Business Etiquette

Many service-based business owners are leveraging the power of social media in their marketing and brand communication strategies - which is wonderful to see. Unfortunately though, there are some unscrupulous (or perhaps 'uneducated') users, who are not following social media 'etiquette ' and are therefore destroying their reputation and any chance of building solid relationships with their network. When it comes to social media, whether you are a novice or a pro, here are 10 DO NOT's and 10 principles you should adopt to ensure you use these technologies appropriately in your online interactions. When connecting with me on Social Media - DON'T: 1. Post inappropriate photos and/or comments on my Facebook wall or Twitter feeds. 2. Blatantly promote your products and services on my wall. 3. Send me an email about your upcoming workshop/event after having only just connected with me. We haven't had the opportunity to get to know one another yet. 4. Only po...

As a writer, you may find it a little intimidating to think about taking your writing business global, and it's certainly not a business strategy for the "faint of heart." In fact, with the competition springing up from writers all over the world - many of whom are willing and eager to work for what amounts to pennies on the dollar, you may wonder if there is even a market for your writing business in today's global market? The answer is a resounding YES! Having a global writing business gives your business a huge potential for growth and profitability - in spite of - or perhaps because of - the current world economy. However, to be truly successful, you have to start by creating a global business strategy, because taking your writing business global is going to require an entirely new mindset and way of dong business. If you're just starting out, you should add going global to your long-term strategy, and build your business locally and regionally, putting t...

With the advent of modern communications, it is becoming increasingly more possible to reach anyone, any time, anywhere. Like any other advancement, cell phones have provided much more flexibility and convenience in communication between people, but there are often instances where this goes more than a bit too far. The rules for communicating via a cell phone often violate long-established taboos for face-to-face conversations. In fact, cell phones are used to communicate in situations where even close proximity dictates any normal person should give the conversation a rest. Aside from the dangers associated with using a cell phone while driving instead of concentrating on the road, there are many other instances where people just cannot seem to resist answering calls that could easily wait for a better moment. Perhaps there should be some rules of engagement associated with using the instant gratification of holding hours of conversations that otherwise should not take place. ...

Parents need to teach their children the proper table manners really early in their lives, if they want their kids to grow up displaying those manners and having great etiquette. Not having table manners or not being familiar with dining etiquette can be embarrassing for someone who is suddenly in a situation where the best etiquette is needed. However, if you've never learned proper table etiquette in a formal dining situation, it's never too late to learn. If you know how utterly annoying it is to be seated next to an extremely rude person who is constantly spilling his soup on the table, splashing it in your face or on your clothes and making all kind of funny noises while chewing, maybe even burping or talking so loud everyone can hear him, you have been acquainted with a great lack of table manners and etiquette. Hopefully, the person just described is not you. If you can relate to this person, even partially, it's a swell idea to make sure you'll never be the...

Here are 6 Things To Do and 7 Things Not To Do when talking on the business phone system. 1. Always keep your guard up, not down whenever you answer the office telephone -- even if you are under a great deal of stress or in a hurry. Always take a deep breath, stay calm and use good manners. Good manners are good for business. In fact, you can get results much faster if you remember that. 2. Do treat a call with someone like an actual meeting in person (consider the call having a purpose and having an agenda). 3. Decide before you place the call what you will do if someone else besides the person you are calling would happen to answer the phone. Think if you would want to leave the person a message, go to their answering machine, leave them a voicemail, or call them back later. 4. Be punctual for a call that is scheduled. 5. Learn the names of the individuals who usually answer the phones. Keep track of the phone numbers of people you call frequently. 6. Speak pleasantly to the per...

During the interview process is isn't all about just what you say and how you answer questions. There is an unspoken criteria that revolves around how you carry and present yourself... it's your job interview etiquette. Your business mannerisms can many times be the key decision point for interviews when the short list of candidates are so closely matched for any given position. For example, you must be someone who is comfortable maintaining eye contact throughout the interview process. During the question and answer process, it is certainly acceptable to break eye contact and glance away while you are gather your thoughts. But the inverse is not so true. If the interview is speaking to you, then you want to maintain eye contact with them and completely focus... even if the interviewer doesn't maintain constant eye contact. This not only sends the message that your are completely focused on the task at hand, but it is also the respectful and polite posture to assume. D...

