Advantages of Email

 Easy to use: E-mail frees us from the tedious task of managing data of daily use.
It helps us to manage our contacts, send mails quickly, maintain our mail history,
store the required information, etc.
 Informal and conversational: The language used in e-mails is generally simple
and thus makes the communication informal. Sending and receiving e-mails
takes less time, so it can be used as a tool for interaction.
 Easier for reference: When one needs to reply to a mail, there is a provision in
the mailing system to attach the previous mails as references. This refreshes the
recipient's knowledge, on what he is reading.
 Automated e-mails: It is possible to send automated e-mails using special
programs like the autoresponders. The autoresponders reply back to the sender
with generalized pre-written text messages.
 Environment friendly: Postal mails use paper as a medium to send letters.
Electronic mail thus, saves a lot of trees from being axed. It also saves fuel
needed in transportation.

Disadvantages of Email

 Viruses: These are computer programs having the potential to harm a computer
system. These programs copy themselves and further infect the computer. The
recipient needs to scan the mails, as viruses are transmitted through them and
have the potential to harm computer systems.
 Spam: E-mails when used to send unsolicited messages and unwanted
advertisements create nuisance and is termed as Spam. Checking and deleting
these unwanted mails can unnecessarily consume a lot of time, and it has
become necessary to block or filter the unwanted e-mails by means of spam
filters. Spamming includes, sending hoax e-mails. E-mail spoofing is another
common practice, used for spamming. Spoofing involves deceiving the recipient
by altering the e-mail headers or the addresses from which the mail is sent.
 Hacking: The act of breaking into computer security is termed as hacking. After
the e-mail is sent and before it is received by the desired recipient, it "bounces"
between servers located in different parts of the world. Hence, the e-mail can be
hacked by a professional hacker.
 Not suitable for business: Since the content posted via e-mails is considered
informal, there is a chance of business documents going unnoticed. Thus, urgent
transactions and especially those requiring signatures are not managed through
e-mails.
 Crowded inbox: Over a period of time, the e-mail inbox may get crowded with
mails. It becomes difficult for the user to manage such a huge chunk of mails.
Whenever you send marketing emails to prospects, you always run the risk of
contacting closed, false, and non-existent email addresses. These are just a few of the
issues that you can expected to face whenever you choose to buy databases of email
address rather than building up your own. Keep in mind that a targeted email list is the
one that would give you profits. The ones that are up for sale on eBay are not likely to
work for you.
However, even if you have painstakingly created a targeted email list, your emails are
still susceptible to bouncing problems. An email will bounce if and when the intended
recipient refuses or can’t receive the email at all. In cases like this, the message will go
back to the sender with an error text signifying the reason the message can’t be sent.
But you can solve the problem of bouncing emails in just a few steps. However, this
solution will only work for created email lists and not for bought email lists.
1. Put a proper sender’s name on your emails.
Email spam filters are always checking where the email came from before it can be
cleared. If it can’t find the valid sender’s name in the proper fields, then it will be
considered as spam. And as such, it will never find its way in the recipient’s inbox. It
would stay forever in the spam folder until the come across it and take it out of there.
And that scenario is not very likely.
2. Request your email subscribers to add your address in their contacts list.
If your name and email address are added to the contacts list, then the email filters that
could bounce your message back would be avoided. It’s like giving your emails an
exclusive entry pass to the inbox without having to go through scrutiny.
3. Double check the spelling and format of the email address you have on your list.
In the digital world, the worse mistake you can make is a human error. Make sure that
you ask your prospects to retype their emails on the fields provided on the opt-in pages
to be sure of an accurate address every time.
4. Provide for a confirmation link for subscriptions.
In order to make sure a real person had subscribed to your emails and not a robot,
have your users check their emails and click the confirmation link provided therein. This
way, you also protect your own interest. With an email confirmation process in place,
you won’t be accused of sending unsolicited mails to your prospects.
Since meetings continue to grow in popularity for group communication in
business, people need a reminder of how to best take advantage of them.
I've taught people to work in teams and how to have more effective
meetings. This training often includes basic meeting etiquette and common
manners for behavior. However, I am still seeing many poorly run meetings
and occasional bad manners towards each other. I feel it is time to re-
emphasize the importance of good manners and professional behavior in
meetings.

Everyone in business needs to understand meeting etiquette is an important

part of business communications and there is a need to follow proper
procedures for professional conduct in them. Bad meetings reflect on one's
ability to conduct professional group communications and have an adverse
influence on problem solving. Here is a baker's dozen list of meeting do's
and don'ts to improve meeting etiquette knowledge.

1. Do set a convenient time and place for meeting and confirm this with
attendees well in advance of the meeting date. This shows respect for their
time and confirmation of their attendance better enables meetings where
specific people are required for decision making or problem solving.

2. Do arrange to attend the entire meeting time. Going in and out during
meetings is disruptive and can throw off the flow of the meeting for others.
If leaving early or going to arrive late, ask leaders permission to do so
before the meeting begins so agenda can be rearranged if necessary.

3. Do be sure everyone knows the meeting purpose and agenda. Put this on
meeting reminders and go over it with everyone at the beginning of the
meeting to insure all agree. Once everyone is in agreement, it is easier to
follow the agenda and stick to time limits.

4. Do turn off phones and pagers. Some people will find this impossible. For
those people, ask they at least set it to vibrate in their pockets. Ask anyone
who keeps them on to leave the room if they feel they must respond to a
call so the meeting is not interrupted by their conversation.

5. Do actively participate in discussion, idea generation, and problem

solving. Respect the purpose for the meeting by making sure what you say
is relevant to meeting and be brief.
1. Don't invite people who do not need to attend the meeting to accomplish
its purpose. Inviting people who don't need to be there is inconsiderate of
their time and may actually cost everyone else time in the meeting as they
may have to stop and explain why the person was invited.

2. Do not start the meeting late or run over the communicated stop time as
this indicates a lack of respect for other's time. All attendees should be
punctual. It is ok to arrive early, but never to be late. Keeping people
waiting is rude and it should not be expected that they will wait to begin
once everyone arrives.

3. Don't forget to assign a recorder to document decisions and actions.

Having a recorder will not only insure completion of actions outside the
meeting, their visible records in the meeting can help to keep group focused.

4. Do not turn on laptop (or PDA) unless it is to be used it for a short time to
present information to the group. This equipment often prevents attendees
from paying attention to the meeting and is considered rude by others in
the meeting as it gives the impression that the meeting topic is not
important.

5. Don't interrupt anyone who is speaking. Be polite and pay attention, as

good listening skills are important to increase communication and
understanding. Show respect by remembering only one person at a time
talks, so take turns.

Do’s of a chairperson:

 Make all members feel valued.

 Strive for consensus, using his/her casting vote sparingly.
 Encourage new faces onto committee.
 Make new members feel welcome.
 Allow others to take responsibility.

Don’ts of a chairperson:
 Be the person who talks most at the meetings.
 Allow one or two people to dominate meetings.
 Cut people out of discussions.
 Allow meetings to become unproductive.
 Force people to contribute to discussions.