Email has brought about a great change in many business. No longer do people have to rely on the phone or fax machine to get in contact with someone, and more than that it also means that you don’t have to worry about getting in touch with people - they will receive the email next time they check their inbox. However, there are also downsides to email, the most notable being that it is very quick and easy to use, and this can lead to problems.

It is important that all staff know and understand what it is that they are doing when they send an email - they are representing the company. Everything that is sent via email should be treated the same as if it was a letter. There is no reason to break with standard communication protocols just because it is easier to do so.

If people are unsure if an email should be sent, they should wait ten minutes, then reread the email and see if they still feel that it is appropriate.

Finally, under no circumstances should any company email ever contain a smiley - these not only look unprofessional, but usually mean that you are not begin as clear as you could be in the email, and are having to resort to adding emoticons to the text to make it more understandable.