Dr., Mr., Ms., Mrs., First Name, Last Name

I am often asked about this topic: How do you address business contacts when emailing them for the first time?

Business Email Addressing Etiquette

When you don’t know them at all or very well.

When you don’t know the contact at all or very well, always take the most formal approach, Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc. You do not want to be too informal regarding business communications too soon.

Formalities are in place for a reason. They reflect courtesy and respect for the other side, which are critical to forming long-term, mutually respectful, and beneficial business relationships.

You certainly do not want to provide the impression that respect and courtesy are not something you find important, right? This is why you want to use the highest level of formality until you get an indication that a less informal tone is okay.

You can tell if the other side is ready for a more informal tone by how they sign off their response to your email. Follow their lead, and you’ll never go wrong.

Double-Check Name Spelling

Never assume you know how someone spells their name. For example, some address me as “Judy.” I’m not a Judy. They see Judith and assume I go by Judy with those who know me personally.

In business, you never assume the less formal version of someone’s name. If you are wrong, you just thought you had a more intimate relationship than you have.

For those who address me as Judy, because I am less formal with them, they also tend to avoid noticing the correct spelling of my name in my reply. I’m not a Judy with a “y.” For the most part, I’m “Judith,” but with those who know me very well (family and friends), I sign off my emails with a “Judi.”

I would know if you knew me well enough to talk to me more informally. And for those who ignore how I spell my name, what do you think that reflects?

Avoid First Name Last Name Addressing

You also want to avoid the first name and last name trap. Some email software applications and programs will insert names for you. When I receive an email to “Dear Judith Kallos,” I know an automated process is involved.

No one talks like that in the real world, and I know that the message is in no way genuinely personalized just for me.

If you don’t know the person you are contacting, this approach makes your email look like spam. Make sure that doesn’t happen!

How you address your email contacts will create an initial impression and set a tone and level of formality for the rest of your communications. This can lead to positive relationship building, which in turn leads to more business.

Take the opportunity to impress by using the proper formality and spelling the recipient’s name correctly—it’s easy and simple.