The Encyclopedia of Business Letters, Faxes, and E-Mail Guidelines for crafting the most effective business e-mails Now you know the basic do's and don'ts of writing business e-mails. But how can you be sure your e-mail messages do more than just adhere to the rules of etiquette, but also make a real impact? Here are some guidelines for using e-mail more effectively: Carefully choose the day and time you send your messages to cus- tomers or potential customers. For example, Monday morning is gen- erally a time when people sift through all the e-mails that have piled up since the last Friday. Try to send your message when it isn't com- peting with dozens of other messages for your recipient's attention. Don't be slow in replying to e-mail. Check your mailbox at least daily (some people check hourly) to get your messages and ensure you can respond quickly. "The biggest appeal of e-mail is its immediacy," says Marcia Layton, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Business Writing (Alpha Books). "People don't like to wait days to hear back from you." Don't use e-mail to avoid phone conversations. E-mail is convenient because it allows you to send people a message at your convenience and they can pick it up at their convenience. But if you never pick up