Am I being snubbed? Did it end up in their spam folder? Are they out of the office or maybe they no longer work there? Do they treat every client this way? These are just some of the thoughts that go through peoples’ minds when emails or direct messages (DMs) are sent and days pass without a response. It is easy to forget basic conversation etiquette when using email or DM as a means of communication. Sending the wrong message by not responding appropriately or in an appropriate amount of time could damage your relationships or your professional credibility.
Basic considerations that would seem automatic when talking face-to-face are just as important when communicating electronically. Just as neglecting to respond during a verbal conversation would be interpreted as rude and offensive, neglecting to respond to an email or DM can tell your co-workers, clients, or potential clients that they are not important, even if that’s not what you intended them to believe.
A 2017 study showed that over 80% of people expect to receive a reply within 24 hours when communicating electronically. Only 4% of the people in study thought it was acceptable to have to wait longer than 48 hours for a response. With that in mind, here are some basic rules to live by if you don’t want to seem rude or make your clients/co-workers feel that you don’t think their emails or DMs aren’t important:
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