Blogger Email Etiquette

Whether it be negotiating a sponsorship, declining a collaboration or pitching an idea, there is a right way to respond to emails when communicating at a business level. Doing a majority of communication and relationship building online as bloggers, the way we present and express ourselves through each message is extremely important. Keep reading for my email etiquette tips for building positive relationships while (hopefully) getting what you want.

Cover the bases.
Include your name, blog link and contact information (email and/or phone number) in your email signature. This helps people to quickly identify who you are are directs them where to go for more information. When introducing yourself in a pitch/initial email, provide your name, location and what you do so the person on the other end quickly gets a sense of who you are and what you’re about.

Exude professionalism. 
I know this sounds like a no-brainer and a total “well, duh” tip, but this goes deeper than you may think. As I’ve mentioned countless times: present yourself as a business and people will treat you like a business. Try to respond to all emails within 24 hours and always proofread your messages for proper grammar and effective communication. Clear messaging is crucial.

Expect nothing, appreciate everything.
From a blogging perspective, this is a quote you need to live by. Avoid letting your emotions get too caught up within your communication. Be appreciative of opportunities that come your way (regardless if they are of interest to you), and don’t expect too much to avoid getting your hopes up about collaborations that may not be as great as they initially appear to be.

Respectively decline with class. 
If you decide to not work with a company due to disinterest, lack of payment, unavailability or any other reason, there’s a right way to do it. Be sure to include something along the lines of “thank you so much for considering me for this opportunity,” followed by your reasoning for not moving forward. Expressing your gratitude for their time, energy and consideration is greatly appreciated and will leave them with positive vibes about you, leading them to possibly considering you for collaborations in the future that do work for you.

Yes, follow-up emails are encouraged and not annoying when done correctly. 
This is something that has been drilled into my head in the corporate world, therefore I’ve carried it over to my blogging career as well. If you don’t hear back from someone within 48 hours, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are ignoring you. Think about it — how often do you forget to respond to an email? They may have done the same. Following up with a “I just wanted to check in (*or “follow up”) to see if you received my previous email,” etc. is totally appropriate. However, one follow up email is as much as you can do — I strongly suggest refraining from two in a row.

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What helps you communicate effectively while building positive relationships through email?

I hope you all had a great weekend! Justin and I spent time with friends, completed some banking changes since our wedding, FINALLY cleaned out our closet and donated three trash bags full of clothes, and we’re looking into ordering wallpaper for our apartment! Stay tuned to see how it goes! 🙂

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