Too many people take business manners for granted. This is a huge mistake.
If you own any type of business that requires you to interact with others this post is for you.
This includes musicians, brick and mortar business owners, artists, event planners, those in entertainment, in traditional media, social media or any project where you want to sell a service or produce...you are any entrepreneur...read on.
In Oh no you didn't I speak of this in more detail. For purposes of this post I have included some information to be considered if we are to create meaningful business relationships.
Business manners and etiquette is
understood to be one basic rule: show consideration for the other business.
These edicts are for relationships between individuals, or between businesses and consumers. and an important group that has often been overlooked: business-to-business (B2B).
Business-to-business etiquette has to grow. It is an evolving behavior model for how
to present oneself and represent one’s company when networking in general and online. It is
for this group that etiquette plays the most crucial part. The slightest
improper behavior online can ruin a good business opportunity.
Manners guidelines are being established no central source but through a collaborative process
that grew from trial and error and general clamor for change in increasing courtesy to fellow business owners of various types, including artists and entertainers.
Business operators are eager to solicit prospects and partnerships in person or online but are
generally ignorant about how to go about it professionally. Without knowledge
of B2B etiquette, your actions can be taken for rudeness or incompetence,
leaving the other party with a poor impression of your company.
Whether you solicit new
partnerships or seek to maintain and build relationships with current
businesses, the key is to prevent misunderstanding and not give offence. Lets see some examples:
Sending emails:
- Fight the urge to be
creative avoid using multiple fonts, size and colors. No HTML or rich media,
either. Keep it all in plain text. This I learned the hard way. I was using a fancy program but many couldn't open the email or read it so what was the point?
- Keep it punctual. Do not
write a lengthy email and do not use jargon or talk with an overly hip
attitude. For your signature file, do not use cute quotes (unless it happens to
be the slogan of your business).
- Watch your tone. Don’t speak
in terms of how great you think your company is. Speak from the point of view
of the other business to say, “Look what we can do for you.”
- Size matters. Don’t tie up
people’s email by sending large, unsolicited attachments. If you have to send a
large file, give warning, check on a time most appropriate to send it, such as
before or after regular working hours, or send it in segments.
- Use discretion. Something
that might seem funny to you might be patently offensive to someone else. Even
if the person on the other end has no problem with what you’re sending, other people
in their office could glance at the offending message. If you’re that inclined
to show or tell the person what you have, ask for a non business email address
you can send it to where they can review it with more privacy.
Requesting reciprocal links:
Planning to feature a
hyperlink on your page to a business site? Proper etiquette involves giving the
site owners notice. Explain why you would like to feature them on your site,
where you plan to feature them, and the description you plan on using with their
link.
If you’re soliciting another
company to link to your site, provide some background information. Give a brief
introduction, a description on your company, and how your site would be a
benefit to the prospect’s audience.
Make sure your link has relevance
to the other company’s site. If yours is a car company, you shouldn’t solicit a
Web design company for a link. Offer something in return, such as a reciprocal
link, that is, you linking to the other site as well, and/or some specific
comments about that site.
It doesn’t leave the
solicited with a good impression if you expect something and offer nothing. A
generic link request is about the worst thing you can do. It shows you have
nothing to say about the site, and yet you expect its operator to do something
for you.
Asking for free advice:
There’s nothing wrong with
asking your colleagues for advice. However, expecting free business advice from
people you don’t know personally – and for your own business gain – is a very
touchy issue. This happens to me personally all the time regarding my intuitive consultations and I have to continually refer people to my site for them to see what I offer as a professional.
If you are set on asking a
company or an individual whom you have never met for advice, handle yourself
with the greatest care.
1. Introduce yourself.
2. Give your profession and or skill background. If you are a student, mention
where and what you are studying.
3. Explain why you need the advice and how you plan to use it
4. To make a better impression,
mention an interest in the person’s site or works, and what you found there to
be helpful or interesting. Most importantly, before you
ask people for advice, search that person’s Web sites first – then the search
engines and directories – to see if the answer is already available to you.
Even if the business does
not have the answer readily available, showing that you put in an effort will
make its owners more open to referring you to another site that might have the
information you seek.
Requesting business services:
If you are soliciting
another business to provide you with services, it is incredibly rude to expect
a work commitment without a contractual arrangement. Some common examples are:
- Telling a business owner to
look at your Web site or your other online works, and asking what would improve
them.
- Expecting business owners to
create a few samples so they can wait for your decision.
- Offering to pay for work
based on increased revenue, such as pay for performance. If you want some
assurance as to work and service quality, look at a portfolio and ask for
references.
It's common sense. B2B etiquette means knowing
how to present yourself online with the same degree of formality and
professionalism you would in a face-to-face meeting.
The next time you attempt
relations with a new business, stop to think how the person on the other end is
likely to receive your communication. Put yourself in those shoes and ask,
“What kind of impression do I make?”
If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!
~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~
Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!
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