Until I became a freelance writer and started working for the web, I could care less about e-mail etiquette. But the moment I started communicating with clients and applying for opportunities through e-mail, I began to pay attention to how I wrote my messages. The ideal is to make a good impression and look professional. In turn, I can stand out and hopefully get the job. Yet, it seems as if some clients aren’t up-to-date on professional e-mail etiquette.

The type of e-mails we send to a friend should be completely different from the e-mails we send to a client, right? I thought this was common sense, but maybe I’m wrong.

Within the past 12 months, I can’t count the number of times a client has sent an e-mail that: 1.) didn’t look professional, and 2.) didn’t sound professional.

I’ve gotten e-mails written in all caps and messages with bright colored text. Or what about messages that don’t include a greeting or salutation. You open the message and all you get is the client’s request. No “Hi,” or “Good Morning,” just blah, blah, blah. And they don’t even take the time to end the message with a “thank you,” or their name.

Isn’t it rude to pick up the phone, call someone, and start a conversation without first introducing yourself or saying, “hi?”

At our family daycare, the children’s parents are infamous for this type of behavior.

Example:

(telephone rings)

Daycare: Hello

Parent: Did my husband pick up my daughter? (Who’s your daughter? Better yet, who are you?)

Daycare: Excuse me? (hint: I need more information)

Parents: I want to know if my daughter is still there. (didn’t get the hint)

Daycare: Who am I speaking with?

Parent: Oh, this is Mrs. Jones.

In almost every instance, one professional would never phone another professional and start a conversation minus a “hello.” Shouldn’t the same rule apply to business-related e-mails?

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