It seems that almost overnight, rapidly evolving technology has completely changed the where, when and how of conducting business.  Instant messaging, 24-7 contact and unlimited access are setting new rules for the way we interact with each other. It's fast and furious. Unfortunately, professional etiquette is changing too, and, in some cases, not for the better. While the occasional faux pas may be overlooked in the general hurly burly of modern business, doing the right thing is still a memorable way to move from ordinary to exceptional. Etiquette, or netiquette, will be the subject of a future debate.  For now, let's review five ways to be polished and professional when meeting face-to-face. POLITE AND QUIET IN THE BEVERAGE LINE: While you are in the drink line don't speak unless spoken to. This is not the place to open a conversation. Unless, there is an obvious problem that you can solve, just be patient and polite. Be prepared with your drink order so that you ...

Most of the people you, a foreigner, would be interacting with in your India business speak good English and they would likely be wearing Western style clothes. They would have most of the same consumer products city people have all over the world nowadays. But don't let this fool you, as India is an ancient culture, which has many contextual rules of behaviour and etiquette. Though etiquette and business behaviour in India is not so radically different from the Western style as business behaviour is in Japan, Korea of India, there are significant differences. The good news is that most of these behaviours and mindsets can be learnt if you do your homework before meeting the Indians. Here are some quick guidelines. The golden rule is: Be always sensitive to the context. When doing business with India, never - Make the other person lose face. Though this is not as serious as the Chinese face saving Gei MianZi(, it is very important. Avoid shouting at an Indian or reprimanding ...

Doing business in Russia can be a whole new experience even for a professional exporter who has done dozens of foreign deals before. Russia is where West meets East and it's a place which was cut off from the rest of the trading world for decades, from the non-socialist part of it anyway. So what do you expect when you have your first business meeting with a Russian partner? Well, the first meeting is the first test of your professionalism, credibility and expertise. Make sure you have the other side of your business card translated into Russian, so your title shows the position you hold within your company. Come to the scheduled meeting on time. Although punctuality may not be a strong point of your Russian partner, you simply cannot offend them by turning up late. Good speaking skills and a well-prepared presentation are important. Although some Russian business people speak English, it's always best not to take chances and hire a professional Russian interpreter as well...

Business cards are among the least expensive marketing tools a business person has at his disposal, yet they are typically very poorly used, if they are used at all. Here are some tips for maximizing the marketing power or your business cards. 1. Carry your business cards with you at all times. This sounds obvious, I know, but you would be amazed how often a business person doesn't have business cards on hand when they are needed. Even if you manage your contacts through your PDA and you love to "beam" your contact information to others, still keep those business cards in your wallet, business card holder, pocket, briefcase, and car. 2. Make sure your employees, spouse and close associates also carry your business cards with them. I have picked up more than one client who learned about me through a conversation with my husband, who reached into his wallet and handed over a business card. 3. Hand out a business card as you introduce yourself at meetings and networking...

As I was reading a recent article on business etiquette, I could not help but find the advice a little old fashioned. It talked about excessive praising and keeping your personal life to yourself. I wondered how many people are so intent on following proper etiquette that when you meet them, they seem to have no personality. That inspired me to write five tips to making successful connections on your next networking meeting. Tip #1: Be prepared - I always treat networking events as fact finding missions. For me, there is nothing more interesting than to hear others talk about what they do and how they do it. I understand that this approach will not work for you. Whatever you want to do, be sure that you have a purpose and that you know what you are doing. In other words, if your idea is to meet as many people as you can, your strategy will be very different from someone looking for strategic alliances. Set your intention, plan your strategy and stick to it. Tip #2: Praise only whe...

Email is an effective communication tool for the office, for work with busy clients, for contact with vendors and to stay in touch with friends and family. We use it so much that we are becoming lax in our emails, and the brief nature of text messaging has eroded the remnants of etiquette we once had in our emails. Communicating brief tidbits of information for efficiency is a good thing, but the short, blunt nature of these communications can cause misunderstandings, hurt feelings and even damaged work or personal relationships. Email etiquette courses can help you learn how to avoid these pitfalls. Use these simple tips to effectively use email for personal and business communications. No matter how brief the email, carefully monitor your tone in every communication. Your attempt at brevity can often come across as curt or demanding. Consider the difference between: "Don't do that," and, "Can you wait to do that until we have a chance to talk about it?" I...

