A site visitor writes: I would like to know the etiquette on thank you notes when it comes to business holiday gifts. I once read that sending a thank you via-e-mail is not proper, is this true? Great question and one I bet others have wondered … [Read more...]
Using Quotation Marks for Emphasis?
A site visitor writes: Is it acceptable to emphasize a point in an email with quotes? For example: The people on the Board are "elected" not appointed. Anything you can do to ensure your intent and the meaning of your comments come through as … [Read more...]
Email Etiquette in the Workplace
A site visitor asks... Hey, Judith: Thanks for the great site! Wanted to run something by you. Business Email etiquette is pretty broad. What do you think of email etiquette in the workplace being that now-a-days the workplace can be anywhere. … [Read more...]
How to Nicely Ask to Stop Forwarding to Your Business E-mail
I get asked this all the time! How do I nicely ask someone not to keep forwarding me jokes and non-business related e-mails to my business e-mail address? I think it is telling that folks ask me how to ask "nicely." I guess that reflects their … [Read more...]
Business Email Sign-off Considerations
The topic of how to sign-off an email is one that has perplexed and concerned many a business onliner. Those who are concerned about being perceived favorably wonder about how to leave the appropriate tone, close with the intended meaning getting … [Read more...]
“Babysitter” Signature Files?
A site visitor was curious and pondered... I am in a national sales manager position. The owner of my company is requiring that all my outgoing email contain my signature line and contact info and all of his following mine. Is this appropriate? He … [Read more...]
Assuming Gender in E-mail
Well, you know what happens when you assume? Never assume anything when it comes to an e-mail. Assuming never leads to anything positive. If you are unsure; ask. For example, in the global environment in which we all are now playing, to assume if … [Read more...]
Is Business E-mail Too Easy?
A concerned site visitor comments: "Do we overuse e-mail as a business communication medium? In many instances, e-mail is the "easy approach" but not necessarily the best approach." Yes, we are. Many choose to take the lazy, easy way out and not … [Read more...]
Arrogant Auto-responders?
A site visitor wrote... I was the recipient of yet another "email" faux pas, the automatic reply, one that has not been carefully checked before the "enter" key was struck, to whit: I sent an email requesting information for an article. I received, … [Read more...]
Cultural Business Email Etiquette?
A site visitor was curios and pondered: I belong to a global organization. Is there a source that gives cultural guidelines for sending e-mails to team members (or customers) of different elasticities and nationalities? Or, in our global … [Read more...]
When is a Joke Not a Joke?
A site visitor writes: I hit "reply" to a coworkers email in which I should have "forwarded" to another person. The reply wasn't negative in connotation but it did refer to the sender in a joking way (to me, anyway) as a "damn Yankee". I realized … [Read more...]
Copying Email Addresses: Invasion of Privacy?
I see it every day. An associate or coworker e-mails an entire group of folks with all their names in the To: field. In some cases these folks don't know each other very well (or at all) and only have the Sender in common. Today I … [Read more...]