Good business etiquette is something that can help you achieve your blogging and business goals. Learning good business etiquette tips for bloggers and online solopreneurs will give you the ability to succeed faster.
I don’t like seeing new bloggers fail because of actions and other faux pas. Online business etiquette is a learned skill that will help you grow not only your online blog business but also as a person.
Since personal branding is so important in how your readers, other bloggers and potential business partners perceive you, ensuring you do business well is important.
Let’s see how we can make you into a respected blogger who people WANT to work with on a regular basis.
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10 Business Etiquette Tips: For Online Solopreneurs And Bloggers
Why do you need to focus on business etiquette?
It should be simple right?
But here’s something you may not realize: many new bloggers and even new solopreneurs get caught up in the small stuff and forget to build a professional personal brand.
Whether you’re a solopreneur, starting your online business or a blogger who is transforming a blog into an online business, you’re going to want to follow basic business etiquette.
I’ve seen many new business owners and bloggers make mistakes when it comes to interacting with others.
These tips are in many cases “no-brainers”, but they do require just a bit more effort from you.
Nevertheless, the effort pays off when people say they love to work with you and are willing to help you grow your blog or business!
1. Write Initial Emails Using A Business Tone
While it may be tempting to include smile emojis when you’re happy to respond to somebody who’s emailed you with good news, keep it professional.
The first business etiquette tip is to keep your initial few emails professional until you’ve had a chance to get to know the person you’re emailing.
So, end it with an “All the best,” or Sincerely” instead of a 🙂 or emoji.
You want to create the perception that you’re taking your blogging business seriously.
2. Be Timely In Your Email Correspondence
Although I often ignore pitches to yet another sponsored post or “guest post” on my site, if it’s a legitimate email from a potential blogging collaborator or brand, I respond within a few hours of receiving it.
Why? I don’t want them to wait and chase me.
Responding even with a “Thanks – I’m going to get back to you tomorrow on this as I’m swamped today” shows respect and acknowledgement.
I know life can get busy, but I believe this one small step can greatly affect how somebody perceives you.
3. Don’t Steal Content And Branding Styles From Others
Next on our list of top business etiquette tips for bloggers and solopreneurs is one that can get you into legal trouble and ruin your reputation.
Stealing content from other bloggers and solopreneurs is not acceptable and very poor business etiquette.
I’ve had several other blog coaches steal my blog posts and even my blog coaching services content.
One blamed a VA that she never named, so I suspect it may have been her stealing my content and using it on her site and podcast.
What does this kind of behaviour do to your reputation?
It ruins it irrevocably.
I’d never recommend her to any of my clients if I was over capacity with clients.
Not only can you be potentially sued, but your reputation can be destroyed by your actions.
So produce your own original content and branding style and you’ll be fine.
4. Follow Through On Promises And Contractual Agreements
Good business etiquette for solopreneurs and bloggers includes making good on promises and agreements.
Follow through even if a contract isn’t involved, and it’s a simple promise to do something for a business or blogger acquaintance or friend.
You’re building goodwill between you both. Invested time and attention to helping others are remembered and often rewarded.
Just as people remember those who behave poorly, they remember and admire those who follow through on promises.
PRO TIP: When doing business as a coach/consultant or freelancer, remember to use an agreement. I use these agreements to ensure that I and my clients are covered legally: coaching agreement template or independent contractor agreement template. Doing things with a contract in place creates a sense of security.
| RELATED: How To Build A Network Of Awesome Blogger Friends Who Help You Grow
5. Be Authentic And Transparent
Nobody likes people who pretend to be something that they aren’t. You’ve seen it before: people say that authenticity matters.
As Gary Vaynerchuk says:
Authenticity is only achievable when it’s actually authentic.
If you’re “faking it to make it” it’s fairly easy to spot the inconsistencies.
I’ve known people like this in my past work experiences and they usually end up being found out by those who pay attention.