Wouldn't you like to have a surefire way to attract good business ideas whenever you need them? Perhaps after reading this article you can! But like the old saying, not everything that glitters is gold. Not all business ideas, no matter how good they may look or sound at the time, will turn out to be 'good' ideas as at first thought. While there is no magic formula as such, are there steps you can follow to help you find your best and ideal moneymaking business idea? I think there are: Unfilled Gaps A good business idea can come from what you are currently doing. Perhaps an idea could come from a job or business you are already engaged in now or from somebody else's job or business. Have you found a gap in the feature or benefit of a product or service? Could it come from a passion of yours or an interest or from something you saw? In all, is there something you've identified such an unfilled, or poorly filled, gap in the market? Unmet Demand Before ...

Finding the right Online Internet business opportunity takes commitment, diligence, and wisdom, as well as common sense. Whether you want to begin an Online marketing business, a home based Internet business, or get involved with a MLM business opportunity, you need to know: 1. WHAT Internet business opportunities are available 2. WHERE to search for the right opportunity 3. WHEN is owning an Online home based business a good investment 4. WHY some network marketing opportunities may not fulfill their promises and lead you astray 5. HOW you can make honest money by using a proven training system The author's desire is that you will find the right Online Internet business opportunity that meets your own particular desires, needs, values, and your hopes for a brighter and successful future. WHAT Internet Business Opportunities Are Available? For the sake of sounding redundant, business opportunities are everywhere! Just go to Google or any search engine and enter keywords p...

All of us will have to encounter those who are grieving at some point in our lives. It might be people close to us or people we know through work or other activities. Regardless, it's an emotion that we will all experience personally and will all encounter in others. Guidelines on how to handle those who are bereaved can be valuable. Here are some excellent dos and don'ts: DON'T: ignore the situation and refrain from bringing it up. offer empty platitudes: "It's for the best," nor "At least he's out of pain now." ask, "Is there anything I can do?" nor say, "Just call me if you need anything." make a casual inquiry and breeze on by. "Hey, how ya doin'? See ya..." say, "Don't cry," when the bereaved gets teary. Don't try to deflect her tears, or even to turn off your own.  send a sympathy card without your return address and or your last name, if there's the remotest chanc...

Office cubicles can breed contempt rather than teamwork. Being respectful and considerate of co-workers can resolve many of the issues that result in conflict in the office. Guidelines For Cubicle Etiquette: Respect the boundaries of a cubicle. Imagine it having a door. When entering knock on the side wall and wait to be invited in. Don't barge into the cubicle and interrupt the other person. Refrain from being the office Prairie Dog. Don't stick your head over the cubicle and call to others in the office. If you have to speak to someone else in the office either call them on the phone or walk over and talk to them. Don't loiter outside of someone's cubicle if they're on the phone. Come back later. Avoid helping yourself to anything in another person's cubicle. This includes the stapler, candy, etc. Odor knows no boundaries. Refrain from eating at your desk. Eat in the lunchroom. Keep cologne and aftershave to a minimum. Nails should not be painted at work....

The telephone can be the most convenient invention ever, or the biggest intrusion. It all depends on whether you are the caller or the receiver. When we call a business contact, it's because we want to connect with them to get or give information. But when we receive a phone call, it may be interrupting important work or a meeting. It imposes the caller's attention on us. With proper phone etiquette, you should sound professional even if you are being interrupted. Here are 5 tips for proper phone etiquette. 1. The person you are with should always feel they are the most important. If your phone rings during a business appointment, or while you're talking to someone on the phone, let your voice mail take a message. When meeting with colleagues, if you are expecting a call from your boss, let the person know why you have to answer it. 2. Don't interrupt people when they are on the phone. If you walk into a colleague's office and he or she is on the phone, wait un...

We all want to be polite don't we? Especially in business. As such, etiquette is very important in our business lives as this helps us all stay "polite," keeping us all happy. However, etiquette only works when we share the same ideas about what is right and wrong. Communication at the best of times can be difficult, but when you add in the fact that there is no face-to-face contact, as in the case of email contact, it can get even trickier. Add onto that the fact that you might have different cultures, people with different languages, in different time zones and you can see why getting your etiquette right, could be a small challenge. Fortunately though, it's a problem that can be overcome. Read on for a few tips, and anecdotes about international email etiquette in our interconnected world. Email and Language Let's start with language shall we and that's a right old minefield. So much business is carried out in the English language but it's not exac...

