Posts Tagged ‘blind carbon copy’

Yesterday, we discussed how to Create an E-Mail Distribution List in Outlook. Today we explain “Bcc” or Blind Carbon Copy.

“Bcc” allows you to send an e-mail without showing everyone the e-mail address of the recipients. It also is the polite thing to do. This way you’re not inadvertently sharing a person’s e-mail with a group of people they may not know, by including them in a mass email. You can also use the “Bcc” field to quietly notify a third party that a message has been sent.

Use of “Bcc” for long lists of addresses is important for two reasons:

1. It protects the privacy of those to whom you send a message, and
2. It makes forwarded e-mail less confusing to read

When using “Bcc” add your own e-mail in the To: field to ensure yours is the only address shown.

All e-mail programs support “Bcc”, but it may not be the default option.

• In Outlook 2007, click “New” for a new e-mail, then under the Options Tab click the “Show Bcc” button

• In Outlook 2003, click “New” for a new e-mail, then click the little down arrow to the right of “Options” and select “Bcc”.

Once selected, “Bcc” will be available for all new e-mails.

Here are some suggestions for using the different fields when sending e-mail.

• To: Add recipients who you are directly communicating with. There is nothing wrong with a list of e-mails, as long as there is no problem with each recipient being able to see the other recipient’s e-mail address

• Cc: Known as Carbon Copy. Use “Cc”: to send a copy of the e-mail to recipients not required to participate in the communication. It allows the To: recipients to known that someone else is also receiving the e-mail

• Bcc: Blind Carbon Copy is where you put e-mail addresses that should not be seen by other recipients.