By no means am I the expert on internet intricacies, but I do want to review a few simple rules of email. Firstly, we all know that once you put anything on the internet, you can’t take it back, or “you can’t unring the bell.” I have mentioned this several times before, but obviously no one was listening! You are only kidding yourself if you think no one will read about your affairs, your indiscretions or your personal thoughts. You might as well write a book and monetize your life, if it is interesting enough. Keep it to yourself, please.
Secondly, edit your email before you send it. It is so easy to skip a few words while you are putting your thoughts down. Usually when you read the text before sending, you will typically edit your thoughts. Also, don’t send an email in all caps. Keep your message short and concise, and avoid too many attachments. By the way, don’t get caught up in chain letters, no matter what good luckit says it will bring you. They don’t work! The person starting the chain letter is doing it to get email addresses from wherever he can. If you think everyone on the internet is honest, wake up. There are more underhanded scams than you can ever imagine.
There are several other rules I could pass on, but in my opinion, one of the major rules of email etiquette is to ANSWER YOUR EMAIL!!! When you get an email, or a text for that matter, it would take a second to send the word “okay” or “fine” or “sure.” But to ignore an email is like answering your door, not saying anything, and then slamming the door in your visitor’s face. If for nothing else, sending a one-word response would be to acknowledge your receipt of the email. To ignore it is inconsiderate and very unprofessional. These are the same individuals who get upset when they don’t get a response from an email they have sent.
That reply button was put on your email for a reason. When the email is addressed to more than you, the “reply to all” button should be used, unless, of course, it’s not appropriate to your response everyone.
And just one more thing for now (because as you all know, I always have something more to say, but I’m keeping this short and sweet). The subject line is there for a reason, so use it to give the recipient a “hint” as to what your email is about. It could say “Happy Hour RSVP” or “your Design Project,” or even “How ’bout Lunch?” This is a good way to reference an email for a future. If an email is sent with no subject, or “hi” as the subject, it’s not searchable and seems like a very unimportant email; not worth saving. Oh, and one more thing. In the body of the email, it would be nice to reference what the reason for your email might be. An “I’ll be there” with no reference to where, and no subject, really doesn’t tell me anything other than you will be somewhere at some time for some reason. Mind reading is not one of my talents.
