E-mail Etiquette = Business Success

When it comes to your business e-mails; the fact is that perception is reality. Your e-mails reflect your level of professionalism, education, ability to pay attention to detail as well as what is important to you in regard to how you present your business. Reflect the ability to communicate with clarity — with the written word — and you are in bonus territory over your competitors who are 140 character challenged!

This is some of the stuff in my inbox today…

• Not using a dot com e-mail address (@yahoo.com ,@hotmail.com, @aol.com does not build confidence).
• Name and the content in lower case with no punctuation.
• Not including a properly structured and accurate Subject: field.
• Not having an appropriate greeting and closing.
• Not providing details necessary to understanding/responding properly to the inquiry at hand.
• Not reading a previous response in it’s entirety that in fact answers the subsequent questions being asked.

Even when e-mailing Web sites for information or assistance, practicing E-mail Etiquette may dictate whether you receive an answer or not. From a vendor point of view, why encourage or pursue a business relationship with those who indicate they may possibly be more trouble than they are worth? Don’t kid yourself, companies and Web sites are making these determinations based on initial contacts or communications every day.

It behooves you to put your best foot forward no matter who you are sending an e-mail to when using your business e-mail address. If you think about it, you really never know who that e-mail may be forwarded to. Or who may view your e-mail and make a determination of whether they want to do business with you — or not.

In my experience, when I receive e-mails not reflecting any understanding of (or willingness to integrate) E-mail Etiquette, I know I am going to be hindered in my efficiency. There will most likely be additional back and forths for clarification that could have easily been avoided if only the other side would make a little extra effort. Not the sign of a professional business owner or a potentially good customer for that matter. Isn’t clarity in written communications part of business success?

Give yourself the edge by using E-mail Etiquette as a welcomed skill for success! You’ll then gain the confidence in knowing you are being taken seriously and perceived positively. To those who “get it” E-mail Etiquette can open doors and give that so important favorable impression that is critical to your success in today’s über competitive market!

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