Greeting. 20 Responses to “The Perils of Writing to Someone You Don’t Know” cmdweb on December 10, 2008 10:59 am. Formal or informal? You don't need to know the name of the person you're addressing, but it doesn't hurt, and in fact, it can make a positive impression especially if you're trying to score a job interview. Stand there awkwardly while waiting for one of them to notice you. When you introduce yourself in an e-mail to someone you don't know well, which is a better way to do so? For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, “Thank you for contacting ABC Company”. As part of your final project, you’ll have to email your subject-matter expert to set up a time to speak. Greetings is one of them. But remember, there’s no requirement that you lead with the fact that it’s been a while. You’ve probably been there before: You walk up to a group of friends talking. Congratulations on (accomplishment)! Using “Mrs.” is inappropriate unless you know for a fact the woman is married (Reference 1). but, again, I do not know the gender. Starting and finishing emails. If you don't know their gender, try using their title. And that’s what this blog is about. How should I start the email? If you've tried all that and it hasn't worked out for some reason, or they don't have a phone number, then Hello will have to do. Informal Ways to Start an Email. But to plan well, there are two things you need to know before doing it: 1. Starting. Without further ado, let’s first start with the structure of an email that can create an impact on the recipient. If you are emailing someone you have never met before and your relationship with the recipient is therefore formal, introducing yourself and what you do is crucial. When to use a professional greeting: If you don't know the person well, it is best to use Mr., Ms., or Dr. as an appropriate business letter salutation. Please don't reply with "well how do you not know… Wish for death. But definitely use a name. Thank the recipient. An email greeting with just a name looks abrupt and even rude. So you need to sit down (or walk the dog) and just think of things to ask and tell them. If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, use: “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”. What to include at the start of your emails. Introduce yourself: You can’t be a stranger from anywhere then one day appear in someone’s inbox to send them tons of words. Make sure your greeting matches the people you’re writing to. When writing to someone who is either in a position of authority or older than yourself start the email with "Dear Mr. Jones," "Dear Ms. Lopez," if you know their gender. Keep sending that same email until you don’t get a bounce back. Don't use "To whom it may concern". If you’ve previously connected with someone — whether that was in person, on the phone, or via email — then make sure you lead with that information, so they know you are emailing for a reason. First example: > Let's say you want send an email to an internet company (Forzen company, for instance) and ask about their services. Even with someone you know, use a salutation If you know Bob well, there’s nothing wrong with ‘Hi Bob’ or ‘Morning, Bob’. If I’m trying not to be too formal, I’ll start with the old trusted ‘Dear so-and-so’, using just their first name. If the email is incorrect, you are going to get a “bounce back” indicating your email was unable to get delivered. Use “Sir or Madam” after “Dear” if you do not know the last name of the person receiving the email. A lot of work emails are formal. Your greeting can also change if you are addressing a single person, a few people or many people. Someone just told me that saying "My name is..." is a bit more immature than "I am..." 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