1. I'm not LOL, it's no joke.

Some people love to receive jokes from friends via e-mail, however others would rather have a root canal than spend their time sorting through e-mail jokes. Be sure you're not flooding your friends and family with useless and irrelevant messages (including jokes) that they don't even read. Ask your friends (via e-mail is fine) if they want to receive regular blasts of your witty humor. 

2. Keep it short.

One of the benefits of e-mail is the ability it gives us to communicate quickly and concisely. Don't lose that with long-winded messages. 

3. NO YELLING, PLEASE.

Avoid using all caps in your e-mail messages, it's the equivalent of yelling at someone, which is rarely, if ever, appropriate. 

4. Attachment Detraction

Don't send attachments unless you know that the person receiving them wants them and has the appropriate software to open them. It's more than frustrating to receive an important file that can't be opened upon arrival. Unwanted attachments are almost more annoying than spam, and can sometimes be dangerous due to possible virus transmission. 

5. Compose Your Thoughts Before Your Letter

While e-mail and instant messaging may be popular for flirting and gossiping, keep in mind that your messages can be accidentally or intentionally forwarded to unintended recipients without your knowledge or consent. When composing a new e-mail, keep in mind that it could potentially be passed on by its recipient. 

6. BTW, Watch Your P's and Q's 

Be cautious with your use of acronyms and abbreviations, such as LOL, BRB and others. As the Yahoo! Mail Netiquette Survey showed, many people don't know what those commonly used e-mail "e-breviations" mean. For business communication, it's important to be as clear as possible; if people don't understand something, there's a possibility for miscommunication. 

7. Practice patience.

Be kind to the technophobes around you. There are still plenty of people (the bane of your existence no doubt) who aren't up to speed on this hip technology that has become your communication lifeblood. Ease the pain by sharing your knowledge and converting the heathens to the positive power of online communication. 

8. Signature Style.

When you're sending e-mail, consider using a signature line that includes relevant information about how to get in touch with you -- almost like letterhead. That way, if the recipient needs to follow up with you, the information is readily available. Many e-mail services, such as Yahoo! Mail, allow you to establish an "auto-signature" that will appear on every e-mail you send. 

9. Mind Your Manners.

Don't let the anonymity of e-mail release your inner louse. It's easy to rip off a rude or hurtful e-mail when your message doesn't get delivered face-to-face. But consider the repercussions of your actions and words. 

10. Time is of the Essence.

One thing to keep in mind when communicating online is that most people tend to expect more immediate responses with e-mail for most business communication. I recommend a 24-hour response time in general, depending of course on your availability. But keep in mind that some situations with a sense of urgency require a shorter response time. And of course, if you're going to be out of the office for an extended period, you should always use your e-mail's "vacation response" feature, which is a nice way of setting expectations with regards to your response time.