Email Etiquette IV

Further to my previous issues this subject continues - part IV. This month I'll share on Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) field and the use of backgrounds for your emails. The use of Bad language in emails will also be mentioned.

Many people do not understand the function of the BCC field in their email programs. When you set up a new message, if you cannot view the BCC field after TO: and CC: then click on View to see if you can add it to your current view, or check your Help file for the program you use for assistance.BCC is an old typing term - 'Blind Carbon Copy'. It means a copy of a letter or document that is being sent to someone not showing on the original addressee or distribution list. To use BCC in email means that recipients only see their address on received email and not the list of people that you've sent the email to.I often receive emails from people in business who put every single recipient address in the TO: or CC: fields, when in fact they should be placed in the BCC: field. Your distribution list should be kept private so you are not exposing firstly, who your clients are, and secondly, their email addresses, should a spammer or someone unscrupulous come across the email. If you're sending out a newsletter, or a merged letter by post you wouldn't have your full address list or database included with that mail for all to see - so why do it with your email?

Backgrounds

There is a great supply of backgrounds now available for use in various email programs - which help make your emails look more attractive and less boring. However, some backgrounds would be better used as wallpaper on your computer desktop and make it difficult to read the email message you are sending. If you want to use them, keep them for family and friends, but stick with fairly plain backgrounds for business email. I like to use those that have a simple corner frame, or a side border with a pale background but never a background that has a print across the whole of the email that makes it difficult to read the text. And if you are replying to an email that uses a background give some consideration as to whether it should continue to be there or whether the background should be deleted before sending the email response.

Bad Language

On occasion over the past few months I've noticed some messages with bad language posted to online discussion groups that are usually maintained for business purposes, i.e. those groups that are designed to assist people with their line of business. Whilst I appreciate that we all get annoyed with some things I really do not feel that bad language has a place in a public forum that is used for business. Perhaps this might be an old fashioned value but I doubt that people would write a business letter using bad language so I cannot understand them doing the same when posting a message to a business group. Think carefully when writing your email - is the language you are using something that might offend another person? Could the message get in front of someone you'd like to do business with? How would you like them to think of you? It only takes a moment to think about what you're written and to read it again before sending it on.

I hope you have found these tips for Email Etiquette interesting and thought-provoking.For any assistance relating to the use of email please feel free to contact our team.

About The Author

Article reprinted by permission Kathie M. Thomas, Founder "A Clayton's Secretary". Kathie is a multiple award winner in her industry as a Secretary and Virtual Business Operator, and has 30 years' experience in the secretarial/ administrative field. www.asecretary.com.au

kathie@asecretary.com.au

---

The Innovative Ways To Use Your Autoresponder

If you have auto response system set up for following... Read More

Spam! Whats the Real Problem

Most people now know the official definition of spam- Unsolicited... Read More

Is the IronPort Whitelist Actually An Extortion Tactic?

It appears that Mr. Gates' prophetic prediction that charging marketers... Read More

What Good Is An AutoResponder?

A term that confuses just about everyone is "autoresponder". When... Read More

What Is Wrong With Email Marketing?

If you are active on the web promoting your products,... Read More

Interview With Michael Murray: Autoresponder Basics

This interview is with Michael Murray, the author of a... Read More

The Most Critical Strategy to Your Survival, and Prosperity, Online

For the sake of your long term survival and your... Read More

What Is An Email Signature And What Do I Do With It?

You hear it all the time... email signature, sig file,... Read More

The Magic Of Email

These days email is taken for granted and used perhaps... Read More

Lumpy Mail Gets Your Message Through

When it comes to your gravy, lumps are bad. When... Read More

Ways To Persuade Your Web Site Visitors To Give You Their Email Address

These are several ways that you can use to persuade... Read More

How To Build Your Greatest Opt-In List

I get e-mails all the time from people on my... Read More

One of the Best Ways to Cultivate New Business and Save Hours of Time is to Use an Autoresponder

An autoresponder gives you the ability to send messages effortlessly... Read More

Internet Advertising: 20 Magical Ways To Convert Website Visitors to Subscribers

Do you publish an e-zine or newsletter? If you answer... Read More

Why Autoresponders Are An Essential Tool For Your Business

Did you know that one of the major purposes of... Read More

8 Quick, Hot Reasons You Should Offer an E-mail Course Today

1. E-mail courses are generally quick and easy to create.... Read More

The Lowdown: How To Create And Send HTML Email

I am frequently asked how to create and send HTML... Read More

An Introduction to Auditing Your Email Audiences

Organisations such as the BPA have been providing auditing services... Read More

Summary of Adestras Presentation on Best Practice EZines at the July NEPA Conference

At the recent Online Marketing Show, Adestra ran an email... Read More

Just Write an Email

How did you sell your last product? Imagine that I... Read More

Seven Tips To A Perfect Email Ads

Everyone at some point in their Internet experience has received... Read More

Email Microtargeting

Email marketing is undergoing rapid changes. Now, more than ever,... Read More

How To Get An Instant Response To Your Urgent EMail!

In the business world, "You've Got Mail" has turned into... Read More

What?s the Value of an E-mail Address?

Although it may not be practical to put a dollar-sign... Read More

Sequential Autoresponders Build Customer Relatonships

A powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More