To CC or BCC? 

 

Do you use email to communicate with your colleagues and customers? Chances are you do, just like every other business owner.  

So, do you feel it is right to send an email or reply to everyone in your contact list, including each email address in the CC box? If you do, perhaps it is time to learn a little email etiquette. If you don’t, you probably know the way to do it right!   

The CC box has a purpose and the BCC box has an even greater purpose.  

On a number of occasions a CC to all email has landed in my inbox. Generally the sender is a new business owner who has yet to learn email etiquette. To help the business owner I politely reply (to the sender only) and explain why it is important to use the BCC box when sending an email to multiple recipients.  

So why is it impolite to CC all in your email? 

Spam. When you CC all, you openly invite the other recipients to gain access to the email addresses of your colleagues and customers. 99% of the time spam will not occur however people do ‘steal’ email addresses to use for their own benefit. As well not every one of your email recipients may wish for their details to be shared.

Use the CC box in a shared group email where all recipients have agreed for their information to be accessible to one another. This often happens with internal company emails, from co-delivered presentations and training, or as follow up to team training or a team meeting. The CC box should be used when you want to copy a main person or group of people in your communication. 

Remember to use the BCC or Blind Copy when you want to communicate a message to all on your contact list. 

Add your email address on the ‘To’ box, add your co-deliverer’s email address to the ‘CC’ box, and the remaining email addresses to the ‘BCC’ box.

Be mindful of your brand, respect your customers’ personal data and remain professional in all your communications.