What is the best approach to writing a business e-mail to someone I don't know?

What is the best approach to writing a business e-mail to someone I don't know?

Tim Burress (E-mail Etiquette and Organization Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What should be included in the BCC line of a business e-mail?; How is writing an e-mail to my boss different than writing to anyone else? and more...

In writing a business e-mail to someone you don't know, to avoid being sent into the junk box on your initial e-mail where you're soliciting something in an e-mail, certainly get right to the point. I think it's important because people are buried in email, so get to the point up front. Let them know why you're sending this e-mail, the purpose of this email with the action up front. Tell them what you need them to do, why you are sending them this email, and then tell them why, perhaps in the background text, with a nice warm cordial closure to the business e-mail. Be brief when sending a business e-mail to someone you don't know as people are buried in email and they don't want a long solicitation.