Kelly J. Watkins, MBA Profile and Articles

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1). Achieve the Appropriate Tone in Email
Are your email messages too casual? Or, are they too formal? Are you using the appropriate tone?

Email messages are different from typed letters. You can’t be “too” formal in a letter. In an email, too formal looks silly. What’s the appropriate tone for an email? -- slightly more casual than a letter. Yet, there’s a fine line between being too relaxed and too stiff.

2). Don't Leave Your Email Naked
No matter how high tech the world becomes, there are still many old-fashioned problems regarding communication. With email, you face the same challenge as you do with regular mail -- convincing the recipient to open the message (or envelope).

Many email recipients delete messages without ever opening them. How do you avoid ending up in the electronic equivalent of “File Thirteen”? The answer is: by using a good subject line.

3). Email Grammar Guide
Just because email messages are sent quickly doesn’t mean they can be composed in a hurry. Sorry! You were hoping I’d say little pesky things like grammar aren’t important. But, they are.

Here are a few grammar pointers to get you started on the right track for sending proper email messages. This isn’t an exhaustive list. Entire text books are devoted to grammar.

4). Email Grammar Quiz
How good is your grammar? When writing email messages, proper grammar is important. By being aware of common mistakes, you can avoid them.

In other words, you don’t need to know all the rules. (What a relief!) But, . . . (You knew that was coming, didn’t you?) you need to know what you don’t know. If you are unsure if something is correct, look it up.

5). Email Grammar Tips
You may think there is no connection or relevance between constructing email messages with grammatically correct sentences and conducting the functions of a competent businessperson. However, your clients may disagree.

In order for customers to buy your products or use your services, they must have confidence in your abilities. Using proper grammar is important to make a positive impression.

6). Email Punctuation Matters
It’s important to convey a professional impression when you send email messages. This includes using proper punctuation. With email, there’s a temptation to just dash off a message without regard to any of the rules of proper language.

But, remember – you may have never met the person you’re emailing. In that case, the recipient of your message is forming judgments about you based solely on your email.

7). Email Punctuation Pointers
When sending email messages, it’s easy to get in a hurry. But, remember there’s a huge difference between dashing off a note to a friend and sending a message to a customer or colleague.

When sending email in a professional environment, the message should be professional. And, that includes using proper punctuation. (Phooey! You were hoping I’d say you could break all the rules, weren’t you?)

There is one area of email that gets a little foggy.

8). Email Spelling Quiz
How good are your spelling skills? Please don’t say, “It doesn’t matter. I have spell checker!” Remember, the spell check function will only catch misspelled words. It won’t verify you’ve used the correct word. If you haven’t experienced an embarrassing situation where spell checker missed a mistake, I’m sure you have a friend who has.

Spell checker is a great tool.

9). Email Spelling Tips & Proofreading
As a professional business person, how do you want to be perceived? Even something as seemingly insignificant as spelling can determine whether others believe you’re competent or sloppy. Take a moment, and think about that.

Ask yourself, “Are my customers likely to want my services if I can’t be bothered with the details of spelling a word correctly?” The answer is no.

10). Fun Email Quiz
Are you creating a positive, professional impression when you email your co-workers and customers? Or, is Miss Manners shrieking in horror every time you hit the send button? Are you being efficient and effective when you send messages, or are you wasting time? To find out, take this fun quiz.

1. The tone of a professional email message should be:
a.

11). How To Become A Backing Dancer
Becoming a backing dancer and dancing in music videos is one of the top goals of many dancers. How do you become a backing dancer? Find the answers here.

12). Punctuate Your Point!
Does punctuation matter in an email message? Yes! Why is following the rules of punctuation so important? To answer that question, ask yourself another question – are your customers or colleagues going to be comfortable with your work when you can’t even punctuate a sentence properly? By using proper punctuation, you can demonstrate that you are professional and competent.

13). Remember to Sign Your Email
When you finish typing an email message, don’t forget to sign it. In email language, that doesn’t mean simply typing your name. The “signature block” contains a great deal more information.

An email is a blank screen. It contains none of the contact information found on traditional company letterhead or stationery. So, you need to provide this information in the form of a signature block.