What is a CC email?

CC email

CC stands for carbon copy. When you CC someone on an email, they receive an exact copy of the message alongside the primary recipient. Everyone on the email can see who else received it.

The term comes from the pre-digital era when carbon paper created duplicate copies of typed documents. Today, CC serves the same purpose digitally: keeping additional people informed without addressing the message directly to them.

CC vs. BCC: what's the difference?

Both CC and BCC send copies of your email to additional recipients. The key difference is visibility.

• CC (carbon copy): All recipients can see who was copied. Use this when transparency matters and you want everyone to know who's in the loop.
• BCC (blind carbon copy): Recipients are hidden from each other. Use this for mass emails where you don't want to expose everyone's email addresses, or when you need to discreetly keep someone informed.

If you're emailing a client and want your manager to see the conversation, CC makes sense. If you're sending a newsletter to hundreds of subscribers, BCC protects their privacy.

When to use CC in email

CC works best when you want to keep people informed without expecting them to respond. The primary recipient handles the action; CC'd recipients stay in the loop.

1. Keeping stakeholders informed: Your manager wants visibility into client communications. CC them so they can follow along without needing separate updates.
2. Introducing someone new: When bringing a colleague into an existing conversation, CC them so they can see the context and catch up quickly.
3. Creating accountability: Sometimes you CC someone to document that information was shared. This creates a clear record that all parties received the same message.
4. Team transparency: On collaborative projects, CC keeps everyone aligned without requiring individual forwards or summaries.

When not to use CC

CC can backfire when used carelessly. Avoid it in these situations:

• When you expect a response: Put people who need to take action in the To field. CC signals "for your information only."
• Without consent: Before adding someone to an ongoing thread, consider whether the original participants would want their conversation shared.
• For sensitive information: If the content is confidential, think twice about expanding the audience.
• As a passive-aggressive move: CC'ing someone's boss to apply pressure damages trust and rarely achieves the outcome you want.
• On every email: Overusing CC clutters inboxes and trains people to ignore your messages.

CC in marketing automation

In email marketing, CC works differently than in one-to-one communication. Most marketing platforms don't use traditional CC fields because campaigns go to lists, not individuals.

However, you can replicate CC functionality in your workflows. ActiveCampaign lets you send internal notifications when specific actions occur. When a lead fills out a form or reaches a certain score, you can automatically notify your sales team without manually CC'ing anyone.

This approach keeps your team informed while maintaining clean, professional communications with your contacts. Your subscribers see a message addressed to them, and your internal team gets the visibility they need through separate notifications.

FAQs

What does CC stand for in email?
CC stands for carbon copy, a reference to the carbon paper once used to create duplicate documents.

Can CC'd recipients reply to the email?
Yes, they can reply or reply all. However, email etiquette suggests CC'd recipients typically aren't expected to respond unless specifically asked.

Do CC'd recipients see each other?
Yes. Everyone in the To and CC fields can see all other recipients. Use BCC if you need to hide recipients from each other.

Should I address CC'd recipients in my greeting?
No. Address only the people in the To field. CC'd recipients understand the message isn't directed at them.

Ready to streamline your team's email communications? Start your free ActiveCampaign trial and see how automation keeps everyone in the loop without the inbox clutter.