10 Texting Etiquette Rules To Put Your Best Foot Forward

Now that you know the right etiquette for personal and professional relationships, here’s how to text customers or business partners. Texting etiquette may vary depending on the specific business scenario. For example, texting may be more informal for internal communications, such as team updates or meeting reminders. However, when texting with clients or external partners, it’s best practice to maintain a higher level of professionalism. Be as grammatically correct as possible to maintain professionalism in your text messages.

Double-check The Recipient

Make it clear when they can expect a response and offer other options for getting in contact. newlineBy using emojis appropriately and in moderation, businesses can convey emotions and tone in their texting without breaking texting etiquette. Say you text a colleague to ask an after-hours work question. In this example, the breach of etiquette comes not from the lack of immediate response but from the seeming demand for one. Security and privacy should be maintained while texting, particularly when texting professionally. The moment the message is sent, it cannot be recalled, and thus one must think twice before sending it.

In turn, “don’t feel ghosted if someone doesn’t respond immediately to you,” she says. Acquiring new customers is more expensive than ever,… You would be offended if people did it while you presented, so don’t do it to anyone else. Avoid texting when you’re supposed to be paying attention to what’s happening in the room.

Why It’s Ok Not To Reply To Your Text Messages Right Away

• When the situation is reversed, and you’re the one waiting on a text, Swann advises “your follow-up can be as soon as you need it.”
• “I think those are huge levers for moral panic,” says Sujon, with the suggestion that young people are becoming more stupid.
• Mastering business texting etiquette is crucial for successful SMS campaigns.
• Pay attention, “read the room” and understand the context before you send a text message with an emoji.
• To avoid that, document internal business texting etiquette guidelines.

If you are looking to send internationally or are based elsewhere in the world, you will love our sister product Sinch Engage. You wouldn’t call a client with a great idea right before you climbed into bed for the evening, so don’t text them at that hour either. Wait until the next business day to relay your message. Emojis and abbreviations can make texting fun, but not everyone understands them the same way. Some emojis have different meanings, so be careful how you use them.

Select Your Language

Avoid using texts to send sensitive information, fire someone, provide a performance review, or deliver negative feedback. That kind of feedback is best delivered face-to-face. That way, you will save money and avoid accidentally sending inside information to the wrong person. If you do end up accidentally sending a text to the wrong person, you should immediately up with an apology or clarification. As in email and social messaging, this is perceived as shouting and will only annoy your recipients. Avoid writing complicated texts, as they can overwhelm the recipient and lead to misunderstandings.

These templates are designed with business texting etiquette in mind. It’s also a good idea to consider your relationship with the recipient(s) before customizing your greeting. This will help you follow text message etiquette and improve two-way communication with customers. Whether you’re reaching out to customers, partners, or employees, business texting allows you to connect quickly and efficiently. If you’d feel weird getting a dancing hot dog sticker from your boss or a John Cena GIF from your mom, don’t send them one.

But business text messaging services like MessageDesk help to protect you from sending texts to contacts who haven’t opted in. You’ll also need to have consent to send mass texts to employees or broadcast promotional messages to customers or clients. Consider the tools you’re using to send text messages before you actually text someone for the first time professionally. Hanson says not only should you keep your phone off the table and out of sight, but you should switch it off, so it is not a distraction.

I don’t mind them if they are from somebody I am close to.” Much of the time, Humbert says, she will read the transcription of the note, rather than listen to it. She says the point of texting is that it is convenient for the recipient to check quickly. Delivering bad news is undoubtedly challenging, and doing it through texts will only amplify it. Bad news evokes strong emotions and requires some personal touch.

Mastering business texting etiquette is crucial for successful SMS campaigns. This guide will help you maintain professionalism and effectiveness in your text messages. Even if you made the plans over email or phone, sending a quick text to confirm is fine, says Masini.

Please, search or browse our comprehensive online etiquette articles.

That’s why messages should always stay professional, even when you have a friendly relationship with clients. In practice, this means avoiding jokes that could be misinterpreted or venting about customers. For marketing or promotional messages, keep it to roughly 2-4 texts per week. Skip holidays for anything non-urgent, and only break your normal cadence for time-sensitive messages. If you aren’t sure a text adds value, it probably doesn’t need to go out. Rather than using standard SMS for professional communication, switch to employee text messaging platforms like Udext.

One of the biggest mistakes in SMS marketing is failing to get consent. Unsolicited messages can feel spammy and damage your brand. You should also avoid using slang, emojis, or personal jokes that could be misinterpreted. The unspoken rules of texting include treating the recipient with respect. Don’t overwhelm people with messages, and make sure your tone is appropriate. If you receive a message outside business hours or cannot keep up with high volumes of texts, you can configure auto-reply texts.

Then there is the age of the parties texting to consider. See our full breakdown in the best business texting services. Every business text can be saved, forwarded, or screenshotted.

However, texting is an inadequate conflict resolution tool because it lacks the nuances of verbal communication (facial expressions, body language, tone). Difficult as it may be, pick up the phone or have that face-to-face communication when emotions have cooled off. Many of us use texting messaging Amoredate user overview to avoid the discomfort of difficult conversations in person. It’s understandable if the other person is confrontational. To avoid misunderstandings, it’s worth taking the extra minute to proofread before hitting ‘send’. Despite the lack of consensus, emoji-free communication is still perceived as unfriendlier .

Disappearing without explanation hurts people and damages trust. Reply within 24 hours, even if only to say you will answer later. Without voice or facial cues, sarcasm often reads as rudeness.

Exceeding the standard limit of 160 characters (or 300 characters on Mozeo) will cause your SMS message to be split up and sent as multiple texts. Your recipient might miss part of your message, read it in the wrong order, or get annoyed by the multiple notifications. Texting is convenient, but it shouldn’t replace important face-to-face or phone conversations. Use texting as a supplementary communication tool, not a primary one. Make sure your message is clear and review it for stand-alone clarity before hitting the “send” button.

Use it to keep up a connection with your team beyond meetings or your shift, being yourself while staying professional. Keep texts work-appropriate just like you would during in-person chats at your workplace. Don’t talk about anything that might be perceived as unprofessional.

But the convenience of texting and messaging lies in the freedom to answer whenever it suits you. That’s why it’s important to be patient with your texting partners. Below are professional text message samples, examples, and templates. Feel free to copy and paste any of these formal text messages. You can also check out my list of 100+ free text message templates for more.