The World of Grandpa Don

Pointers On Email

Don't be rude:
When we were young, most of us were taught the basics of
good manners, like saying 'please' and 'thank you'. So why
should an email message be any different?

And make sure you sign it with your name. Remaining
anonymous does not gain respect.

Be Professional:
Don't use lots of emoticoms when writing to someone you
don't know. LOL and IMHO may be meaningless to many
people.

Use a spell checker:
Most email software has a built in spell checker. The odd
spelling error may be overlooked by most people, but an email
filled with typos creates a bad impression. So use it. Even
though it may mean spending a few seconds longer before
sending it off.

Check your Tone of Voice:
It is very easy to come across as rude and demanding in an
email. Even if that's not your intention. So read your message
before sending it off, and try to read it as your recipient
would. Remember, she may not know you.

Be Precise:
Keep your message short and to the point by all means. But
ensure you have given all the information your recipient needs
to act on your query. Especially when writing to a support
desk.

Ask before sending an attachment:
Many people - especially those in business, will *never* open
an attachment because of the risk of a virus infection. If it's
important to send an attachment, write first for permission to
do so. Even then, some will refuse to accept it - unless they
know you extremely well.

A bit more on email at http://newbieclub.com/email/

I get a lot of email that gives me the impression that the senders do not really respect the person who is going to read it. I know that is not true but, ... if they would only be a little more kind than they need to be, it would show they really care.