Email Etiquette: Top ten mistakes in professional email communications

More than often, I come across people who are just clueless at writing professional emails. Common excuses we heard is that email is not as important and as professional as traditionally written letters or fax. Well boy, email is the most favored method of communication in this age be it for big and small companies – if you feel like positioning yourself into one of them, let’s start learning how to communicate with emails professionally.
Find out the top ten mistakes in professional email communication and how to curb them, starting from…
10. Wrong choice of font
It is very annoying for your readers to read big ass fonts, and sometimes colored letters for whatever reasons at all.
Try to use a simple and standard font, it works better. If you’re trying to highlight the importance of some keywords, don’t go further than a simple bold or italic.
9. Subject is not clear, too short or too vague
People with several dozens of emails to go through everyday will often pick on subjects that make sense to them. “Hello”, “I need help”, “Hi” are some bad examples. Instead, try and use email subject that is more clear and descriptive for example: “Application for position as Technical Officer”, “Invitation to become exhibitor at UniKL MIIT’s event”
8. Appear rude
Don’t write your emails like an army commander. Treat your reader respectfully by using simple magic words such as “please”, “would you be so kind”, “may I”.
Also please avoid from using UPPERCASE for every single goddamn sentence in your email. Using uppercase is considered shouting in internet lingo.
7. No signatures
Emails are just about as formal any written letters. You don’t finish your letter without a signature, right? But in our case, use digital signatures. For example:

Kind Regards,
Your Name
[web address/phone number]

Some other variations include:

• Best regards/wishes
• Confidently yours
• Kind regards/wishes
• Many thanks
• Respectfully yours
• Warm regards
• With anticipation
• Yours respectfully/sincerely/truly

If you are too lazy to write these, then consider using plugins such as Signature Tweaks.
Also check out 5 ways to spice up your Gmail signature, by Mashable.
6. Advertising in email
Thou shalt avoid it like the freakin’ plague! Prioritise between the content you want people to read, and a business you want to advertise. Those two only find its ideal in email marketing, but still, everyone hates it.
5. Using acronyms or SMS lingo
Nothing is more damaging to your language skills than using acronyms and SMS lingo. Learn to write properly, either in Bahasa or English. The amount of time you saved from writing in SMS lingo does not compare the damage it does to your credibility as a mature, professional person.
4. Beating around the bush
Get to the point as soon as the first sentence you wrote after “Dear Sir,”. A simple tip is to write your “intention” first, and elaborate on the “reasons” later. Some examples:
I would like to bring to your attention regarding … This is due to ….
Please be informed that …. You will be asked to …
Please find the attachment …. My name is …
3. Message is too short
You don’t write a letter with only one sentence, do you? Then why should you do it in your email? Nothing irks people more than someone who replies to a long email with a simple “ok, tq”. It is just rude, extremely lazy and worst it makes you appear seemingly uninterested to have further conversation with the person you’re emailing with.
Remember, professional emails are not chat messages, text messages and such. They are just like conventional letters only it is more convenient and faster to use.
2. Poor grammar
There is ongoing debates whether good grammar correlates with one’s IQ or intelligence in general. But regardless of that, it is almost undeniably true that really poor grammar makes you sound like an idiot. This applies for both Bahasa and English.
Want to brush up on your English? Go post something in the forum, and start practicing.

1. Unprofessional Email Address
haxxorrz91? love_bieber? abgpanjang7inci? LOL
These email addresses not only make you look unprofessional, but also very stupid. It is time for you to let go of your childhood emails. Try to use your REAL NAME instead of nicknames.


*Shared from UniKL Online Community
:)