2. Network etiquette is understood to be one basic rule:
show consideration for the other party online. Until
now, the edict has been written mostly from the point of
view of relationships between individuals, or between
businesses and consumers. One important group has
often been overlooked: business-to-business (B2B).
Business-to-business etiquette is a growing, evolving
behaviour model for how to present oneself and
represent one's company when networking online. It is
for this group that etiquette plays the most crucial part.
The slightest improper behaviour online can ruin a good
business opportunity. The guidelines were established
from no central source but through a collaborative
9. Business operators new to the Web are eager to solicit
prospects and partnerships 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.
10. 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.
12. Fight the urge to be creative Avoid using multiple fonts,
size and colours. No HTML or rich media, either. Keep it
all in plain text.
13. 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).
14. 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."
15. 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.
16. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
23. 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.
24. If you are set on asking a company or an individual
whom you have never met for advice, handle yourself
with the greatest care.
26. 2. Give your profession and or skill background. If you
are a student, mention where and what you are
studying.
27. 3. Explain why you need the advice and how you plan to
use it
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
32. 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:
33. Telling a business owner to look at your Web site or your
other online works, and asking what would improve
them
35. 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
36. 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.
37. 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?"
