No E-mail Etiquette; No Response?

Who needs Business E-mail Etiquette? Each and every person who is online using technology for commercial gain — that’s who! Business onliners e-mail me daily wondering why they do not receive responses to inquiries when their inquiries to me do not even include the very basics that can lend to their credibility and legitimacy.

Business E-mail Etiquette is simply a set of guidelines that help you to:

1. Use technology properly so you don’t look as though you are fish out of water and so that you are taken seriously. Don’t make these efforts and you will be perceived as uneducated, lazy and inconsiderate.
2. Understand that regardless of how you run your life — your business e-mail is not all about you and what you are willing to do or not when using it. By having that attitude you show no concern for the person on the other side. You really need to think about how your e-mail activities and efforts (or lack thereof) will impact those you communicate with.
3. Communicate with clarity and courtesy so that you are a pleasure to communicate with so folks don’t cringe when they see your name in their inbox! And, believe me — they do cringe!

There are still a great many online for business who by virtue of their e-mail activities, are perceived as though they didn’t make it out of grade school. Their e-mails are demanding and terse because they refuse to integrate simple courtesies that only take a moment to include. Mention this to them and all you get is more of the same.

I had a site visitor e-mail me just this week with this same dilemma stating she would no longer respond to coworkers who e-mailed her without any basic business e-mail etiquette. I understand her frustration, however, on the job you cannot ignore coworkers — lead by example and show them how to e-mail properly knowing you are doing the right thing.

The fact there are folks who feel courtesy is not important in their e-mails speaks volumes as to what they will be like to communicate with. Professionals take the time, make the time to be courteous.

If you are going to e-mail a Business E-mail Etiquette site — you need to be on your best behavior.

If you are going to e-mail any site or person that doesn’t know you in regard to your business, believe me it behooves you to do so in a professional manner.

How do you handle business e-mail etiquette resistant e-mailers? Do you correct them, do you ignore them?

[Updated: 01.07.10]

Some More Info for You:

1. Is Business E-mail Etiquette Just an Opinion?
2. E-mail Response Time
3. E-mail Etiquette and Failing Businesses
4. Are Your Business E-mails Being Ignored?
5. E-mail & Courtesy