We've all been there. You open your phone, see a notification from a friend or a colleague, and it starts with that rhythmic, double-tap of a greeting: hello hello how are you doing today. It feels casual. It feels breezy. But underneath that simple string of words lies a massive shift in how we actually talk to each other in a world dominated by Slack, WhatsApp, and AI-driven customer service bots.
Language is weird.
It’s not just about the information we trade; it's about the "vibe" we establish before the real talk even begins. Linguists call this phatic communication. It’s the "social grooming" of the digital age. When someone uses a repetitive opener like "hello hello," they aren't just being redundant. They are trying to soften the digital blow of a screen-to-screen interaction. They're trying to sound human.
The Psychology Behind the Double Hello
Why do we say it twice? Think about it. A single "hello" can sometimes feel sharp. It’s a bit clinical, maybe even a little demanding depending on who is sending it. But hello hello how are you doing today carries a melodic quality. It mimics the sing-song cadence of a person walking into a room and waving.
In a 2023 study on digital discourse markers, researchers found that "reduplication"—the technical term for repeating a word—serves to decrease the perceived social distance between two people. Basically, it makes you seem less like a boss and more like a peer.
It’s an olive branch.
If you’re reaching out to someone you haven't spoken to in months, starting with "Hello" feels like you’re about to ask for a favor. Starting with "Hello hello" feels like you're just popping by. It creates a psychological "buffer zone" that allows the recipient to relax before they even get to the meat of your message.
Why "How Are You Doing Today" Is More Than a Question
Let's be real: most of the time, we don't actually want a medical report when we ask this. But the addition of the word "today" changes the math.
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"How are you?" is a generic, almost meaningless void.
"How are you doing today?" is specific.
It grounds the conversation in the present moment. It suggests that the person asking is aware that life is a series of ups and downs, and they are specifically interested in your current 24-hour slice of existence. This is a tactic often used in high-stakes communication training. By narrowing the scope of the inquiry, you make it easier for the other person to give a genuine answer.
You’ve probably noticed this in your own inbox. The messages that start with hello hello how are you doing today are the ones you're likely to actually reply to, rather than archive and forget.
The AI Effect: Distinguishing Human from Machine
We are currently living through a bizarre era where we have to prove we aren't bots. Ironically, bots are getting really good at being "polite." However, they often struggle with the messy, informal repetition that humans use naturally.
A bot might say: "Hello. I hope you are having a productive day."
A human says: "Hello hello! How's it going today?"
That slight "messiness"—the extra hello, the lack of a formal comma, the casual "today"—is a shibboleth. It's a secret handshake that tells the recipient, "Hey, I'm a person with a keyboard and a cup of coffee, not a script running on a server in Northern Virginia." This is why "hello hello how are you doing today" has become such a staple in the "human-centric" branding movement. Small business owners and independent creators use it to signal authenticity.
The Cultural Nuance of the Multi-Part Greeting
Depending on where you are in the world, this greeting hits differently. In parts of the UK and Ireland, the "hello hello" is almost a standard entry requirement for a pub conversation. In the US, it’s often seen as a "high-energy" opener.
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But there’s a dark side.
We have to talk about "performative friendliness." Sometimes, a long, drawn-out greeting like hello hello how are you doing today is used as a smokescreen. You see it in cold sales emails constantly. Someone you've never met acts like your best friend from kindergarten. It’s jarring. It’s annoying. It feels like someone is trying to pick your pocket while giving you a hug.
The key to making this greeting work is the "intent-to-content" ratio. If your greeting is longer than the actual point of your message, you’ve failed. You’re just wasting digital ink.
Digital Etiquette: When to Use It (and When to Kill It)
Honestly, context is everything. You wouldn't send a "hello hello" to a judge or a surgeon during a crisis. But for everything else? It's a tool in your social kit.
Best times to use the "Hello Hello" opener:
- When you're the one initiating a casual check-in.
- If you're responding to someone after a long delay and want to soften the "ghosting" guilt.
- When you're managing a team and want to keep the morale light.
- In a creative environment where formal "Dear Sir/Madam" vibes go to die.
When to stick to a boring "Hi":
- In a formal legal or financial dispute.
- When the person you're messaging is clearly stressed or in a rush.
- In the first message of a cold outreach (where it can feel fake).
- When you're using a professional platform like LinkedIn to message a C-suite executive you don't know.
The Anatomy of the Perfect Check-in
If you want to actually connect with someone using hello hello how are you doing today, you have to follow through. Don't just drop the greeting and wait. That’s "naked pinging," and it's frustrating.
Follow the "Greeting + Context + Ask" rule.
"Hello hello! How are you doing today? I saw that article you posted about the housing market and it made me think of our conversation last week. Would love to grab that coffee whenever you're free."
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See the difference? You’ve used the soft opener to set the mood, but you immediately gave the person a reason to engage. You aren't just taking up space in their brain. You're offering a bridge.
The Future of the Greeting
As we move deeper into 2026, the way we open conversations will continue to evolve. We're seeing a move away from the hyper-polished, corporate speak of the 2010s. People are tired. They're cynical. They want a bit of warmth.
The phrase hello hello how are you doing today is a symptom of a broader desire for connection. It’s a small, linguistic rebellion against the coldness of our screens. It’s a way of saying, "I see you."
Even if it’s just for a second.
Practical Steps for Better Digital Communication
If you want to improve your "digital bedside manner," stop overthinking every comma. Focus on the tone. Start varying your openers based on the person’s actual personality, not a template you found online.
- Stop using templates. People can smell a "personalized" template from a mile away. If you're going to use a casual greeting, make sure the rest of the message matches that energy.
- Match the energy. If someone replies with a short "I'm good, thanks," don't follow up with a five-paragraph essay.
- Use the "Today" trick. If you find yourself stuck in a small-talk loop, always add "today" to your questions. It forces the other person to think about their current state rather than giving a scripted "fine, thanks" response.
- Audit your own inbox. Look at the last five messages you sent. Were they cold? Were they too aggressive? Sometimes adding a simple "hello hello" is all it takes to shift a professional relationship from "transactional" to "collaborative."
The way we talk matters. Even the silly, repetitive bits. Especially those bits. They are the glue that keeps the digital world from feeling like a giant, empty room.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Outreach
- Evaluate your relationship. Use the "hello hello" opener only with those you have an established rapport with or in environments where "casual" is the default setting.
- Prioritize the "Today" modifier. When asking about someone's well-being, specify the timeframe to encourage a more authentic, grounded response.
- Avoid the "Naked Ping." Never send a greeting without a following sentence that explains why you are reaching out; this respects the recipient's time and reduces anxiety.
- Listen for the echo. If your contact starts using similar casual reduplications, you've successfully synchronized your communication styles, which is a key indicator of trust.
- Humanize your brand. If you run a business, test informal greetings in your newsletters. Data often shows that "human-sounding" subject lines have higher open rates than "professional" ones.