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Email etiquette is the way in which we communicate via email.

Why do you need email etiquette?

Professionalism: by using proper email language a company will convey a professional image. Efficiency: emails that get to the point are much more effective than poorly worded emails. Protection from liability: employee awareness of email risks will protect a company from costly law suits.

 Be Informal, not sloppy: Use traditional spelling, gammar and punctuations instead of using abbeviations while communicationg to an external customer. Keep message brief and to the point: Shorten the message as it is soley concentated on the subject. Do not use e-mail as excuses: E- mail is not an excuse to avoid face-to face or voice to interaction; even it is not a tool to cover up an un comfortable situation or a mistake. Use Blind copy and Courtsey copy appropiatly: Be cautious about you cc. CC shows your confidence and BCC can be used while sending to a large distibution list.

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Use the subject field to indicate content and purpose: A good subject line provides a useful summary of the email's content. It also helps to prevent your email from being deleted before it has even been read. Don't send chain letters, virus warnings, or junk mail: Avoid sending chain letters and virus warning, and create your contacts in safe sender list to avoid junk mails.
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Remembe that your tone can't be heard in an e-mail: E-mailing with bad news, firing a client or vendor, expressing anger, reprimanding someone, disparaging other people in emails (particularly if you're saying something less than kind about your boss) are all major no-no's. Use sentence case: Use of capital letters can be misundestood as you are shouting at someone; and lower case letters looks like lazy. Bold or Asteric can be used to emphasis important words. Be sparing with group email: Send group emails only if it is useful to evey recipients. Use the "reply all" button only when compiling results requiring collective input.
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Remember that e-mail isn't private: Be caeful with confidential infomations. E-mail over the internet is not secure and if the e-mail get into the wrong person's hands, you could face serious even legal repercussions. Use a signature that includes contact information: Your e-mail signature is a great way to let people know more about you, especially when your e-mail address does not include your full name or company. Summarize long discussions: Scrolling through pages of replies to understand a discussion is annoying. Instead of continuing to forward a message string, take a minute to summarize it for your reader(s).
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Additional points to be noted

Respond in a timely fashion: Try to responde the mails within 28 to 48 hours based on the emergency. Provide warning when sending large attachments: Sending unannounced large attachments can clog the receiver's inbox and cause other important e-mails to bounce. Evaluate the importance of your e-mail: Don't overuse the high priority option. Know your audience: Your e-mail greeting and sign-off should be consistent with the level of respect and formality of the person you're communicating with. Your e-mail is a reflection of you: Every e-mail you send adds to, or detracts from your reputation. If your e-mail is scattered, disorganized, and filled with mistakes, the recipient will be inclined to think of you as a scattered, careless, and disorganized business person.

 Courtesy. Laura Stack: 12 tips for better e-mail etiquette.

Also visit:
http://email.about.com/od/emailnetiquette/tp/core_netiquette.htm http://www.dailywritingtips.com/email-etiquette/ http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Email-Etiquette http://www.101emailetiquettetips.com/ http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/06/email-etiquette.html http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57411851/9-keys-toemail-etiquette/ http://www.iwillfollow.com/email.htm http://www.career.vt.edu/jobsearchguide/email.html