Interesting little article on the Business Link site – the Top Ten Sins of Business Email.
I’ll add a couple of my own, specifically aimed at those looking to run an e-commerce site…
11) Not reading email promptly.
If I send a query to a supplier, I will probably keep browsing other suppliers until I get a response. If I haven’t had a reply within an hour at worst, a day at best, then I’ll probably go elsewhere. Let us assume that regardless of how ‘normal’ I am, I am not unique!
12) Not replying promptly.
Believe it or not, this is not the same as number 11. You need to read your emails to prioritise them. The message may not require a reply instantly, but at least try to respond the same day.
13) Changing the channel.
If someone has emailed you, as a matter of course, reply to them by email, unless they specifically request a phone call. They may be a in a location or situation where the telephone is inconvenient, they may just want to have things in writing. If they wanted to speak to you, they would have picked up the phone too.
Ah, little personal note on this though – I often change the channel the other way. If I pick up a voicemail, and the query can either be better addressed by email or should have been sent by email in the first place, then I reply by email. As a small business we need to prioritise our resources.
14) Cannot think of 14 yet, but it would seem foolish to tempt fate by stopping at 13 on a Friday.
A Microsoft Certified Professional with many years of large corporate experience and training, he now focuses on helping small businesses make the most of their IT.
- Font Test - March 30, 2022
- An open letter of apology to Anna Firth - November 8, 2019
- My story – being a mum to a colour deficient son - September 9, 2019
