Email Etiquette

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Don't Be Viewed as Rude!

All too often otherwise nice folks come off as terse or plain old rude when it comes to their email habits. They don't intentionally set out to be viewed as rude, well I guess some do, but for the most part I prefer to believe the majority do not.

Are you being viewed as rude? Do your email habits smack of a lack of consideration for the person on other side? Below are the most common faux pas I see onliners make on a regular basis that end up leaving a negative perception. If you answer yes to any of the following questions you are most likely being viewed as rude.

• Do you forward emails without comment?
  If you cannot take the time to write a comment about why you are forwarding that particular email to that particular person don't bother forwarding at all or you'll be viewed as rude!
• Do you disregard requests from others who ask that you not forward emails to them?
  Not everyone wants to receive all those "informative" emails you feel are so important. Especially if you are forwarding without comment or thought by just clicking Send to your entire address book! Just because you can; doesn't mean you do! Honor their request to not forward emails to them with kindness and understanding. Otherwise, you will be viewed as rude (and selfish)!
• Do you send overly large unexpected attachments?
  If you cannot take the time to determine file size and ask first when would be the best time to send them, you're being viewed as rude!
• Do you send business attachments after business hours?
  If you do, you will definitely be viewed as rude when you cause your associate's inbox to fill and all subsequent email to bounce!
• Do you start every email with a "Hi" or "Hello" with the recipient's name and close with a "Sincerely," "Take Care," or TTYS and your name?
  If you cannot take the time to personally address an email and sign off with courtesy, which will cause you to be perceived as demanding or curt, you'll be viewed as rude!
• Do you email Web sites for information without searching to see if the information you're seeking has already been provided for your convenience?
  If you cannot take a few moments to search a site and read the information provided, you'll be viewed as rude!
• Do you use multiple !!! or ??? in your emails?
  If you do, you will come off as pushy and/or condescending and you'll be viewed as rude!
• Do you include everyone's email address in the To: field even if they don't know each other?
  If you do, that is a breach of privacy when you expose your contact's email addresses to strangers and you will be viewed as rude!
• Do you add the email address of new contacts, newsletters you've subscribed to or Web sites you receive email from to your approved or white list?
  If not, your spam filters or your ISPs filtering program will return emails or ask for confirmation. If you initiated the request, add their email address to make communicating with you easy or you'll be viewed as rude!

Avoid being viewed as rude by taking the time to have courtesy for the people you are communicating with. All too often folks think only of themselves and what they want to do at any given moment regardless of how it will be perceived or affect the person on the other side. Good manners never go out of style and that applies to email activities as well.

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