Writing Effective Email

One Day • Instructor-led

E-mail is more prevalent today than ever before. Its instantaneous nature makes it a convenient, time-saving tool for businesses. However, it is also more important than ever to take the time to write messages that are secure as well as clear and error-free. An emphasis is placed on how to avoid workplace disasters such as lost sales, customer-service nightmares–and in the worst cases, lawsuits and financial losses–triggered by careless or poorly written e-mail.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Think Before You E-Mail

  • Beware Potential Perils
  • Deciding When to Use E-Mail
  • Addressing Your E-Mail Message
  • Replying to E-Mail Messages
  • E-Mailing to International Audiences

Lesson 2: Composing Your E-Mail Message

  • Collecting Your Thoughts with the Five Ws
  • Writing a Subject Line with Real Oomph
  • Incorporating a Salutation and Signature
  • Grabbing the Reader’s Attention: The Lead
  • Organizing with the Inverted Pyramid
  • Comparing Chronological Writing
  • Getting Started in Three Easy Steps

Lesson 3: Keys to Effective E-Mail

  • Striving for Simplicity
  • Writing with Power…or Paste?
  • Eliminating Mechanical Errors
  • Spelling Counts!
  • Using the Active Voice
  • Avoiding Sexist Language

Lesson 4: Polishing Your Cybermanners

  • Setting the Right Tone
  • Dodging Conversational Pitfalls
  • Watch Your Cyberlanguage
  • Extinguishing Flames
  • Punctuating with Smileys and Shorthand
  • Reviewing Netiquette Guidelines
  • Netiquette Guidelines for Managers

Lesson 5: Formatting Your E-Mail Message

  • Selecting Format Settings
  • Enhancing Readability
  • Sending Attachments with Care
  • Battling Electronic Viruses

Lesson 6: Managing E-Mail Overload

  • Controlling Your In-Box Clutter
  • Reducing Spam Intake
  • Organization-Wide E-Mail Management
  • Devising an E-Mail Policy for Your Organization
  • Using a Sample E-Mail Policy as a Guide

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