I recently received an email claiming I should stop “harping” about using BCc:. I giggled.
Being this is a pretty focused site one could say I do “harp”. I do discuss many of the same topics albeit from different angles. Generally based on what site visitors inquire about and what I see users struggle with.
Harp Away!
They then literally scolded me for not mentioning how to find the BCc: in their email program. How can I recommend readers do a certain thing without telling them how?
They could have used the help tab in their software. Or visited their email software provider’s support pages, right?
By the way, no scolding required. If any of my site visitors want a topic covered all you have to do is ask (nicely) and I am happy to accommodate.
BCc: is a Privacy Tool
Using BCc: is primarily used to not expose the email addresses of your contacts to those they may not know. Yes, it can also be used to “hide” who you are copying on an email, but more times than not folks who do that do so for less than professional reasons.
Here are the basics of using what was originally known as the Blind Carbon Copy tool, now more commonly known as Blind Courtesy Copy. Blind meaning that other recipients do not see the names or addresses of others noted in the BCc: field.
Where is the BCc:? How do you find it?
Part of the problem is that most programs do not make the BCc: intuitively findable or visible. The email software program I use is PostBox.
All I have to do is right click by the Cc: field and then I can check the BCc: option to be available for that particular email.
For all the other programs, the BCc: isn’t easy to find and you have to search for this option.
Start a new message, then:
- In Outlook, if BCc: isn’t showing, create a message, and from the View menu, click BCc: Field.
- In Outlook Express, click View >All Headers.
- BCc: on Mac mail: Open a new email. In the bottom left of the title block is the Customize button. a menu opens, click on “BCc Address Field”. This will appear on all future emails.
What about @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com or @gmail.com? Why are you using those freebie accounts for your business email? Stop that right now.
Use your website domain email or get a domain and use it for email. It is inexpensive and you need that to build your brand.
When to use BCc:
The primary use of the BCc: feature should be used when emailing a bunch of contacts who do not know each other. You do not want to publish their email addresses without their permission or expose them to strangers. For more read my article: Don’t Brush Off Privacy!
If you would like to contribute to “How to Find the BCc:” on software or platforms I’ve not mentioned above, you can send me the steps and add your tips and suggestions here. I will be pleased to add your information to this article.
Learn and Respect Privacy
After all is it is your responsibility to learn to use all the features of your email software program. It is also each user’s responsibility to understand the technology in which they are participating in so that they may engage in an informed and courteous manner.
Part of that includes not necessarily exposing your contact’s email addresses to strangers.
I hope I wasn’t too harpy.