The first sentence of the The Globe and Mail article startled me: "Facebook doesn't want to simply take over the world's e-mail, it wants to render it obsolete." 

Mark Zuckerberg's follow-up comment to reporters didn't make me feel much better: "'This is not an e-mail killer, this is a messaging system that includes e-mail as one part of it.'  After a few months of using the service, he added, Facebook users may well decide that 'maybe e-mail isn't as important a part as before.'"

I think we're talking semantics here. E-mail - electronic mail - isn't going away. Whether we're communicating through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Gmail, we're still being judged by our ability to put a sentence together in a professional, persuasive, authentic manner. In fact, the ability to be brief (not blunt), clever (not cheese-y) and relevant (not self-focused) has never been more important in business communications.

Here are 4 tips to help you achieve best results whether you're messaging via FB, Gmail or whatever:

1. Everything revolves around them. 

What you say has to be relevant to the recipient. Period. When your message is focused on helping another person create greater success, you set yourself apart. Write from your reader's perspective to enable the best business decisions. A few quick questions to ask yourself are:

Why am I writing that will matter to the reader?

What do I want to say that will matter to the reader?

What do I want to accomplish in this e-mail?

What is the next step and have I made it clear and compelling?

Notice the first two questions are totally about the reader. When you're writing to tell your executive team about an innovative approach you'd like to try, for instance, focus less on what you'd like to do and more on how they'll benefit.  

2. Respect your reader's time. 

No one has time to wade through three or four sentences when one clear one would have done the trick. Keep your messages clear and crisp. One caveat, however: Don't sacrifice courtesy. If you need to add a few words to ensure your tone and intention - not just your content - are understood, go for it. 

Leave out the stuff no one wants to read anyway and you'll be fine!

3. Start with your main idea. Rather than beginning a message with something irrelevant and possibly insincere, start with the message/information that is most important to the reader. 

Instead of this: Hi Sue, How are you? I'm hopeful you had a relaxing weekend. About the X project, do you have the figures for us yet? 

Try: Hi Sue, Can you let me know when you'll send those figures for X project? I really appreciate your help.

4. Stay positive. 

No one wins in the gutter. How do you feel when you read a negative tweet, a nasty FB comment or receive a flaming e-mail message? 

It's especially important not to get sucked into another's negativity. Take the high road. Step back (literally, if you must.... get up from your chair, take a deep breath, count your inhalation and exhalation breath, making the exhale at least one count longer to calm yourself). Put on the big girl panties and ask yourself the humanizing question: Why would a normal, decent, good person write this? Give the writer the benefit of doubt. Think of a positive story you can put in your head before responding (they've been burned on this before and don't mean it the way it sounds, they're just trying to be helpful, they're worried about their job security, they're being pressured by someone) and write about options and solutions. Don't get sucked in by their negative tone. When you really can't think of anything positive to write, pick up the phone so you can discuss the options professionally and successfully.

Avoid having your intent mistaken by staying away from multiple !!! and ??? Using all caps is inflammatory and so is using bold or colors inappropriately. Ask yourself, if this message appeared out of context on the front page of The New York Times, how would I feel? 

Zuckerberg understands The Social Network. His new FB system will ensure you receive less spam (yay!) by applying the right algorithms so the friends you communicate with most often will get their mail through first. Your friends will forgive you if you have an off day. But it's those important business relationships that must be nurtured. Regardless of whatever form of electronic communication you use, write first from their perspective to ensure your success.

SpeakerSue - Sue Hershkowitz-Coore -  is presenting at Convening Leaders, PCMA 2011, in Las Vegas! Attend her session, Monday, January 10 to learn how to Be a Storyteller: How to Present Ideas Memorably, then schedule Sue to speak at your next meeting. Your attendees will thank you for practical content that helps them get best results and you can count on a presentation that energizes and excites them. Sue custom crafts every presentation so call her today to see how she can make you look like a hero at your next meeting! Follow @SpeakerSue on twitter too!