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Email Isn't Escargot -- Practice Good Online Diplomacy
You may have heard the Internet is a forgiving medium, but the question is, "How forgiving?" The answer to that is, "It depends." When it comes to communicating with customers by email, you can get away with a little bit more than you would with snail mail (mail that goes through the U.S. Postal Service). When writing email, casual is fine as long as certain conventions are followed. These conventions are called "netiquette."
Here are some netiquette tips that will make you more computer-worthy and save you from future embarrassment:
Kibbles & bits:
Email messages are just that -- messages. In other words, keep it brief and concise. You want to make sure you say what you need to without writing a novel. It's helpful to imagine how you would conduct a business call and transfer that to the keyboard. Also, keep in mind that your message is most likely one of many (sometimes hundreds for those email junkies) that the recipient will receive. You want to avoid being the one whose message is deleted before it's completely read.I scream, you scream:
One of the most frequent abuses of netiquette is an email typed in all CAPS. Besides being hard to read, it also signifies someone shouting. Unless your intent is to be obnoxious, you're best to stay away from the caps. If your intent is to emphasize the importance of your message, try to do that with your words rather than your large type.Dear Miss Manners:
The salutation of an email can vary depending on the circumstance. If you're writing to a personal friend, you can be more casual and open the letter with their first name or nickname -- if that's how you usually address them. When writing business correspondence, you will want to address your recipient as you would in other correspondence. Depending on your relationship, that may mean formal or it may mean more casual. If you're not quite sure, your safest bet is to open with a formal salutation.Following simple email netiquette will ensure that you communicate your message while maintaining your professionalism. Remember, email is like fast food. You want it quick and full of taste.
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