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Do You Know Your Work Email and Productivity Facts?

SavvySugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:11 -0800

Love it or hate it, email has become the chief form of communication in the workplace. We apply for jobs via email, we send our reports via email, we communicate with clients, our bosses, our co-workers and even our nonwork pals throughout our busy workday via our special @ address. Have you ever stopped to think about how quickly you react to new messages, or how much time you're actually spending reading emails? Take this quiz and find out!
Photo courtesy of The CW

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Do You Delete Old Email Addresses?

GeekSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:14:21 -0800

I have finally gotten used to the weekly, "Did you get my email?" phone calls from my mother. Predictably, every Sunday around late afternoon, she calls to tell me about something cute my nieces have done, or fill me in on the latest gossip about someone I went to high school with. "I wrote this in an email, didn't you read it?" she'd say. Of course, I had never received the email, and just assumed my less-than-tech-savvy mother was doing something wrong. This time though, I asked a question that I don't normally ask: "What email address are you sending it to?" She rattled off an address I hadn't even thought about for at least a year. Oops.

I logged into the old account and, lo and behold, amid a ton of spam in my inbox were a bunch of emails from Mom.

Most of you leave old social networking profiles online even if you don't use them, but what about old email addresses? Do you close old accounts when you open a new one?

Ruh Roh! Employee Sends Steamy Emails to Co-Workers

TresSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0800

A tech consultant at Cornell did what we've all had nightmares about doing: he accidentally sent personal emails to everyone he works with. And they were quite the Freudian sends.

Gulp. But what makes it worse is that his emails were of a sexual nature. Big whoop, you say? Um, yeah. It gets more awkward. He's married - and so was his partner-in-crime.

Good lord. Has anyone ever done this? I can't imagine how humiliating this would be! Not to mention the fact that their marriages are probably over. Oh, the schadenfreude!

New Gmail Lab: Got the Wrong Bob? And Four Other Sanity-Saving Labs

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:33:07 -0700

Google recently released Got the Wrong Bob?, a new Gmail labs feature that suggests alternate recipients when sending an email to a group. It's not foolproof and only works when you're sending a message to multiple recipients, but it'll keep you from firing off a rant about your boyfriend to all of your best friends, and accidentally including, say, his mother. Sure, I'd love to have the time to triple-check each and every email, but it's not a realistic option. This lab, and the four that follow, are definite sanity-saving greatest hits.

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Can Email Ever Be Replaced?

GeekSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:33:47 -0700

I'll admit, I'm guilty of notifying friends and family of what's happening in my life via Twitter and Facebook, instead of taking the time to send an email. And it seems a lot of friends are doing the same thing - a personalized email from a good friend is becoming more and more of a special treat.

Not surprisingly, the Wall Street Journal is boldly saying that email is on its way out. Their justification:

In its place, a new generation of services is starting to take hold-services like Twitter and Facebook and countless others vying for a piece of the new world. And just as email did more than a decade ago, this shift promises to profoundly rewrite the way we communicate-in ways we can only begin to imagine.

The article cites constant streams of information in real-time, gathered via services like Twitter, Facebook, and Google Wave, is starting to replace email. It also asserts that email was better the way we used to use the Internet - logging on and checking it from time to time. What do you think? Do you ever see real-time updates replacing email?

Tech Dating 101: Is It OK to Just Give Him My Twitter Name?

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:40:08 -0700

Have you heard a story like this? A good friend of mine met a great guy in a crowded bar, and barely had the chance to talk to him before the people she came with wanted to leave. As they parted ways and he hurriedly asked her, "Can I call you sometime?" she (now famously) shouted across the bar, "Direct message me on Twitter!"

While I'm happy to report that after several direct messages and dates, they're still together, her situation raises an interesting point: when you meet someone new, is it OK to give them only your Twitter name instead of phone number? Or, for that matter, is it OK to give them only your email address, Facebook name, or anything besides your phone number? While some might find it impersonal, what if that's your preferred method of communication? That's what I'll tackle in this week's edition of Tech Dating 101. To find out what I suggest doing, read more.

One of the benefits of online profiles and networking sites is that you can control how you're perceived by others. If Twitter (or Facebook, or even email) is your preferred method of communication, it's fine to give that info before your number. Plus, there's always the chance that he's going to find you on Facebook anyhow, so offering up your Twitter username or inviting him to find you on Facebook is a good way to take control of the situation! Just be sure and keep a healthy mix of communication; otherwise you may find he acts differently online than in person.

One note of caution, ask yourself why you're hesitant to give out your number. If the answer is "I'm not a phone person" that's fine, but do you really want a Twitter or Facebook message instead if you don't want a call. Asking him to find or contact you online is fine, but make sure it's not because you're hiding behind your profile.

Do you have a Love 2.0 questioned you want answered? Join the Tech Dating 101 because we understand that love and dating are stressful, and the Internet and social networking sites can just make things worse. You never know, your question could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Do You Use an Email Signature? What Does It Say?

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:40:03 -0700

This morning I was making plans with friends via email, and after reading through our short exchange, I realized I was the only one not to include an email signature. At work, I use a signature that includes my name, title, and email address. I don't include one in my personal email at all (which according to this post on decoding email signatures, makes me cool). Conversely, one of my friends has a super-thorough email signature including full contact information - address, phone number, email - plus her Twitter username, instant message contact information, and link to her Flickr page.

Do you use a signature on your work emails? Personal emails? What does it say?

Do You Use Facebook More Than Email to Stay In Contact?

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:25:45 -0700

I'm guessing that since you're reading this site, you're on some sort of social networking site (more specifically Facebook), and probably check a few times a day (or if you're like me, checking it all the time via a mobile app). Facebook, as well as other social networking sites, provide a great way to keep in touch with people. So much so that social networking may be edging out email as a way to keep in touch with friends and family.

Time spent on Facebook is up 88 percent from five years ago, while email usage dropped by 41 percent in the same amount of time. It makes sense - I mean, even grandmas use Facebook! Do you use Facebook or other social networking sites now more than email to stay in contact with friends and family?

10 Ways to Write a Better Email

SavvySugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:30:47 -0700

How you write a work email isn't going to make or break your career (well, in most cases). But your email etiquette can affect how seriously you're taken, and even how well you're liked, in the workplace. Read on for 10 things to keep in mind before hitting send.

Check (and double check) the recipient list. Is there anything worse than realizing you’ve just forwarded your co-worker’s email - with commentary - back to your co-worker herself? Always double-check the name(s) in the "To" field to make sure your email doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
Make small talk. Keep it short and sincere, but remember that a few niceties in an email can go a long way. It doesn’t take much time to throw in a comment about the weather or a "Have a great weekend," and it could make your email that much more well-received.
Proofread yourself. Nothing says "You’re not worth my time" to your recipients like a typo-ridden email. Do the courteous and professional thing and give your email a once-over (or two) before sending.

For the rest of your professional email crash course, keep reading.

Woman Gets Fired For Emailing in All Caps, Bold, and Red

SavvySugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:30:42 -0700

Most people agree that typing in all capital letters is the Internet equivalent of shouting, and one company interpreted an employee's habit of emailing in all caps, red, and bold as confrontational. So confrontational, that the company told the employee to hit the road.

Vicki Walker was an accountant for ProCare until she was let go for her style of communication. ProCare claimed she "caused disharmony in the workplace by using block capitals, bold typeface and red text in her emails." But Walker had the last say in the dispute, when The Employment Relations Authority in New Zealand ordered ProCare to compensate Walker with $11,500 for unfair termination.

What do you think of the situation; was the company in the right or wrong with its reasoning for firing the employee?