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What does everyone else think of the, "Dear Sir or Madam" messages?

by kayolhope
13 replies
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Often I get someone sending a msg over social media, email, etc. that starts with, "Dear Sir or Madam"?

Seriously, save it for writing a formal business letter or email. There are better alternatives for Dear Sir or Madam that will help you remain professional.

The first thing I think when I see this you didn't even attempt to check out my profile to get to know me. At least if you address me as Sir, I'll be slightly less offended because you got the right gender down. However, in today's technologically connected world, there is (almost) no excuse for not knowing whom you are writing to.

First impressions are important and this opening always seems to get my attention for the wrong reasons. How about you?
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    If I do not see my name I delete it immediately; good way to whittle out hundreds of messages to ID folks who care enough about me, to find my name, and to use it.
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by ryanbiddulph View Post

      If I do not see my name I delete it immediately; good way to whittle out hundreds of messages to ID folks who care enough about me, to find my name, and to use it.
      What, even the total strangers wishing you a happy birthday?

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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    *time waaaaaaaaaaaaahp*
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    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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  • Profile picture of the author Clem24
    I think such messages are still relevant.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by kayolhope View Post

    social media, email, etc. that starts with, "Dear Sir or Madam"?
    If you read these messages.. they are POOR at best. My best conclusion... A Lazy American marketer that has decided that it was beneath them.. or they were not capable of writing a sales pitch, so they delegated the activity to a non native English speaker.

    And TRUST me I am not bashing the non English speaking native, because Madam, Ma'am, and Sir is probably the "proper" English the have learned or are learning.

    I will be very transparent here with something I did last fall. I created a pretty better than successful ad campaign surrounding a Chinese imported drop ship product. The #1 complaint you will ever get for drop shipping from China is the time it takes to get the package to the consumer.

    write the Ad as tho it was written by someone non English speaking, and that expectation of quick shipping disappears. with low six digit units sold and shipped.. the only comments we got in terms of shipping... was when the item got there faster than expected.

    So language can work in your favor when it is used as a tool. But it can quickly work against you when it is being used improperly.
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  • Profile picture of the author nowservingpixels
    Nothing ensures that I'll promptly disregard your email and mark it as spam more than starting off with "Dear Sir/Maddam".
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by kayolhope View Post

    At least if you address me as Sir, I'll be slightly less offended because you got the right gender down.
    Yes, marketers need to put some effort and thought into constucting and targeting their messages, but seriously - you're offended because some anonymous, automated message-sender didn't bother to get your gender correct?

    For some folks, 21st century life must be a perpetual nightmare...


    .
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    lot better than hey
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    I always preface my emails with the greeting, "Oy, you."

    It's gender neutral and gets their attention.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      I always preface my emails with the greeting, "Oy, you."

      It's gender neutral and gets their attention.
      You've become far more polite as you got older
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  • Profile picture of the author King Manu
    I would put "dear sir or madam" as a spam filter. Delete them automatically. Not even worth the effort to open them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Puhoy
    When someone messages me like that, it's almost always some dude from a third world country trying to sell me his bullcrap paypal business opportunity or something along those lines. I don't even reply to them anymore, so annoying.
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  • Profile picture of the author dp362pradhan
    Sometime it will feel like spamming.
    To avoid this you can email address as a name.
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