TACOCAT: a tiny guide for mighty emails
A memorable palindrome, a cute mascot, and a sharp structure to get your message “read‑er” than a ripe tomato.
TACOCAT stands for Takeaways, Clear Overview, Callouts and Tasks. Use it to start your email with a crisp 50–200 word section, then tuck the deep details below the fold.
What is TACOCAT?
It’s a format to front‑load clarity. Start with a tight section containing: a Clear Overview (2–4 bullets), your Takeaways (2–4 bullets), and explicit Callouts & Tasks (bold people + what they need to do). Keep it to 50–200 words total. Then put the rest of the glorious details below the fold.
- Memorable. It’s a palindrome. You won’t forget it.
- Mascot‑powered. Meet Taco Cat — tiny coach, big vibes.
- Executive‑friendly. Pierces the content dispersion field.
Subject Line Anatomy
- Kick off with an emoji to grab attention.
- Bracket the topic in a couple words:
[Project Omega] - After an em dash (–), add a 3–6 word blurb:
What Changed + Next Steps
Example: 🔔 [Project Omega] – What Changed + Next Steps
Content Structure
Summary
aka “Clear Overview”
2–4 bullets, 5–20 words each. Set the stage and scope.
Takeaways
2–4 bullets, 5–20 words each. The key points + outcomes.
Callouts & Tasks
Bold names + a few words of action. Use @mentions where possible.
Everything else lives below the fold. Drop a one‑liner like “Read on for further details…” and add the expanded context beneath.
Quick Builder
Make a subject line and a TACOCAT block you can paste into email.
Did you know?
TACOCAT works backwards too — it’s literally a palindrome. Also, “below the fold” is a handy way to separate the must‑reads from reference detail. (Cambridge Dictionary)
Pro tip Use Shift + Option + - on macOS to type an em dash (–).