Regardless of the fact that today we have emails and instant messaging, faxing is still one of the major ways of communication in some sectors such as law, healthcare, and business. The first contact with your document through a fax cover sheet is actually your impression, as it helps the right recipient to get the document and also keeps the record confidential. What is more, many people are making small mistakes that do not cost money, but in fact, create confusion and consequently, slow down their communication process. Below you can find a list of the most common errors in the faxes cover sheet that you should not be guilty of.
Forgetting Basic Information
The fault with the greatest frequency is the omission of the most important facts. A fax cover sheet without a doubt needs to display the full names of the sender and recipient, their phone numbers, the date, as well as the number of pages attached. Missing one of these elements may cause the documents to be the wrong copy or even get lost. It is a good habit to always ensure that all parts of the forms have been filled in prior to dispatching.
Using Casual or Unclear Language
Faxes are a part of business communication, so treating a fax like an email writing to a friend or sending unclear messages only makes the whole concept less understandable. No matter if the fax is to a client, a hospital, or a government agency, the writer should be brief and use formal language. Proper subject lines along with brief memo words indicating the reason for the fax will be sufficient for the message to get across. Do not use slang or abbreviations from which the recipient may not be able to decipher.
Poor Formatting and Design
The state of being a negative impression of a disorganized or cluttered fax cover page cannot be denied. Besides that, different fonts, colors, or decorations are generally discouraged, because the typical fax machine may not be able to give back a clear-copy of them. Rather than that, go for a neat and straightforward format and make sure the text can be easily read.
The importance of this cannot be overstated, particularly if a professional fax cover page is being used because its appearance declares your company's identification with precision and being professional.
Ignoring Confidentiality
Apart from this, the case of not having a confidentiality notice in a fax cover sheet especially when you are sending a document that contains sensitive or personal information, is a very serious handicap. Brief confidentiality Statements assist in safeguarding the privacy of information and incline the addressee to understand what steps to take with the given document.
That depends especially on the healthcare, legal, and financial services which have well-established data privacy rules.
Sending Without Verification
There is a possibility that if in a hurry people do not check the numbers or the recipient before they insert the documents and hit the send button, this would lead to sensitive information being sent to the wrong people. The best way to ensure the right destination of your fax is to contact the person via email or phone, and then send your documents. Once you have sent your files, make sure to also check the delivery confirmation report for a successful transmission.
Not Matching the Cover Sheet to the Purpose
The cover sheet is your representation which should be appropriate with the style and the content of the communication. It would be nice to have a formal-style fax cover sheet when working with others; however, when during a chat with friends or family, a warm and basic personal fax cover sheet will do the job.
By using the wrong form you may confuse the receiver or even be considered as a non-professional. Therefore, always pick the right template for the right situation.
Skipping the Final Review
Before faxing your point, play a role as a reviewer thinking what could have been missed. Part of this checking includes making sure that the contact information is accurate, the attachments are right, as well as confirming that the fax machine has the paper and ink necessary to carry out the task. A quick review helps avoid wasting time, paper together with the fear of being embarrassed.
Conclusion
If fax cover sheet is done properly that is one less thing to worry about as it helps your message to reach the receiver clearly, safely, and professionally. Make sure you are not guilty of these mistakes so that you can leave a good impression and have good communicative relationships with your clients as well as colleagues. Paying attention to small details in faxing can lead to big results in efficiency and reliability.
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