Weddings are full of unexpected challenges. The quaint little chapel you have your eye on may not accommodate your large number of guests. If you are having a destination wedding, the wedding site could be too expensive or too far for some loved ones to attend. Do you invite these individuals anyway but lower your expectations. Not at all. What you do is send a wedding announcement. So what is a wedding announcement and what is the appropriate wedding announcement etiquette? This is what this article will teach you. A wedding announcement is mailed the day of or a couple of days after the wedding. This is to be certain that the one receiving the mailing does not believe it is an invitation to your wedding. The wording of the announcement should prevent this error as well. Typically, wedding announcements are sent to family and friends that were not invited to the ceremony for whatever reason. Wedding announcements can be sent to business associates as well. Your business ...

How to start your own wedding invitation business from home. You love the whole wedding planning and you enjoy the energy that comes from all of it. So why not make a business out of it. Making wedding invitations is not difficult. It isn't even that expensive. You can start with a few basics and build on it. There are only a few things you need to start . You will need a good printer . I recommend an Epson printer. The best reason for using this is that you are getting a very good quality print. It uses a waterproof ink, it is more durable than most. These are inexpensive too. I have bought Epson printers for years. I even prefer them to laser because, I have found laser print will offset sometimes. Since you can purchase these ink jet printers for around $100 they are perfect. Now for the software. I recommend starting with Microsoft Works . It is inexpensive and you may even have it on your computer now. It has basic features. You can even set up a data base and do envelope...

Being prepared for an international business meeting requires information and knowledge of what will be discussed or presented at this meeting. A nice social gesture when meeting an international company for the first time, usually, is giving a gift. Take the time to research local customs before making a purchase, though, as some countries find it insulting to receive a gift. Knowing what to do before you go will not only show that you cared enough to learn about your destination's etiquette, but may also open up all kinds of new doors and opportunities for you and your company. Many multi-national businesses and their governments have very strict policies when it comes to business associates accepting gifts. Many Asian countries are concerned about corporate corruption and see gift giving as a bribe, so holding off on gift giving until you get to know the company and its policies may be a good idea. You should know that in Malaysia, most businesses require you establish a ...

Gift giving is a universal way to show your respect and appreciation for someone's companionship or their contribution to your life. But in the workplace, the etiquette of gifting is somewhat more complicated. You might want to thank your employees or your biggest clients for their performance or patronage, but it can be a challenge to choose something appropriate. On the other hand, you might not know what to give to the boss or coworker who seems to have everything. What are the rules of workplace gifting? "Should I Give a Gift?" A Word about Corporate Policies First and foremost, you should check with your company handbook or HR department to determine whether your company allows gifts. Some businesses forbid gift exchanges, while others encourage the practice. Make sure you follow the rules set by your office to avoid embarrassment. Next, consider the unspoken boundaries in your workplace. Is a gift really appropriate? If you do choose to give something to a work...

Financial Advisors have a certain image that they need to portray, and that really comes across in the business cards that they hand out. Financial advisors need to show their conservativeness, formality, and stability, along with the reputation of the company they represent. The business card design is so important in this field because you are dealing with money, and people are very concerned about where their money will go and what kind of profit they can make with it. This is a huge business, and there are thousand of financial advisors to choose from, so the first impression can be a huge factor in whether they choose you. The design should be both bold, and traditional. You want to show them that you can invest their money wisely while taking a little risk to ensure more profit. There shouldn't be any bright colors or pictures, just confident lettering and possibly a small clip art design. A financial advisor wants his or her business card to say they do the job w...

Corporate gift giving can be a touchy issue. Most people-in particular those with a keen desire to keep to the boundaries of ethical business practices-are not entirely certain where the line between professionalism and over-familiarity lies. And, while it's not exactly brain surgery (most experts will tell you to simply exercise common sense), there are a few considerations you may want to bear in mind before spending a thousand dollars on a business gift you may regret having sent. Is it Okay? Gifts are our way of expressing appreciation, but when it comes to professional relationships sometimes, there are rules that we must abide by. And, these are not just unwritten rules, but they are actual guidelines. Some corporations enforce a strict policy barring their employees from accepting gifts of even minor value-try tipping the bag boy at your local supermarket sometime and you may just find this rule filters down to all levels. Therefore, it's important to research a com...

Because so much of the business world is international these days, more people are going on business trips than ever before. To ensure that you represent your company that best you can, there are some etiquette rules you should follow every time you travel. Representing your company in a positive light while traveling is where the etiquette begins. You have to remember that you are the face of your company during your trip. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember this, especially after hours. You have to be able to control yourself. If you are tempted to do something that you would never do at work, you cannot do it on a business trip. In addition to behaving professionally, it also is proper business travel etiquette to be as polite as you can to everyone you meet. This even includes the air staff if you are flying. Even if they do not know the company for which you work, you still want to be polite. It will be good practice for when it comes time to do your business. Because y...

