I Love Email, But Be Careful

Other than text and instant messaging, email is my preferred method of communication. I am not a social person because face the face I often come off as cold and straight to the point.  I may seem that way through email as well, but email can leave alot up to interpretation where first impressions are do or die.  Have you ever found yourself reading an email more than once, just to make sure you understand correctly?  If so, than you see what I mean.

I spend alot of time setting up first time clients for email.  I always leave them with a few tips and some I send a don't do list because I know how much damage an email can do (from experience).

• An email is not just an email.  Its can be a stamp of communication or a very sharp knife. Do not send anything in an email that you cannot say in person in front of a group because there is always a chance someone else will read it.
• An email is a record.  They can be saved eternally or retrieved after deletion.  Follow rule number one and you will be good to go.
• Use a professional email.  It really is a calling card.  You don't have this issue within a network or domain.  You would be surprised at how many people submit resumes, business cards, business correspondence with crazy looking email addresses.  My very own son proudly displayed his email on a response letter with his first name plus deez-nuts@yahoo.com.  Really!
• Do not write or respond in all caps. Honestly I though this was a joke when I first heard about it, but trust me this is some serious stuff.  People associate this with yelling as they would in person as a disrespectful action.  Once you may be forgiven for an oversight, but do it again and oh boy you could be paying for that mistake for months even years.  Don't do it.
• Do not hit reply all.  This can also be an embarrassing costly mistake.  What you would say to one person on the mail list, you may not say to the others and God forbid if you were talking about or making fun of someone.  Bad business.

I always have fun helping people create their signatures.  Just keep in mind it is a signature and speaks volumes about who you are and what you stand for.  Some times I can go a little overboard, but thankfully I have a forgiving director who politely tells me to take it off.  See below for my latest creation.

See below for Aunt Charlotte's email