally invested in a conversation, take a breath and go over the email copy again before sending it.

How to Say ‘Please Find Attached’ in 20 Smarter Ways

Final Observations

It is safe to say that if you follow the above tips, email threads can be a great way to organize and declutter the inbox.

They can be really useful to focus on topics and help save a ton of time.

Most email providers already have the email thread option; the few email providers that do not give this option will catch on soon enough.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one, super affordable email marketing tool, check out EngageBay. It’s loved by thousands of small business owners and solopreneurs, and it’s rated one of the best in the market 🙂