Personalize canned replies

Online customers appreciate speedy replies, but they also appreciate a personal touch in the anonymity of cyberspace. To satisfy both customer needs, create canned reply messages that describe your business and handle common information requests. That way, they'll be ready to copy into e-mail replies so you can respond instantly to queries about your business.

But before you send out a canned reply, add a personal greeting or a sentence or two that lets the recipient know that the message is for them alone.

Remember: speedy replies show your professionalism, and personalization shows you care.