1. What is Netiquette?
We expect other drivers to observe the rules of the road.
The same is true as we travel through cyberspace.
Netiquette - network etiquette or Internet etiquette

2. Why is Email Etiquette Important?
We interact more and more with the written word all the time
Without immediate feedback from the reader, it’s easy to be misunderstood
is still a formal correspondence

3. The Basics
Think twice about whether or not the content of your is appropriate for virtual correspondence - once you hit Send, anyone might be able to read it
Respond to s within the same time span you would a phone call
Use a professional font, not decorative
Be cautious about sending personal information

4. Subject Should be meaningful
Should give your reader an idea of the content of the
Should be appropriate, because anyone can look at the subject, even if the recipient chooses not to open the message
For example: Confidential: Sale numbers for October
When changing the subject, start a new message

5. Responding
Respond in the same time frame you would respond with a phone call
Be conscious of responding to the sender or Reply to all
Do not overuse Reply to all
Be conscious of your recipient
Don’t expect an immediate response

6. Tone Write in a positive tone
When I complete the assignment versus If I complete the assignment
Avoid using negative words
Words that begin with “un, non, or ex” or end with “less”
Use smiles , winks ;-) and other graphical symbols only when appropriate
Use contractions to add a friendly tone
Use please and thank you

7. Content Check your grammar and spelling
Use proper structure and layout
Be efficient
s that get to the point are much more effective
Address all the questions or concerns to avoid delays
Read the before you send it
Plz Don’t Abbrvt.
Try to keep the brief (one screen length)

8. Content Don’ts Use sarcasm or rude jokes
Respond if you are upset. Take some time to cool off and consider appropriate response.
Attach unnecessary files
Use CAPITALS
Leave out the message thread
Use long sentences
Leave irrelevant information

9. Attachments
When you are sending attachments, include in the the filename, and what it contains
Attached: “Project3Proposal.doc” with my proposal.
Consider sending files in rich text format (rtf) or portable document format (pdf) to ensure compatibility
Attachments often carry viruses

10. Signature Identify yourself Keep it short
Ensure a quote or tagline is appropriate for everyone to see

11. Email writing as a rhetorical act
requires consideration of the same rhetorical elements as you use in letter writing and phone calling:
Subject
Audience
Purpose
Persona

12. Write to think
Take three or four minutes to brainstorm the following ideas:
What are some of the typical subjects you address in your business writing?
Who are some of the audiences to which you write on the job?
What are some of the purposes you have for your written communication?
What are some of the voices or personas you have to use while writing in your office?

13. Consider your purpose Business writing is persuasive writing.
Some business writing will try to persuade the reader to take an action or think about something a certain way.

14. Consider your audience
You may…
Know your audience personally
Not know your audience personally
Need to write to more
than one person at a
time

15. Consider your audience
Put yourself in your reader’s place
If your message does not meet your reader’s needs or if it isn’t written at his or her level of understanding, your message may be ignored.

16. When you know your reader
How interested or involved in the subject is my reader?
How knowledgeable is he or she about the subject?
What is my reader’s purpose for reading? To make a decision? To be better informed?

17. When you know your reader
Does my reader have special concerns or strong views about the subject? What are they?
How does my reader regard me personally and professionally?
What is my reader’s style of doing business?

18. When you do not know your reader
There are two general types of business readers: skimmers and skeptics.
Your documents will be most effective if you write for both types of readers.

19. When you do not know your reader
Skimmers are readers that are typically very busy. Pressed for time, they often skim documents in a rather short period of time.
A Skeptic is a reader that is cautious and doubtful.
Skeptical readers will tend to read a document carefully, questioning its validity and the writer’s claims.

20. 20-second test for Skimmers:
Skim your document for 20 seconds, and mark what stands out most to you in that amount of time.
After you are finished, see if what you have marked is able to convey your message clearly.
If it is possible (or an important document), have someone else skim your document before sending it, and see if your message is clear to them as well.

21. Skeptical readers
Skeptical reader - support your statements with sufficient details and evidence
Provide specific examples, numbers, dates, names, and percentages