Text messaging might be the most casual way of sharing information. It's easy to reach someone without having to talk to them. Also, texters are not even required to send complete sentences. A sender can easily get his message across with a simple 'K,' smiley icon, or 'LOL.'
Text messaging has grown to be a prevalent means of communication. Even businesses have been using SMS to communicate with their customers. It’s now normal to send a text to your supervisor, staff members, prospective clients, and co-workers.
Regardless of how efficient and affordable text messaging might be, there are guidelines to follow when sending SMS. For instance, emojis and abbreviations might be acceptable in a text conversation with friends, but not in a professional setting.
Here we discuss five texting etiquette or “textiquette” that every professional must know.
Pay attention to your tone
Remember when people say, "It's not what you say, but how you say it?" Apparently, it also applies to texting. There are times when your message can sound harsh when you attempt to respond right away. Before sending a reply, read your message aloud to check if it will sound abrupt. Try to use complete sentences to avoid sounding bossy, rude, or blunt. Always use polite words like 'please' and 'thank you.'
Ask permission
A survey from eWeek shows 72% of business professionals prefer using SMS to messaging apps.* It’s easy to see why companies would be taking advantage of texting to communicate with their customers and business associates. It's immediate and has high engagement rate. If your business is still using a landline, you can avail of products or services of Texting Rights to own your phone number and enable texting.
However, considering that cell phones are personal devices, proper etiquette dictates that you should ask if it’s alright to send business text messages to your colleagues. Send messages only to individuals who agreed to use SMS for business interactions.
The same is also true when it comes to group messages. Group chat can potentially become noisy and disturbing. Don't forget to get a person's permission before adding him to the group.
Avoid emoticons
The next rule of business textiquette is to refrain from using emoticons. Yes, they do lighten up the mood and might cheer your friends up. However, they’re far from being businesslike, and your business contacts might not think you're serious. Unless you’re engaging with teens, it's better to use plain simple words.
Use abbreviations sparingly
Sending your boss SFLR (sorry for the late reply), TTYL (talk to you later), or IMHO (In my humble opinion) is not only distasteful. It can also make you look very unprofessional. Whenever, possible prefer to use full sentences. I understand text messages can only accommodate 160 characters and you might encounter some limitations or in a hurry. But use your good sense when using abbreviations. It’s okay to use industry standards and abbreviations related to your business. But other than that, stick to complete words.
Don’t spam
Receiving excessive text messages is irritating. It is also illegal. Be sure to observe the TCPA guidelines to avoid fines. One best practice when sending a text is to be informative and helpful. Refrain from sending marketing texts. If you’re haven't received a reply after three attempts, the other person might not be interested so it's best to let it be.
Use better judgment when sending business messages through text but using other forms of communication as well you’ll be thought as a professional who has good sense and your colleagues will be happy to work with you.
Check out our Blogs section to learn more about the benefits of text messaging and the rise of text-enabled landline.
