I don’t intend to change the world’s email etiquette by this post, but perhaps there are a few of my readers who might learn something.
1. Always include a subject on your email. This makes it easier for the reader to identify the message.
2. Always “sign” your name near the end of your email (this is one way of determining if a message is spam or not, because spoofed messages could look like they’re coming from a friend’s account but actually have a virus).
3. Don’t use an email address from an internet service provider (ISP). That would include AOL and MSN. Why? Because if you ever cancel your account with your ISP (maybe their service is terrible, their price goes up, or you decide to get DSL with another company), you lose your email address. The best way is to have a lifelong address that is not dependent upon the whims (or rates) of an ISP.
4. Make sure your full name is included in the “From” box. The people you are writing to may know a lot of “Emilys” and having your last name there can be helpful to the recipient. (I have 10 Emilys in my address book and an email from “Emily” won’t tell me enough. Are you the Emily that I like or the Emily I don’t like?)
Anything I missed?
ADDITIONS:
5. Don’t send me any emails at all if you don’t have anti-virus and anti-spyware on your computer. More on that in an upcoming post.
6. If you think you just have to forward me something, wait a few days and see if it’s still that good or critical. If so, send it. BUT…
7. Do NOT forward something (or pretty much send any email ever) with my email address visible in the “to” or “cc” along with the addresses of everyone you know. I did not give you permission to share my email address with all of the people you think are your friends. It’s not only that I don’t want your friends emailing me, I don’t want their virus-infested computers spamming me. If you must send a mass email, use the BCC category so everyone’s email addresses remain private.
It never hurts to re-read your email before you send it in order to catch typos or parts where you just don’t make sense. Also, spell check could help too, but it doesn’t pick up on wrong usages of things like there, their, they’re… too, to, two…
Todd, maybe you should post a short grammar lesson!
How about: Don’t even think about e-mailing me if you don’t have anti-virus and anti-spyware on your computer.
Al – right on! Actually, I have two posts about to go on just that. Those probably should have preceded this one, but this one was done and the other two still need some touch-up.
Good list. How about you add this: Don’t forward me anything – not ever. If you want to send me something useful, that is one thing. But especially never send me something you 1) think is funny, 2) you think is emotionally moving, 3) you think is a good devotional thought, 4) you think is a necessary warning about the latest threat to my computer. If you think the world needs insight from you about all of those areas, start a blog and I’ll visit if I feel like it.
I have family members blacklisted from emailing me for abuse of this rule.
P. S. But the article Todd emailed me a couple weeks ago was very useful and appreciated… I’m thinking about “email forwards” proper.
Eric – you have me rolling on the floor! I share some similar sentiments about forwards, but I would modify it so that it’s not absolute. The bigger offense here is emailing *everyone in your address book* and OH – I just thought of another rule. Have to go and add it to the list; can’t just put it here in the comments.
Todd,
I’m a little late in reading this post because I’m guilty of having sent you a mass email along w/ everyone else about updates in my life. Thanks for the thoughts and comments on this subject. It’s true…you haven’t given your permission for everyone to know your address. I appreciate your wisdom. :)
Awesome. I learned something I didn’t know… thanks. Keep em coming.
Please forgive me, I have broken at least 5 of the 7 rules of poor etiquette. I have more than likely “done worser” with my grammar usage and punctuation. My apologies.
Just so it’s clear – I didn’t write this post to provoke confessions or to induce guilt. I wrote it to help others to think about things that they may not have thought about before. If it does that, it was worthwhile.