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Email Insights for Your Internet Business!
If you are just getting started in your own Internet business then
you need to understand the basics of email and how to use it in your
business. This article will cover the basics of common e-mail
language, Plus' the good, the bad, and the ugly of e-mail etiquette.
Here are some tips about what to say and more importantly what not to
say in electronic mail. E-mail is a funny hybrid, something between
a phone call and a letter. It's great because it is usually quick
and informal, but can be a problem because you don't see the person's
facial expressions or hear a tone of voice. So, here are a few words
of advice:
- When you send a message, watch the tone of your language.
- Don't use all capital letters, because it looks like you are
SHOUTING
- If someone sends you an incredibly obnoxious and/or offensive
message, most likely it's just sarcasm that didn't come across
that way.
There is also something we call flaming. Flaming is pointless and
excessive outrage in electronic mail. Unfortunately, this is very
common. My advice is that when you receive flaming, instead of
responding right away, sit on it, and don't flame back. You will
look like a jerk. You will never regret not sending an angry
message, but you will most likely regret sending it. People have no
idea what you intended to say, only what you did say. Subtle sarcasm
and irony are close to impossible to use. If you want to make sure
they know you are joking, use a smiley J. (Colon, dash, right
parenthesis)
Always keep in mind that e-mail is only relatively private, not
totally. You always take the chance that your email will be
forwarded on to someone else. So never write anything that you
wouldn't mind seeing on the next message board.
You will often see abbreviations in e-mail the same as you would on
message boards, mainly because people are generally lazy typists.
Here are just a few of the most widely used:
AFAIK As far as I know
BTW By the way
IANAL I am not a lawyer, (but')
IMHO In my humble opinion
ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing
RSN Real soon now
RTM Read the Manual
TIA Thanks in advance
Another biggy in Internet Marketing is spamming! Spam is otherwise
known as unwanted e-mail, or junk e-mail that usually promotes
unsavory advertising for get-rich-quick schemes or even pornographic
offers. The practice of sending these unwanted e-mails is called
spamming. E-mail is only considered spam if it is unsolicited.
Meaning if you ask for it directly or indirectly, then it isn't spam.
My advice ' Don't ever spam. You could be kicked off your ISP
(Internet Service Provider) and worse.
Lastly, you need to understand about viruses. These days most
viruses are spread via e-mail, as attachments to mail messages.
Therefore don't ever open attachments from people you don't know, and
even people you do know if you weren't expecting it. The Melissa
virus from the spring of '99 replicated itself by sending copies of
itself to the first 50 people in your address book, people who know
you. It is also advisable to get a firewall (a security system for
your computer), if you are going to spend any significant time on the
Internet, especially if you have a cable modem.
Hopefully, these tidbits of advice will help you in your Internet
adventures. So remember, always play nice, take precautions, and
treat others as you would like to be treated. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jill Lewis is webmaster of http://netinsights.iwarp.com, Free
Netinsights for Your Internet Business. Get the latest tips and
tricks on Internet marketing by subscribing to her free Netinsights
series of reports, and receive two free e-books as a bonus.
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