There are so many ways to write a “bad” e-mail, but if it’s personal, tactful, and demonstrates true connectivity between you and your audience, there may be more room for forgiveness.

Following a night of networking with the Boston business community at a Chambers of Commerce after-hours event, the e-mail below (names made anonymous) was received:

Subject: Boston Chamber’s Reception Networking

Hi:

It was great pleasure meeting you at the Boston Chamber’s Reception. Our firm IN Business Strategies is looking to grow and create sustainable business with your firm. Our key specialty areas include accounting, auditing and tax services. I look forward to discuss more about our services and see where we can synergize together. I look forward to hearring from you.

Thanks and have a nice weekend.

Regards,

Mandeep

Typically, I would delete such an e-mail. It’s impersonal, lacks true connectivity, and fails to demonstrate that any real discussion took place meriting a continuation of the conversation. Rather than delete, however, a response e-mail was politely sent with the following advice:

1. Subject line- make it relevant to our conversation specifically. Write down some useful tip or reminder on my business card after we have spoken and save it for future reference; customize to a personal e-mail.
2. Because you did not use my name once, I’m under the impression that this exact memo was sent to many others, which makes me much less likely to read it. This is a direct e-mail obtained from my business card and a personal encounter, after all.
3. Spellcheck always. Cut-n-paste into Word for grammar help (for which this e-mail also needs attention). Avoid cliche words, i.e., synergize.
4. Include your contact info and links to where I can learn more about you or your company.
5. You are asking me for something in this e-mail, what are you offering? How will you “create sustainable business” for my business? Where can I go to find out? Do you have a white paper? Advice I can apply to my business now?

These tips do not discount the value of grammar or style for which we will post future articles. We simply want to impress on the importance of using tact and being personable when dealing with people, especially in written communication. These are usually the least forgiven.

Please let us know what you think. We welcome your questions and comments.