Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey: Play it safe by being formal for first impressions.

Karen Hanssen: I work with internal clients and everybody in my company goes by first name only.

L.Jones: Unless he/she is a close co-worker, I usually just use the name.

Karen Powers: If Jack is a new client, then many discussions either on the phone or in person have taken place already so casual salutation is appropriate. Initial contact with a potential client is not appropriate via e-mail unless other means have not been successful.

Jennifer German: This really depends upon the pre-email relationship!

G. Miki Hayden: For a first message in a business situation, paper letter format is called for.

Yocheved Golani: Formality is still appropriate when encountering someone for the first time.

Elizabeth Platt: E-correspondence is still business correspondence and should be conducted accordingly. Once a client is well known, a more casual approach might be appropriate, but never with a new client.

Beverly Foster: This is assuming we do not already have an ongoing, less formal relationship with the client. Just because initial contact begins online does not mean we can forgo respect.

Lisa Karam Middleton: C...unless the client and I had shared a particularly good rapport.

Jodi Lipson: Butterfly ballot! If I knew him: Dear Jack:

Dennis McCarthy: Actually, I'm more likely to say: That was a great meeting you folks put together, Jack . . .

Charlotte Fox Luttrell: Hi is too informal. Jack is too informal. Dear Mr. Johnson is a little formal, but better to err on the side of formality with a new client. Without a salutation is rude, like breaking into a conversation.

Paul Mulligan: Nobody gets angry at you for being polite.

Mark H. Bloom: E-mail inspires informality, but for formal messages such as that described above, only a formal salutation will do. I've also thrown away resumes that do not adhere to the correct rules of grammar and punctuation.

Amy Goldyn: E-mail is no excuse for informality or improper spelling and grammar!

Carrie Garbas: Assuming I've already had telephone conversations with the client, I would use the less formal first name only address.