There are those that believe email etiquette it is a choice. Something that can be disregarded. Ironically and perhaps coincidentally these are the same folks that tend to be the ones who gripe and complain that their businesses are not doing well.
What type of person would you prefer to communicate with?
Or, terse, confusing and cryptic?
There are those that believe that Business Email Etiquette is something they really don’t have to pay attention to. Email is informal after all, right? The assumption that the standards of professional communications do not apply to email are misplaced.
Business communications have always been on a different level. Because business email has different expectations than personal communications.
Writing is a skill. A skill that is one that you need to continually work on, learn and hone. Now that email is part and parcel of business communications, learning to write well is recommended. Becoming a skilled writer in your professional communications can do nothing but enhance your career opportunities and potential.
We are not discussing personal email communications today. Yes, business email can be “informal” to an extent, however, formality matters. Based on your company’s brand, culture and how well you know the person you are emailing, varying levels of formality makes sense.
However, there is nothing informal about any business communications — email included. Look at it this way, Business Email Etiquette basically covers a set of common courtesies and basic writing skills that everyone can follow to ensure they are perceived positively. Profitably!
And that builds your brand and your business! Who wants to argue with that?
To make the choice to minimize the importance of business email best practices can be a detriment to your business. One may surmise that you are lazy or possibly uneducated. Or is it that you just don’t care? That determination will be left to the folks who are on the receiving end of your business emails. Why take that risk when it is so easy to avoid?
…the e-mail subject in not related or concise?
…there is no greeting — just right into what they want?
…the email is filled with incomplete sentences, poor grammar, misspellings abound?
…time is not taken to ensure that intent and tone are clear?
…questions are rattled off and demands are made without any context or courtesy?
…no indication of appreciation for the recipient’s time?
So what are you going to choose to do? It is your choice to not make these minuscule extra efforts.
It is also your choice to not reflect basic writing skills and courtesy for those you communicate with. In that case your competitors thank you!