Have You Heard About Email Etiquette?

As a manager for a large corporation and an entrepreneur, email can be overwhelming.  Not only do I have all of my business email, I also have personal email to manage.  Sometimes all I am doing is deleting “reply all” emails that should only be a "reply".  I realized that we need to be taught email etiquette.  Yes, there is such a thing as email etiquette!

Email or Phone

·  Quick questions – Email

·  Need documentation reviewed – Email

·  More than 3 replies to 1 email – Phone

What’s the Subject

·  Use the subject line

·  If responding to a chain of emails and you are changing the subject start with a new/clean email or change the subject of the email

·  Don’t mix unrelated subjects

Reply All

·  Does everyone need to see your response?

·  Example: Thank you (Reply, not reply all)

Address with Caution

·  If you are emailing a large group use the bcc function to prevent reply all

·  If you are emailing more than one customer use the bcc function to prevent reply all and most importantly, maintain confidentiality

·  Include distribution list in the email body to disclose internal recipients if using bcc

·  When in doubt always use bcc