How to Improve Your Email Etiquette

For each week’s post, I choose a topic I am asked about or notice online users struggle with. (You can let me know your questions here.)

In the past couple of weeks, as I worked with clients and responded to site inquiries, improving email skills kept rising to the surface. What do I recommend you do to improve your email etiquette? What is the most straightforward approach?

First and foremost, work on your writing skills. That is the basis for communicating effectively via email. I use a fantastic service called Grammarly.

Three Camps of Emailers

1. Those who probably know they should put more effort into honing their email communication skills, but really don’t think further than that.
2. You are considering improving your email etiquette skills, but are only up for fast and easy tips.
3. You are willing to read, learn, and apply to make the changes you know are necessary to improve your skills.

The above three scenarios seem to apply to many topics nowadays, right?

You have an inkling but…

You keep on key-stroking along, communicating as you always do. There are no greetings, sign-offs, or proper sentence structure. It’s only email, after all.

Formality and professionalism in your day-to-day email communications don’t come as much into play as they do in your business communications. However, communicating clearly and using best practices can help avoid misunderstandings.

This site is about everyday email etiquette—the basic courtesies that serve no other purpose than to help you be a pleasure to communicate with and be viewed as a courteous and knowledgeable communicator.

For those with an inkling but no motivation to take action, the information on this site is here when they are ready to take that next step. Usually, that action is preceded by a situation that caused them to re-examine and take a proactive approach to avoid another misunderstanding, relationship issue, or not receiving the desired responses.

If you have an inkling, start here.

Make it fast and easy…

We live in an era of fast, easy tips and solutions. This site includes the basics you can look up and apply as issues arise. However, email etiquette is about consistently integrating best practices and improving your communication skills with the written word until it becomes a habit.

All the easy tips in the world aren’t magically going to improve your skills unless you are willing to apply them all the time. It’s an ongoing effort not just in certain situations. The more you use the tips, the more they become a habit. That’s how you build skills. As a result, you get to enjoy being perceived positively.

Want fast and easy tips? Go here and help support this website.

I’ll do what I have to do…

To succeed in life, you need skills. You can acquire them independently by reading books, taking courses, or attending seminars. Those most successful in life embrace the knowledge and skill sets they have identified necessary to achieve their goals.

They have an almost insatiable desire to learn and be the best they can be because they know that approach has no downside—it’s a win-win.

Email is part of everything we do now, from everyday communications, which include those you do want to impress, to our pre-employment and opportunity communications, which can make all the difference in future outcomes.

For those serious about professional email etiquette, start here.

Which camp are you in?

The fact that you have read this far lets me know you are probably #3. We are surrounded by technology, and email is now part of our lives. You want to be the best you can be at something integral and impactful in many ways, right? Of course you do.