Think Before You Send
Going Back to Basics on Email Etiquette
The beauty of doing business in today's digital world is that most day-to-day conversations with clients are conducted via email and are consequently documented word-for-word. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is easy to go back to the history of a conversation and dig up important information by a quick "search" thereby saving you a humiliating phone call to the client asking to repeat what he or she said. On the other hand, anything you write can and will be held against you. In our industry, we hear a lot about branding but what we do not hear is the importance of email etiquette and how it reflects our own personal brand.
What does your email etiquette say about your personal brand? Here are a few things to consider before you send your next message like a hot potato:
1. Use your "To:" wisely. Have you ever seen your name on a distribution list and wondered if you need to take action or if someone else on that list is taking action? You decide to ignore it and then during the next production meeting you realize the ball got dropped because everyone decided to ignore the message. Avoid confusion or duplication of effort by directing your message specifically to those who need to take action. Think about what value your message will bring to the intended recipients. Does your client's boss' boss really need to know that you completed the status report? Does he even know who you are?
Carita Eleazar, Account Manager and author of this article, has worked in three different marketing communications agencies managing a variety of clients and projects from multi-million dollar advertising campaigns to complete rebranding initiatives. She holds a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations.
No comments:
Post a Comment