I get on average of over 500 e-mails each day from my various sites and activities. Quite a few are folks asking for my help, advice or direction.
Probably several times each week I get e-mail about all the “silly Thank You e-mails” folks get and how to make them stop. Who would have thought that one would complain about being thanked! Well it’s happening — more often than you may think.
As I’ve written before, I always welcome “silly Thank You e-mails.” Thank you e-mails remind me that they appreciate the time I spent helping them and they make me smile . Unfortunately, for all the questions asked and thoughtful responses given, rare are the Thank Yous to follow.
So when do you send a “Thank You!” e-mail?
- When you send an e-mail asking questions that need the person on the other side to stop what they are doing and offer you the answers you seek. To guarantee your future requests get answered a nice “I appreciate your advice — thank you!” goes a long way.
- When you send an e-mail asking someone to do something for you that maybe you don’t want to spend the time figuring out yourself. If you don’t want to take the time and the person on the other side does so on your behalf a quick “Thank so much for taking the time to help me out!” is simply the right thing to do.
- When you let the other side know you appreciate their efforts on an e-mail, ezine or newsletter you receive, a quick “Thank You” e-mail works wonders to let them know to keep plugging away.
- If you sent a curt, blunt or demanding e-mail asking for help due to being frustrated — why not take the time to thank the person on the other side? This will increase the chance that they won’t cringe next time they see your name in their inbox!
- Anytime, anywhere that another onliner takes the time, makes the time to help, cajole, humor or offer aid is the time to send a “Thank You!” e-mail.
Well, I think I’ve covered it all. It is a sad commentary on how few take the time to show gratitude for those who help them out. Those are probably the very same folks who complain about the “incessant thank-you” e-mails out there!
To those who thank me; those who enjoy my tips, my Blog or my free courtesy services — don’t worry about annoying me. You always put a smile on my face and let me know my efforts on the thankless job of promoting proper E-mail Etiquette are worth every key stroke.
And for that, I Thank You!
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Hello, Judith
It’s a great honor for me to visit this website. I took this website from one of my friends zone, and click it. After read your briliant view, I was enlightened.
After more than 60 e-mails, one of the buyer answered me. But after I reply to him, there is no response. I’m frustrated! I don’t know why there is no response, I send e-mail with my courtesy, but, it seems it dosn’t work.
Would you please help me? I know you’re busy with answering e-mail, it will be OK without receiving your e-mail. I just want to cry out my confuse. Thank you very much!
Hey, Cooky:
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words!
I’m not clear why you would be sending 60 e-mails to anyone — but with that said, when it comes to business you have to let the other side guide you in the conversation and development of your relationship. If they are a buyer who you want to eventually choose your product/service, you don’t want to be too annoying or send too many e-mails to where they just hit delete because they get tired of seeing your follow ups.
What I suggest you do is pick up the phone and call the buyer and ask them what their e-mail preferences are — then stick to that. As long as you are sure they have your contact information to be able to get hold of you when/if they need what you have to offer, there really isn’t much more you can do.
I do have an entire site dedicated to Business E-mail Etiquette — you may want to check that out and read this article, Expectations of Business E-mail Replies.
Several visitors have asked about the topic of business e-mails and sales person follow up guidelines. I’ll be posting about that on Business E-mail Etiquette later this week. HTH!
I was excited to read when you should send a thank you email because I too get annoyed with them sometimes but it seems to me that you pretty much covered every occasion as a reason to send one. When should you NOT bother sending one is the real question.
Hey, Amber:
Thanks for your comments! I think the answer to the question when NOT to send a thank you e-mail is actually in the eyes of a recipient. If someone is sincerely thankful, so much so that they want to take the time to thank another person, they should. It is only the other side that may feel it is not necessary.
I am of the opinion in our fast past increasingly rude culture, that we can’t have enough thank yous! ;-)