Familiarity in email correspondence - proper Netiquette

Business emails are almost always formal when the respective parties have not met or they are in the initial stages of their business relationship. Nonetheless, these situations can evolve and sometimes are better served by doing so. The follow paragraphs summarize some of these dynamics. 

Use of familiarity in business email correspondence

        Extended business correspondence or interaction might become friendlier and less formal over time.  These business friendships lend themselves to bits of personal information being exchanged.  Such relationships and the knowledge they bring can be very useful in building rapport, trust and better business success.  Netiquette certainly includes asking and conveying niceties, some more specific than others.  Emails which convey a good balance are preferable and typically more effective.

        There are inherent pitfalls in writing about personal topics.  One of the most obvious of these is depicting personal information not known to other recipients, some of which may be total strangers.  Another drawback is that any third party might be uncomfortable, or deem unprofessional having anything but business tone and content.  Yet one further drawback to conveyance of personal information is "too much information" where the personal content overshadows the business at hand.

        Care should be taken to minimize personal "small talk" when topics are in an emergency or crisis mode as well for this may be viewed as deflecting or minimizing the real purpose of the communication.  The same holds true for topics such as financial negotiations, legal, medical or job emails. Once more serious conditions are removed or settled it is far more appropriate to continue with better balanced tone and content.  Essentially, the more serious or complex the central issue, the less time and attention should be given to personal or peripheral information.

__________________________________________________________________

Today's question/facts:

 

Which country has the highest percentage of spam email servers?

1.) China

2.) Taiwan

3.) United States

4.) Israel

5.) India

What percentage of total units is this?

1.) 25%

2.) 33%

3.) 51%

4.) 68%

5.) 85%

Answers will appear in the next blog.

__________________________________________________________________

Good emailing and good NetiquetteIQ!