Email etiquette for PR pros

2. No attachments. What I find absolutely amazing is that people send out emails with gigantic file attachments to unsuspecting recipients. There is no reason why something in the form of a Word document can’t be cut and pasted into the body of an email. If it’s something that is graphically intensive, put it on a website and provide a link.

3. Include my name. My name is not Bill, Bob, Joanie or Chachi. It is also not “name here” or “first last.” Why send an email if you don’t even know who you’re addressing?

4. Don’t forward unless you have to. You were obviously too lazy to cut and paste the actual release into the email. Instead, you simply forwarded it to me with the annoying caret symbols included (“>>>>”). Oddly, this is becoming somewhat of a sticking point among reporters who feel this is a definitive sign of disrespect and laziness.