Email for Dummies...
07 March 2007

Tips to make your emailing life happier.... *

  • Before you choose a bulk email list ask yourself, "Who's this really for?". If it's only relevant for several individuals on the list it's better to ask them for their addresses personally rather than put an extra email in everyone's inbox.
  • Emails ain't for everything. Ask yourself if a phone call or face-to-face would be a better way.
  • Avoid relying on emails to communicate. Email is unreliable for (at least) three reasons: people change addresses regularly; people don't check their mail frequently; people are less likely to act on something that they've only heard about via email.
  • Beware of sending emails when you're feeling particularly angry, hurt, etc. It's always best to wait until you're calm and have a bit more objectivity before you click 'send'. (Honestly, wait a couple of days!)
  • The subject should be meaningful: make it descriptive of the purpose of the email.
  • Short paragraphs and short emails are more likely to be read.
  • Consider 'filtering' your email so that your inbox doesn't become buried in emails. Most email systems offer 'filtering' a way of sorting bulk emails directly to a given folder – check your help files if you're not sure how to do it.

*(as stolen from recent Crossroads email)

 

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4 comments:

ckjolly said... 3/07/2007 11:07 pm  

i always try to make my subject headings random so as to make people think "what the?!! what is she talking about? i've gotta read this!"

auschick said... 3/08/2007 10:39 am  

it's good when urgent emails have a good summary of the email in the header.

i totally recommend 2 email accounts - one for giving out online to potential spammers, and one for giving to friends. i use gmail, and hardly get any spam at all.

the other thing i love is calendars - in outlook, drag the email into the calendar so that you don't forget to act on it. in gmail, pull up your google-cal and it will email you a reminder.

Laura said... 3/08/2007 3:42 pm  

Right. Another email tip: for the love of all that is holy, check Snopes or a similar site before forwarding "I swear this works!" type emails or "Nigerian believer needs help getting money out of Africa!" type emails.

I too love Google calendar. Without it I could not schedule the incredible backlog of partner interviews to be done at my church.

Jonny said... 3/09/2007 10:38 pm  

I remember once e-mailing someone while feeling hurt or angry. It was great to get that off my chest.

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