For example, one influencer that I worked with when she was just a coworker at a PR agency, faked it to make it seem like she was more popular on social media than not. She purchased followers to make it seem like she was popular, in the hopes of landing branding collaborations, freelance writing opportunities and TV work.
My perception of her was forever tainted to the point that I avoided recommending her for brand campaigns.
If she was inauthentic and lying about one point, what else would she lie about?
Transparency is another key point in business etiquette. If you can’t deliver on something, or you know something won’t work, be honest about it.
Overpromising and under-delivering will get you no future opportunities.
6. Don’t Gossip And Name Names
Gossiping about others in the business and naming names can land you in legal trouble (defamation) and affect how people perceive you.
Being labelled a gossip or “shit disturber” creates a negative perception of you. If you’re talking about others to somebody, there’s a chance you may do the same about them.
Keep gossip to yourself. Instead, I recommend that you talk up the good things about others in your blogging and business network.
You’ll be perceived as somebody who provides valuable information and resources to others. A win for your personal branding!
7. Be Genuinely Interested In Others
Another key business etiquette tip for bloggers is to show genuine interest in others.
Get to know people in your business or blogging niche by connecting with them.
Becoming friends with other bloggers can help you grow your blog and business faster!
How do you do this successfully?
- Listen attentively when you speak with them
- Respond to their emails or social media comments in a timely fashion
- Follow through on promises
- Reach out on social media and engage
- Share their content and promote them to your audience
If you’re doing this, you’re building strong blogger friends and your business network.
8. Underpromise And Overdeliver
Next on my list of top business etiquette tips for bloggers and solopreneurs is one that’s common in business.
Smart businesses do this for clients, but also for any stakeholder they want as a good partner.
Ever heard of the saying “going the extra mile”?
It doesn’t mean you have to go overboard, but it means doing a bit more than was expected with something that has a great impact.
What does underpromising and overdelivering look like?
It can be anything such as:
- Offering to include a fellow blogger’s freebie in your newsletter and also adding social media mentions
- Writing a guest blog post, and creating an infographic and Pinterest pins as a bonus
See what’s happening here? Just doing a bit extra can be a big help or give your contact a boost.
9. Respect Privacy
Whether it’s your site visitor’s privacy (have a proper Privacy Policy in place), or a quote that somebody has shared with you in an email, you need to respect their privacy.
Avoid sharing personal information without their consent!
This is especially true if you have testimonials that you’re sharing on a testimonial page or with your products and courses.
To do this properly, always seek their agreement via a media release agreement. You can get a media release agreement template and use it for anything from quotes, headshot photos, podcasts and video interviews.
10. Resolve Conflicts Professionally
I can’t tell you how often I’ve had to address issues in my Facebook group with people breaking group rules.
The worst is when somebody decides to promote their content and business on my Facebook group, directly competing with my business.
This is one of the most important business etiquette tips for solopreneurs and bloggers: resolve your conflicts privately and quietly.
Be professional and don’t let your emotions overtake you.
Brush Up On Business Etiquette Tips For Solopreneurs And Bloggers
It’s very easy to get lost in the minutiae of growing our blog and business that you can forget how to deal with people.
Hey, we know that blogger burnout is real. So is burnout for small business owners.
It can affect how you work with others.
Keeping in mind good business etiquette and applying it to your blogging and solopreneur activities will help you in the long run.
Want to connect with me? You can reach out and send me an email! Let’s see how we can collaborate and build our blogging network.
QUESTION: Which one of the business etiquette tips for bloggers and small business owners do you think is the most important?
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Genuinely interested, It’s a great point I must say. You should find something in the person you are talking. Compliment them genuinely, bcoz you know in this world many people use it just to make someone feels important and not genuinely.
Very true – genuine communication is so powerful!
Thank you for these great tips! As I’m growing in my blogging journey these will be so helpful. I’ve already found the underpromising and over delivering to be really helpful!
That one is always a very good way to delight somebody. Keep it up!