1. Subject Lines. It could be argued that subject lines are the most important part of an email. They are generally what convince a recipient to either open an email or ignore it. Subject lines should contain concise, descriptive information about the topic you are addressing - the meat of your email - and the action you would like the recipient to take. They should also be descriptive enough to allow the recipient to quickly find your email if he or she needs to refer back. Be specific and streamline your subject by using short words and eliminating unnecessary words. Consider using action verbs and dates and times when needed. And never leave the subject line blank.

2. Greetings and Closings. Always begin emails with a greeting to avoid sounding impolite or impatient. Use more formal greetings such as "Dear Alice," or "Good Morning," unless you are certain a less formal greeting such as "Hi John" will be well received and is appropriate. It is also recommended that you always "sign" emails with your name and contact information. Email programs often allow a standard signature block to be automatically added to all outgoing emails. Including contact information as part of this signature block streamlines future communication. A proper closing prior to your email signature demonstrates professionalism. "Sincerely," or "Thank you," are both good choices. Again, more casual closings can be used when you are sure your audience will receive them well.

3. The "To" Field. Consider making the "To" field the last thing you complete before hitting send. By filling in the "To" field last, you avoid the possibility of accidentally sending an email before it is complete or before you have been able to review it. It is also a very good idea to double check that you are sending your email to the correct recipients. Inadvertently sending an email to the wrong recipient can cause a multitude of problems, the least of which being that you waste the wrong recipient's time.

4. Content. The body of an email should be concise and easy to read. Avoid including unnecessary information. State your request or the action that is needed at the beginning of the email, followed by supporting information. Utilize short paragraphs and white space to make emails easier to read. Bullet points and numbering are also valuable tools for organizing information in an email.

5. Proper Tone. It is often difficult to convey tone in an email. For this reason, keep email communications professional and always polite. Take time to consider if what you have written could be misconstrued in any way. Always err on the side of caution.

6. Correct Spelling and Grammar. Emails should always be checked for spelling and grammatical errors. Mistakes of this kind can lead others to question your competency and professionalism. But, be cautious about relying strictly on spell check and grammar check programs as they often miss errors. Always take a moment to read through emails from top to bottom before hitting send.

7. Things to Avoid. Avoid using all caps in the subject or body of an email. This is typically interpreted as yelling. Avoid using non-standard fonts or font colors as these can be difficult to read and can be considered unprofessional. Similarly, avoid decorative backgrounds or overly personalized formats or signature blocks. Emoticons, especially animated emoticons, should also be avoided in general.

8. CC and BCC. Proper use of CC (carbon copy) and BCC (blind carbon copy) are essential in professional email communication. Refrain from including too many people in the CC field. Before you CC someone, stop and ask yourself if they really need to receive the correspondence. If not, do not send them the email. You will be saving them precious time. Also, avoid using BCC unless sending a bulk email. It is best to remain completely transparent in your business communications. However, when sending bulk emails, use of the BCC field maintains the privacy of those on the distribution list who may not want their email address distributed.

9. Reply Timely. Do your best to respond timely to the emails you receive? This again demonstrates professionalism and respect for colleagues. If you are not able to respond timely to an email, consider sending a brief note stating that you have received the email and will respond as quickly as possible - you may even want to state a specific time for your response. If you will not be checking or responding to email for a period of time, use a standard out of office reply to alert senders to your absence and to ideally provide another contact for immediate assistance.

10. Forwards. Consider asking permission before forwarding an email, even if you are reasonably sure the other party will not mind. Again, it is best to err on the side of caution and maintain complete transparency in your actions. Also, avoid forwarding emails containing jokes, stories, etc. as you cannot always be sure of your recipient's response to such items. And never forward off-color or offensive material.

In addition to the 10 tips shared here, it is also important to know when not to email. Sometimes a phone conversation or face to face discussion is simply more effective than an email. This is often true when a situation is complicated or detailed. If it is obvious that your message is not being properly conveyed through email, pick up the phone. Also, avoid hiding behind email to sidestep confrontation or difficult situations.

Now go out and celebrate National Email Week!