Email Sins: Getting Grumpy
I’ve been getting more grumpy about email that slows me down when I’ve got an inbox overflowing. If you are inclined to send mass messages, or even just routine messages, heed these gripes. Today it’s just me whining, tomorrow it may be your client.
These gripes and examples are all from just today’s email.
1) Color banners at the top of the message.
These prevent me from seeing anything in my preview window. It is annoying to have to scroll down to preview the text. I’ll do it a few times, but then I’m outta’ here!
2) HTML messages
For security reasons, I don’t accept HTML messages. I’m not alone. If you want to send HTML, be sure to offer a text-only version. If you can’t manage this, at least preview your message format on a text-only screen.
3) Layouts that blow up in a text-only message
If you send out regular correspondence, you would think you’d check this to see what we receive from you.
This message arrived in a condition that would be a challenge to piece together the message. Lucky for me, I don’t care enought to do that and just deleted it instead.
4) Subject lines that are meaningless
Everyone is busy. We must priortize which messages get answered first. It’s great when the subject line allows me to know how to priortize your message. Folks who can’t illuminate me in the subject line wait until I answer the better messages.
5) Do you check your email to be sure it reads correctly on a Blackberry? You just need to do this once and you’ll understand whether you can be understood in that medium. </gripe></whine>
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