When addressing a group that is unaware of its membership (a blog, a BCC, a mailing list), it is often best to use a personal voice and address the group as if it were an individual. Avoid phrases like “all of you”, “sorry for the mass mailing”, or “some of you may know”. These phrases tend to distance the recipient from the message, and make it harder to convey emotional content.
On the other hand, do not try to intentionally trick recipients into thinking that the message was only sent to them and no one else. In some cases (blogs, message boards) the platform itself will make that obvious. In other cases (BCCs, mailing lists) use subject lines and headers to hint at the one-to-many nature of the message.
Reply one to one to follow up conversation to the extent that is possible, even if the reply is brief. Extend the personal voice to these conversations as well. Avoid referring to other people's responses with phrases like “You are the tenth person to say that”.
This sort of language breaks the promise of the personal voice.
Comments (9)
All this is terribly good advice and I shall cherish it.
Posted by Matan | December 17, 2008 12:54 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 00:54
I know that when you write or speak, you're writing or speaking just to me!
Posted by Dan | December 17, 2008 1:44 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 01:44
I'll attach a memo and file this quietly
Posted by jischinger | December 17, 2008 8:32 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 08:32
There appears to be another side to this coin. When you would address your The Show viewers as the plural "Sports Racers" I would often get a warm feeling of community.
Posted by Drake Walker | December 17, 2008 3:40 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 15:40
This idea that you all have come together to propose is an interesting one and I thank each one of you for it. I find I'm having difficulty putting it into practise, though.
Posted by Simon | December 17, 2008 5:13 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 17:13
Just so you all know... many have come, but ze likes me best.
Posted by snooge | December 17, 2008 9:28 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 21:28
Team: please take this under advisement.
Posted by Edward Vielmetti | January 9, 2009 2:04 AM
Posted on January 9, 2009 02:04
this is an excellent point and reminds me of one of my current peeves with the way Facebook and a number of other social apps work.
there is often no clear distinction between something sent specifically to you personally or to a list of people, and it matters.
that is, if christopher locke really just invited me to play scrabble that sounds like fun, but if he pushed a button that invited 90 people to play the new scrabble app he just installed (without necessarily realizing what he was doing) then that doesn't sound like fun at all.
Posted by xian | January 26, 2009 6:21 AM
Posted on January 26, 2009 06:21
You seem to have a lot to talk about. You are
making good use of pen and paper and other appro-
priate appliances. I believe this to be a
great outlet for any tendancies you have.
Congratulations on your work.
note: I didn't say "good work". Just kidding.
Posted by Carole - age 61, fairly intelligent. | February 12, 2009 3:19 AM
Posted on February 12, 2009 03:19