E-mail Inbox Faux Pas

Every so often I am astounded at what lands in my inbox. Particularity when you consider these e-mail are from folks who know I support and promote e-mail etiquette and proper technology use.

Some examples:

• Please include a greeting… “Hi, Judith” or even a simple “Hello” before you ramble off your demands or questions would refreshing.
• Please don’t just open any e-mail from me and hit reply with a set of unrelated comments to the old e-mail’s SUBJECT: field. Add me to your address book so that you can start a new e-mail with a subject appropriate to your new list of issues/questions. And, do not include the entire old e-mail that has nothing to do with what you are now e-mailing about.
• Saying “Thank You” or “Appreciate Your Help” after 4-5 questions in a row would be a nice touch.
• Before sending six unannounced 10 Meg .jpg attachments at 11:30p or on a Saturday afternoon, please pop me off an e-mail in advance and ask if I will be online to download them and keep my inbox clear.
• How about removing that fancy red signature file that prevents me from replying in plain text? Would you sign your company’s letterhead that way?
• Proper sentence structure and grammar go a long way to being taken seriously and understanding your intent or request with one e-mail. How can you expect an e-mail to be given the weight and seriousness you desire when it is typed in all small case (or caps) and filled with typos?

Wow! And all that in my e-mail this morning. Guess I still have my work cut out for me.

Some More Info for You:

1. Top 5 Subject: Field Mistakes
2. Business Courtesy and E-mail Attachments
3. 10 Business E-mail Etiquette New Year’s Resolutions
4. Avoid Spammy E-mail Subject: Lines
5. E-mail Subject Dos and Don’ts