EMAIL and 'NETIQUETTE

Before you start roaming the globe from your desktop computer it helps to learn the language and customs of the country - the virtual world.

Internet etiquette, or netiquette, is a set of informal rules that should be followed whenever using the electronic communications.  Netiquette rules are really just a set of suggested guidelines to be followed so as to make use of the Internet as friendly as possible.

A good reference for Netiquette is Arlene Renauldi's Net User's Guide. There is also a terrific short article for business people by Joan Richert at Changing Times

Electronic Mail Netiquette Tips:

• Messages should be short and to the point.

• Neatness and spelling count.   Your e-mails reflect you, your professionalism,competence and ability to use the technology appropriately.

• Use the Subject line creatively to summarize the content of your message and to encourage your contact to read your mail right away. Some people get dozens of e-mails a day, so make yours stand out!

• Use bcc (blind copy send) feature. Nobody needs to scroll through long lists of the other people to whom you sent your message.

• Your "sig" file, the footer on your outgoing e-mail, is a useful place to advertise your upcoming events or current issues, in addition to listing your contact information.

• Your e-mail alerts will find an audience outside of your usual mailing list, just by people forwarding it along. Plan for that by providing enough information in the alert so that someone new to the issue can get more information.

• Be careful of who is receiving your mail. Make sure you have the correct person.

• Remember that every time you send an e-mail, you are sending someone an impression of who you are.

• Sarcasm and humor may not be well communicated via electronic mail (e-mail). There are no non-verbal cues from which other people can infer any underlying meaning to your message.

• Use upper and lower case only where appropriate. UPPERCASE may be used to HIGHLIGHT. Typing an entire message in uppercase is considered equivalent to shouting and is annoying.

• Email is not private.  Don't send anthing in email that you wouldn't want your boss, your spouse, your mother or your kids to read.

• Do not send junk mail or chain letters.

• Don't forward virus warnings without checking to see if it is a hoax.

• Do keep track of your email contacts and build a contact address list

• Do keep important communications electronically filed.

• Do forward important items to other people  and build your reputation as an information resource person.

• Do respond to your email. You are forming relationships.

• Do sign off from e-lists if you are going to be gone - otherwise your mailbox will overload and you'll get nasty notes from your web hosting service.

 

Netiquette for Accessing Information

• Just because you can access information does not mean you should. Access only the information you need.

• Refrain from unnecessarily criticizing people (also called flaming).

• Obey copyright and license agreements.

• Respect the wishes of any site you may be accessing.

 

Web Time Traps: (or where did the day go?)

• Rabbit chasing – stay focused while searching the Internet

• Email overload – sort or delete. If it piles up you are done for!

• Lack of organization -- Organize as you go: your incoming mail, your outgoing mail, and your bookmarks. If you don't have time to do it now - when will you do it?

 

NACD Workshop 1: Introduction to The Internet
created by Cyber-Sierra

Introduction	The Internet	Benefits	Why get Online
Search	Browsers	Bookmarks	Handling Email

 

Ahead to Workshop 2

Ahead to Workshop 3

Conservation Jobs Center |  Conservation Grants Center |  Oak Run Library |  Cyber-Sierra 

Workshop Location: http://www.cyber-sierra.com/workshops/99workshops/intro.htm