Email Etiquette

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• In particular, when you request information or ask something of the one you are emailing, have the common courtesy to thank them in advance (TIA!) and sign off your email appropriately. Worse yet, to click the send button without even typing your name is impersonal and is not conducive to being perceived as a person one would want to continue to build a relationship or do business with. Not typing your name at the end of an email comes off as terse and demanding. If you don't want to type your name for every email, then incorporate it into your signature file that is automatically appended to the end of every email.

• Never just forward email without a comment as to why you are forwarding the email to the recipient. To forward without comment is bossy, lazy and rude. Do you want the party to comment or review? Is there a specific issue you want them to address? Did you have a particular reason why you forwarded to them that specific email? Always let the recipient know why you are forwarding an email to them. Including what, if anything, you need them to respond to or what action is required by them.

• If you are emailing for support, asking a question or requesting assistance from the other side, it would behoove you to say "Thank You". It is very easy to come off as bossy in email and as I'm sure you'll agree, people do not take warmly to those who are pushy.

  By sending email that blurts out a question or demands a response without including a closing such as "appreciate your help" or "thanks in advance" or even "let me know what you think" you can bet the person on the other side will not respond as quickly, work as hard, take you as seriously, or possibly not even care to respond at all. Know this to be a fact! Remember? Perception?

  Then, when someone you emailed for assistance does respond and take the time to help you, take a moment and send a reply email thanking them for their assistance. This only takes a moment and will be greatly appreciated by the person on the other side who you can bet is getting more emails that are rude and demanding than courteous.

• As a general rule of thumb, if someone takes the time to email you and it is not junk mail or offensive, give them the courtesy of a timely return response. Who would have thought we would be so busy as to not have time to respond to email? By not doing so you appear to ignore them and that is how they will feel--ignored. How would you feel if email you sent was not responded to? A short and sweet acknowledgement of their email commenting on the issues within only takes a brief amount of time. By responding promptly you will leave a positive impression with those you communicate with.

As a courtesy to your fellow Netizens, be polite and
type to others as you would have them type unto you.