We've all probably heard hundreds of variations on the phrase about the importance of first impressions, especially when it comes to business interactions. With the exponential growth of e-commerce, home-based businesses, telecommuting, and even email communication between people who sit one cubicle away from each other, it's vital to remember how electronic communication creates both wonderful and horrendous impressions of us as business owners.
Basically, one should remember that while email, IM or websites are efficient methods of communicating with others in today's society, they are not necessarily effective methods. Yes, you can let folks know about a weekend-only special at your spa very quickly with a massive email send-out, but you should also keep it personal so they don't feel like a part of the faceless mass you call clients.
Need some more tips on what (not) to do in professional emails? Try this article over at TheStreet.com (courtesy of Entrepreneur.com) for five common email blunders you should avoid. From there, go read Angie McKaig's blog entry about email for entrepreneurs. She'll help you create a personalized email response without getting too personal.
There are many mistakes that are made in the way that we use and wruite our email. As consultant I find this to be a particularly sore area in small businesses and home bassed business mostly because we see this as an informal message medium.
A post it is informal, an email to your drinking buddy or social group is informal, but in business it is formal and such things as grammar, spelling, word structure and content need to be done correctly or risk chassing away your customers.
There are many programs designed to help you,not only in the moderating of such issues, but also in the publishing and managing of your email programs.
http://www.marketingtips.com/mailloop/t.x/864834/
Posted by: Tim Whelan | May 23, 2006 9:41 PM | Permalink to Comment