| With the rapid advent of technology, email has | | | | always. This will make it easier for your recipient to |
| become the standard form of communication. It is | | | | know what to expect in the message body.o Do not |
| estimated that 95% of professionals use email for | | | | send mass emails like jokes, chain letters and |
| work related correspondence. It is becoming the | | | | advertisements to your co-workers or clients. Not |
| accepted form of communication in today's world and | | | | everyone likes them.o Do take permission before |
| replacing traditional paper-based correspondence. At | | | | including people in your mass emailing list.o Do not |
| the same time, the user friendliness of the medium | | | | send attachments, especially large ones, without |
| makes people wrongly believe that there is no such | | | | taking the recipient's permission.o Do reply promptly |
| thing as email etiquette. | | | | to all emails. Try to send a reply within 24-48 hours.o |
| Email etiquette, you ask? Sure. But before we go into | | | | Do not send private or confidential information over |
| that, let us look at why email is so popular. Well, here | | | | email. It is preferable to use the phone or meet in |
| are a few reasons for it:o it is cheaper and faster | | | | person to convey such details.o Do proofread and |
| than a lettero it is less intrusive than a phone callo it | | | | conduct a spell check before you send out each |
| is easier than a FAXo time and location differences | | | | email. Wait a moment before pressing 'send'. |
| are less of an obstacle to communication by email | | | | Remember, once you have clicked the send button, |
| Any user will tell you that email is extremely fast and | | | | there is no way you can recall your mail.o Do not |
| inexpensive. As a small business owner, you can use | | | | write words in upper case unless you have to - it |
| the email medium to communicate effectively, | | | | could be mistaken for shouting at the recipient. Use |
| impress your clients favorably and build a relationship | | | | capitals very sparingly.o Do ensure that you are |
| with them that could influence your business | | | | referring accurately to individual, company and |
| positively. Sometimes, however, the very fact that | | | | project names.o Do not use nicknames of people |
| correspondence can be exchanged so rapidly through | | | | before being invited to do so. It gives an impression |
| this medium has its own drawbacks. An | | | | that you are assuming familiarity when there is none. |
| inappropriately worded email or one that has been | | | | An email can, typically, be more informal than a |
| hastily composed can cost you precious business. | | | | business letter but there are some rules of email |
| There are certain dos & dont's that apply to | | | | etiquette that you should follow. It is so easy and |
| email communication and we've listed the most | | | | simple to write out a few lines and click the send |
| important elements of email etiquette here for you:o | | | | button; the mail will reach the intended person in a |
| Do not send emails without proper salutations. All | | | | matter of minutes. And remember, a mail once sent |
| your emails should begin with a proper greeting and | | | | cannot be taken back - a more or less permanent |
| end with an appropriate salutation.o Do include a | | | | record is created. |
| subject line that is appropriate to the email content, | | | | |