Email Etiquette - Most Of Us Need To Follow!

Email, probably the most used communication mean till this date and the most addictive as well. There have been tools coming up to make the communication better like Instant messengers but Email has been rock solid and is getting hot everyday with the introduction of various cool email services like GMail, Yahoo Mail, Live Mail etc.

We all email everyday, to our friends, colleagues, relatives etc. for one or the other reason but have we ever given a thought to the fact that may be our email is not liked by someone or may be is hurting someone somewhere ? Have we ever thought that there are certain email etiquette which we all of us must follow ? If at all, your answer was “NO” or if at all you thought that THIS GUY IS A NUT, EMAIL ETIQUETTE….What the hell, he’s talking about! then I beg of you, do read this because these tips are for you only! And if at all, your answer was “YES”, then also I’ll suggest you to please read this and it will actually help you some where or the other..

Here are some of the rules which we must follow while using the emails or sending the emails to different people :

1. Never write everything in CAPTIAL LETTERS! : When you write something in all caps then it looks like as if you are shouting or may be you are commanding someone. No one on this earth will like to be treated like that. Will you?

2. Never send large email attachments : If at all you are thinking that everybody on this earth is having a high speed broadband connection or maybe a big large email accout which can hold upto 1 or 2 Gb of data, then please come out of the nice sleep. There is a huge section, which is still dealing with dialup and are using same 10 Mb old email space accounts. I know that’s hard to believe but that’s the truth.

3. Avoid the use of HTML stationary : I know those stationaries make the emails extremely cute but believe me, a person will be happy to read an email in a simple manner rather reading it with those hanging stars or dancing babies or anything funny out there, One or two images is nice but over loading with lots of images will create nothing but problems.

4. Think twice before forwarding it : We all get those cool emails, which has pictures or wallpapers of the upcoming friday release or has some GOOD LUCK or BAD LUCK STUFF and some may like them or some may not. So, before forwarding those chain mails think twice about the fact that will forwarding a simple mail will bring you good or bad luck? Think on a point that, is’nt it misusing the resources or on the biggest point that the email which I am forwarding to, will like the email content or not?

5. Run Spell Checker : I’m sure that this must have been getting easy with the integration of online spell checking in the online web based mails. Apart, from that Firefox 2.0 has the real time spell checking feature as well. If you don’t use any of the service or software, then simply copy and paste the content in Microsoft Word or any Word Processor as a fact and it will tell you, your typing mistakes. (I know, I’ve to work on this one a lot. Not just for emails but for blog posts as well)

6. Make Use Of BCC Field : If you are sending an email to many people, then please don’t forget the point that almost each and every email service or email software has the option of BCC (Blank Carbon Copy). This way, people will only come to know that it has been addressed to them and will not be able to find out that where else, it has been sent. Use it, in case of forwarded emails atleast!

7. Always Email When You Are In Happy Mood! : When you are not in a good mood, then please don’t try to email anyone. That person will actually come to know about it, that you were in a bad mood at the time of writing the email :D