Are apps like Whatsapp destroying email etiquette – and do we need it

This content is brought to you by Brightrock, provider of the first-ever life insurance that changes as your life changes..It's the 21st Century, the age of Whatsapp, Snapchat, and quick, punchy status updates. Who needs email, and who needs email etiquette? Well, the truth is, all of us. Email is still the default communication choice for business, and if you get it wrong, you could ruin a relationship before it even gets started. Here are some helpful dos and don't's, from frequent emailer Sam Wilson..by Sam Wilson.Just last week, I received an email from a newbie PR person. I am charitably assuming she is a newbie, or else she is simply eye-wincingly poor at email communication, which is sad, as one must assume it is a large part of her job..Her email began something like this:."Hey Mr Sam Wilson!!.How would you feel about swinging by our launch next week?! It's going to be totally on fleek, and we'd dig to see you there, dude. Also…….. GOODIE BAGS!!!!.Laters!.X.I sent a polite email, declining the fairly ominous invite. I received absolutely no reply..It is astounding how many people, and some very nice people, are astoundingly poor at business email etiquette..Here are a few pointers you can perhaps share. I hope, too, that they'll give my unfortunate PR newbie some insight into the central medium of her chosen profession..Do.* Respond within 24 hours, even if it's just a quick note to say you'll get back with an answer as soon as possible..* Be brief. No one likes a long, rambling, stream-of-consciousness email. Ever heard of the expression TLDR? you don't have time to look it up, it means Too Long, Didn't Read..* Use bullet points to summarise findings or action points. It makes it much easier for the recipient to scan and digest the relevant info..* Start with "Dear So-and-So" and end with "Regards". It's just safest..Don't.* Use an honorific like Mr, if you are not sure as to the sex of the person you're addressing. I can't tell you how often this happens to me, despite the fact that I have worked in women's lifestyle content for over 15 years. Exception: Professors and Doctors. They are usually very fond of honorifics, and they are luckily gender neutral..* Have a sparkly motivational quote under your signature. Trust me on this..* Never, ever use more than one exclamation mark at a time. It's the equivalent of screaming: "I'm a 12-year-old girl who dots her i's with hearts!" Unless, of course, you are indeed such a teenage girl. Then go for it..* Try to use slang when talking to someone you don't know. It will not make you look cool and happening, I promise. (For the equally confused: Fleek means smooth, nice, sweet. Who knew?).Although, on the cool and happening front, my son looked over my shoulder while I was writing this and said: "Seriously, I don't know why old people still use email. Have you not heard of What's App? What is this, 2010?".He has a point. Maybe the idea of email etiquette itself is outdated..* Sam Wilson lives in Cape Town with her husband Andreas, and teenage sons, Josef and Benjamin. She works in content and social media, but spent over a decade writing parenting columns about her sons growing up, for a living. Now that they can read, they are less than amused..** This article first appeared on the Change Exchange, an online platform by BrightRock, provider of the first-ever life insurance that changes as your life changes.

Are apps like Whatsapp destroying email etiquette – and do we need it

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