Netiquette
Writing and Electronic Media
Modern technology has offered the world a wonderful opportunity to communicate with virtual strangers, who (sometimes) become virtual friends. More and more people are conducting their business (or employment duties) through online activity. Search engines answer questions that, otherwise, may take hours of research in a physical library. However, there are perils that come with writing on the net where even the best writers may end up with their virtual foot in their mouth.
Employing the use of internet slang or emoticons and are sometimes helpful to readers, who may misunderstand text. On the other hand, some writers pepper their documents with emoticons to the point of distraction. When writing, you should keep the cutesy smiley’s (especially the animated ones!) to a minimum.
I’m no Emily Post of netiquette, but I will offer sensible guidelines for electronic communication.
If you are sending an email to a good friend, feel free to keep it casual. If you are emailing a potential employer or a client, do not employ emoticons or internet slang in your correspondence. It is not professional, and you will not be taken seriously. Make sure you check your spelling before you press “send.” I cannot emphasize this enough. After all, you wouldn’t mail a physical letter with errors and a smiley in it! Apply this practice to your Linked-In page as well.
With social sites such as Twitter or Facebook, go for it – within reason. Abbreviate and short-cut to your heart’s content! You almost have no choice with the 140-character restriction of Twitter. However, always keep in mind the chance that someone you know and respect sees your Tweets and other social networking accounts. You should carefully monitor your “friends’” postings on Facebook for inappropriate entries and hide them immediately. In the end, it is all about your personal reputation.