Basic but Useful Advice about E-mail
Not all advice has to be earth shattering.
Lillie Amman goes over the basics of using e-mail, and some of her points are worth incorporating into a company style guide on communications.
Some examples:
- Create a good subject line for your message
- Write in language and tone appropriate for the subject and recipient
- When you forward a message, delete all the extraneous information
I wish more people paid attention to her subject line advice. Writing a sloppy heading wastes everyone’s time. If the entire point of your e-mail can be included in the subject line, then do it. No need to be coy.
Good Subject Line: Reminder Not to Log Off Computers Tonight
Mediocre Subject Line: Network Maintenance Announcement
Absolute Crap: A Reminder …
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POSTED IN: Communication Skills, Employee Communications, Sources, Writing
3 opinions for Basic but Useful Advice about E-mail
Terry Lavender
Jan 26, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Another good source is the book Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home written last year by David Shipley and Will Schwalbe.
Lillie Ammann
Jan 26, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Eric,
Thanks for linking to and writing about my e-mail advice. As you say, it’s nothing new or profound, but we see every day that people need it.
Donna Papacosta
Jan 27, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Good advice. And how about this: When the subject matter changes, CHANGE YOUR SUBJECT LINE!
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