How to Create a Stellar Meeting Invite Template (With Examples)

Meetings are a common target of ridicule in the modern zeitgeist, with no shortage of memes giving props to those who have survived a meeting that could’ve been an email. Author and columnist Dave Barry jokes, “If you had to identify in one word the reason why the human race has not achieved and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings.’” All joking aside, meetings are not only essential but can be productive and efficient if you start from the beginning with an outstanding meeting invite template.

The consequences of ineffecient meetings are plentiful: unproductive time management which leads to wasted money, confusion arising from unclear actions, loss of focus, and participant frustration to name a few. In a survey conducted by The Muse, executives said they considered 67% of meetings to be failures.

So what’s the secret to holding efficient meetings? The recipe starts even before the meeting with a well-planned meeting invitation that covers all the bases and invites participants to come prepared for efficient collaboration. Read on to learn how to create a stellar meeting invite template, including meeting request templates for virtual meeting platforms, group and one-on-one meetings.

Conducting an efficient meeting begins long before the meeting starts, at the very first steps – the invitation. Sending the right meeting invitation is important for many reasons, but there are three broad themes which thorough meeting prep should address:

A well-prepared meeting invite will efficiently communicate all necessary details of the meeting – the date, time, purpose and agenda – allowing you to lead the process from the start with clarity and efficiency.

When a meeting invitation includes clear information regarding the roles and responsibilities of participants, they are more likely to come prepared with all the tools, ideas, and resources needed to tackle the issue at hand.

When recipients accept a meeting invitation, they are obliged to attend and are more likely to show up. One of the leading factors leading to inefficient meetings is poor attendance.

There are a few key strategies to keep in mind when inviting your colleagues to a meeting. We’ll get into some more detailed techniques and templates below, but remembering these four tips will help get your point across:

The subject line is your first impression and an often overlooked, yet important, aspect of a meeting invitation email. Begin with a clear and concise subject line that condenses the meeting’s purpose into just a few words. A subject line is more likely to stand out if it is below the average length, so shoot for a subject line with under 60 characters or nine words. It may also be a good idea to consider using current trending sales buzzwords and business jargon to help you compete for attention in the inboxes of your invitees.

These days we all have limited time, and people want to get to the point as quick as they can. Show your invitees that you respect their time, and keep your email brief. Cover the basics and leave any superfluous information out of the email.

The tone of your email is important and should read differently depending on your audience. For example, an email invitation to a business meeting for shareholders should be phrased in a more formal manner than an email invitation to a monthly staff meeting. Consider your recipients and prepare your email accordingly.

If possible, the greeting should begin with the recipient’s name, and the added touch of a friendly opener is always a good idea. This could be something like: “I appreciate all the work you’ve done on this project” or “I hope the week is treating you well.”

We will provide you with a few handy templates for common types of emails, but first let’s get down to the basics of how to structure a meeting invite email. The following list covers all the essentials, then we’ll dive into more specifics about each item below:

The subject line is your first impression and one of the most important aspects of an invitation email for a meeting, so don’t let it be just a quick afterthought. Your subject line should condense the purpose of the meeting into just a few words. It should be succinct, clear and compelling. Shorter subject lines and calls to action are great tactics to encourage quick replies.

A friendly greeting with a personal touch is a great way to ensure your meeting invitation doesn’t get lost in the recipient’s inbox. This section should not take up too much space, as you want to be mindful of everyone’s time, but a warm greeting that is tailor made to your audience will go a long way towards compelling a response from invitees.

How many times have you gotten a meeting invite with a missing or incorrect date and time? When mistakes like this happen, the meeting begins to feel cumbersome and inefficient before it has even begun. Double check your date and time, always. Including an end time is also a good idea to make sure there are no surprises when the meeting lasts two hours instead of one.

If the date and time are not yet firmly set, but you are attempting to find when participants are able to meet, be sure to offer specific possible times for the participants to choose, rather than leaving it open ended. Consider using a scheduling or polling app if you need to find a time that works for several people. Note the time zone along with your meeting date to avoid any confusion – especially if the meeting is virtual – and be aware of where your participants are located so you can choose an appropriate time for all so you aren’t scheduling a meeting before the crack of dawn on the west coast, or after evening on the east coast.

Clearly specify the location of the event, including directions if necessary, or instructions for attending virtually if applicable. If using virtual meeting platforms, be sure to clarify which platform you are using and give detailed instructions on how to join including any applicable links and passwords. If possible, it is best to avoid apps that participants will have to download.

The purpose of the meeting is one of the factors that will compel participants to quickly respond to a meeting invite and to show up ready for collaboration. A meeting without a purpose is a surefire recipe for failure. Focusing your purpose will tell participants what they can expect and help them to prepare. Meeting without a clear purpose can lead to wasted time and frustrated participants. Though it needs to be clear, you do not need to share details. Keep it clear and informative but concise and leave the details for the actual meeting.

Sharing a meeting agenda lets your participants know what to expect, what is expected of them, and that you are showing up to the meeting prepared – encouraging them to do the same. An effective agenda will increase productivity at the meeting, establish necessary steps before and during the meeting, and ensure everyone is on the same page.

An agenda can be geared toward the specific needs of your meeting and organization, and can be simple or detailed, casual or formal. An agenda that includes not only the main talking points but time allotted for each will help keep everyone on task during the meeting.

Knowing how many people to expect is essential to conducting an effective meeting. Without an RSVP, you risk low attendance and a less productive meeting. The best way to get an accurate headcount is to request that participants RSVP. It is best to ask participants to respond by a specific deadline so you have plenty of time to switch things up if there is likely to be low attendance for the planned date.

One of the cardinal rules of business etiquette is that communicating in a professional manner is a must. Don’t forget to end your message with a warm closing and your full name or professional branding. A warm closing compels action on the part of the invitee, and a formal signature or professional branding adds weight to your message.

We’ve put together a list of a few of the most common types of invites that get used in a business setting, and prepared a few templates that you can use in your own business. Feel free to copy and adapt any of these when inviting colleagues to meetings:

An invitation email template for a formal group meeting should be professional, courteous and concise. With group meetings it is best to request an RSVP and kindly ask that participants do so by a specific date. If you have already mastered how to write a professional email, you are well on your way:

A meeting between individuals is going to require a different approach to your meeting invitation template. One on one meeting invites should include more personalization than formal or group invites:

An invite email template for a remote meeting is going to look a bit different, whether it’s a Teams meeting invite, a Zoom meeting invite, or an Outlook meeting invite template. If using Zoom, you can customize meeting email templates on the virtual meeting platform itself:

Recurring meetings are excellent candidates for templates as your basic details may not change much from one meeting to the next. It is always a good idea, however, to mix up the greeting to keep things interesting:

As meetings have become a regular and necessary part of our lives, mastering the art of the meeting invitation is an important tool in your toolbox. Using these examples, best practices and templates will set you on your way to creating stellar meeting invitations that inspire action, lead to more successful meetings, and help grow your business.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial of LinkedPhone today, and find more ways to bring efficiency to your small business meetings and communications!