The Power of the BCC

I'm rather fond of the BCC line.  It's not just for covert intel-sharing.

I was reminded of how much I appreciate its positive effect on inbox noise when I read this article the other day: Email Game-Changer: How to Cut Your Inbox by 60 Percent.

Mass email that doesn't amass unnecessarily
Mass emails to All Employees drive me bananas, especially when the common "Reply-All" would spawn more emails in my inbox.  I've been known to send a friendly email or two, encouraging folks to put such widely broadcasted distribution lists into the BCC line to prevent proliferation of "Me, too" syndrome.

When the distribution list gets out of hand
People manage up and down in different ways.  Sometimes though, it feels like there are people who cc: as many people as they can--as if the number of recipients equate to points in the email game.  I get that it can be necessary but it can often get out of hand, especially when the thread is about troubleshooting and goes in a different direction than it started, then half the people on the CC line aren't relevant to the topic anymore.  Moving people to the BCC let's them know the conversation is continuing but that you don't need to clutter their inboxes anymore.  If they want back in, they can weigh in or follow-up explicitly in another thread.  I use this tactic frequently when responding to networking emails.  The person introducing me doesn't need to participate in the planning of a meet-and-greet but it's nice to let them know I've followed-up.

Hint:  Don't forget to include in the email body who you've put or moved to the BCC, unless you really are being covert.

If only I could put myself on a BCC or UNSUBSCRIBE worked for long threads and wide distributions lists.

-Ann