If someone now thinks that the greeting in the email is not so important and it's silly to worry about it, it’s wrong. How you start email determines the tone and can change the perception of the recipient. It may also affect whether he continues to read. So, this is very important.
Some people feel offended by a false greeting
“Many people pay close attention to what you do with their names and how you approach them,” says Barbara Pachter, a business etiquette expert who speaks with Business Insider. - If you insult someone at the reception, this person may not read further. It may also affect this person’s opinion of you. "
Pachter and Will Schwalbe, who together with David Shipley wrote the book “Send: Why People Write So Badly and How to Do It Better,” shared their views on some of the usual electronic greetings.
Of course, the ideal way to start an email depends on what you write. But in general, the authors argue: when you send a business text to someone you almost or completely don’t know, there is a safe choice of appeals, and some should be avoided.
"Hello, (name) ..."
If you want to make it a little more formal, you can use the person’s last name: “Hello, Mrs. Gillette ... I like this version because it is absolutely friendly and harmless,” says Schwalbe.
This is also a favorite appeal of Barbara Pachter. She says this is a safe and familiar way to reach out to someone whether you know this person or not. If in doubt, you can always use "hello" with a name.
"Hey!"
It's great when you write to friends, but an informal technique should not be used in the workplace. This is unprofessional - especially if you write to someone you have never met.
Schwalbe agrees: “I will never forget my grandmother’s warnings:“ Hey, for horses. ”
"Good day"
This is a good replacement for “Hello, [name]” if you do not know the name of the recipient. But you should always try to do everything to find out the name.
"Dear or esteemed sir / madam (last name)"
“Beloved” and “dear” greetings are tricky because they are not always bad or wrong, but sometimes they may seem too formal.
"Dear, (name)"
Again, this is not the worst technique in the world, but it is a bit old-fashioned.
"Dear friend"
“If you don’t know my name or don’t want to use it, we are probably not friends,” Schwalbe said.
"Favorite (position)"
It sounds extremely versatile. And if you are trying to find out what the addressee is in, then it is better to take one more step and find out who this person is. You just need to research a little more for this.
"Ladies and gentlemen"
Too formal! “You tell your recipient that you have no idea who he is,” says Pachter. “So why should the reader be interested in what you want to say?” Schwalbe adds: “This greeting is too harsh. It’s like the author is feeling bad or complaining. ”
"Hello, ..."
Not bad, but a little informal if you are talking with someone you don’t know very well.
"Good morning / afternoon / evening"
Maybe it will not be in the morning, afternoon or evening when the recipient opens the message. It may also be in a different time zone. Mr. / Mrs [surname]. Too tough and sudden. The recipient may think that it is being corrected.
"Mr. / Mrs. (name)"
Pachter says that so little children say to their teachers: “Miss Susan, can you help me with this math problem?” This is not suitable in the business world.
(Name)
This technique is informal and sudden. And if you add an exclamation mark, it’s just annoying. “A little piercing for the start - as if someone were yelling at you,” Schwalbe says. “Even without an exclamation mark, that's pretty cool. Better to say hello to a name than just start with a name. ”
Yo!
Really need to explain why this greeting is not suitable?
(Name with an error)
Spell the name of the recipient correctly. "Many are offended if they spelled their name incorrectly," says Pachter. - It is necessary to check the spelling in the person’s signature. You can also look at the email address. For many people, the first or last name corresponds to the address.
"Gentlemen, ..."
This is sexism, says Pachter. When talking to a group of people, write "Hello everyone."
"Hi, (nickname)"
It is not permissible to call William "Will" or Jennifer "Jenny." You should always use the full name if the person has not given a pseudonym or does not use it in the signature of their own letters.
"Everything, ..."
This is too sudden. Here again: if you write in a group, then you can use "Hello everyone." Happy friday !!! Do not be too enthusiastic. This is not professional and may be inappropriate.