In today's increasingly culturally diverse home business environment saying or doing "the wrong thing" are even greater than ever before. During times today it is historical that four generations who lived through World War II, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y are together. Each generation has its own style of communication which differs considerably and can cause a multitude of chaos and confusion. Business etiquette principles on all levels must be master as quickly and thoroughly as possible in order to avoid the serious ramifications of inappropriate behavior, bad judgment and insensitivity to others.   Experience and intelligence are no longer enough when it comes to succeeding in a home based business. The years you have spent refining your business skills must now be enhanced by the use of business etiquette. Business etiquette fuels relationships and prevents lost opportunities by helping you to adopt the social strategies, professio...

How often do you hear that? Not only are we missing communications, but many of people are getting sloppy with their e-mail. In the days of pen and paper letters, we never would have made the errors that we see daily on professional electronic correspondence. When e-mail first hit the company I worked for, in 1994, my department was taken into an empty room. Jeff, our top IT guy paired us up, each partner holding one end of a sixteen foot rope. We stood across from each other with our ropes intersecting. Jeff took ten pieces of paper folded in half so they could hang on the rope. By now, I was feeling pretty ridiculous participating in yet another time wasting, corporate "team building" exercise. Jeff explained how e-mail moved throughout the LAN (local area network) sliding the pieces of paper across the ropes, some taking a turn to a new rope, some clogging up at an intersection. Thirteen years later I'm glad I had participated in that drill. On top of that visua...

This is a short list of some things all performing groups should strive to do when sharing the stage with another band. When my band opened for a larger group a few months ago, we didn't realize the other group didn't have the same on-stage manners we did. Here are some tips I came up with in the aftermath of our gig. 1. Introduce yourselves prior to the show if you don't already know each other. Chat it up - get to know one another. The business of music is much like any other business - relationships matter. 2. Stick around for the other group's set. I really mean this. For starters, if you're in a small venue, it helps to fill the place up. Secondly, it's just plain rude to leave, and thirdly, you avoid embarrassing yourself by showing up only for your set and then not being able to comment about the other band during your set (if they happen to play before you). If they're playing after you, it's also prudent to stick around and listen. They w...

If you participate on a list serve for your industry or academic efforts you may wish to consider using your secondary email address if you have an auto responder, which alerts the other party that you are out of the office. Nothing can be more aggravating to other list serve users than to get five replies that; So-in-so is out of the office until Monday. Some of the worst culprits of this are the professional parasites in our society, civilization and business world. Lawyers, accountants, government workers and such; why do they do it if they know that it upsets everyone? Well, it is simple, they could careless about anyone but themselves. Lawyers are the worst and most self-serving when it comes to auto-responders on list serves. It seems every weekend or 3-day weekend this silly auto responder shows up and tells us all that they are out of the office? How disrespectful to the group. Little do they know they end up looking like horse's rear-ends. It makes sense if you have a...

Continued success in online business lies in proper planning - both long term as well as short term. Internet marketing has a huge impact on a wide range of businesses. New business owners fail to understand that just creating a website is not enough. In actuality, planning marketing strategies and implementing them successfully is important for a business whose highest income comes from online marketing. Effective marketing plan starts even before the website is ready. After the marketing plan is ready, you know exactly what your website should include, what are customers expecting when they depend on internet purchases as opposed to actually looking at the product in a store. You can then plan your products and services and support to be provided via your website. 1] Clarity in business objectives is very important as it gives you a direction for effective marketing online. It also makes planning and strategizing in the right direction easy - hence bringing you closer to achievi...

Invitation etiquette is there to help you when you have to make important decisions about party invites and the type of information to include in those. Certain rules need to be followed in order to get the message across in a classy manner. This etiquette affects each aspect of the invitation - the time of sending, the content, the visuals and the style. These are the important aspect you need to know when making up your mind. When to Send the Invitations? The first aspect of invitation etiquette involves the date and most appropriate time to send out the invites. It all depends on the type of event about to take place. A birthday party demands little time for preparation - the invitation could be sent a week in advance. Parties that ask for more preparation - baby showers, bridal showers or anniversaries need to be announced several weeks in advance. You should also think about where guests are coming home. Are people going to fly in, are they coming from distant places? In case...