Manners, Style and Class
All materials copyrighted

Ad Disclaimer

If you have an online presence, and what writer doesn’t, you need to be able to inform your following, your customers, your interested lurkers, about your new books, newest accomplishments, awards and public appearances. To maintain a following, you have to make that connection “sticky” with material that keeps them not just informed, but entertained and eager to hear from you.

One tool in your box of self-promotional business devices is simply the strong use of your manners―otherwise known as good customer service. Treating a customer like a charmed one sells a product. You have met people who were so charismatic that you felt they shut off the world to pay attention to you. Oprah Winfrey has cashed in on that trait, and that’s the feeling you want to give others. Powerful energy occurs in making other people feel needed and that momentum continues when they return to their own realities.

Make your writing mannerly and you attract more people. Believe in fairness, give back to others and lead with calm sincerity and respect for other human beings, and you open big doors. Manners ring true and honest. What are some of the mannerly practices that aid you as a writer?

• Shake hands with a firm grip.
  Limp means insincerity. A social mannerism that speaks more than most people realize, a firm grip feels genuine, says you are glad to meet a person, and shows an interest in what he has to offer. Lack of grip signals you do not care. A hurting grip speaks intimidation. Think of it as a formal hug. A hug too tight or too fleeting means little compared to one that is just right.
  
  
• Introduce yourself.
  Even if everyone in the room knows you and your reputation, when you shake hands or greet a person, introduce yourself. Assuming everyone knows you is considered arrogant. Wear a nametag and the introduction is made for you.
  
  
• Look them in the eye.
  Looking through them, over them or at their shoes shows a lack of interest as if you have better things to do. In individual situations, connecting eyes means listening. Want to impress a publisher or agent? Grip her hand firmly, introduce yourself clearly and look at her squarely. Your heart may be pounding in your throat, but you gain points right away.
  
  
• Create invitations.
  Quality is credibility. Have your logo, pen name, or identifiable design placed on invitations or note cards. Send these personal invitations not only to friends and relations, but also to dignitaries, businesses, libraries, schools and politicians. The children’s author may invite youth charities, law enforcement agencies, schools and those sensitive to children’s needs. The gardener contacts the professor who teaches horticulture, the columnist who writes about gardening and the nonprofit garden club who sponsors the rose show each summer. What are you inviting them to? Everything and anything from book signings to speaking engagements.
  
  
• Design business cards.
  Make them crisp and clean without clutter on sturdy stock. Be generous with them. Don’t overdo the cuteness or the information. Your name, your web site and email, maybe the title of your latest book or a line about your service is plenty. It must appear polished so that later, the person will remember you in a similar light.
  
  
• Send thank-you cards.
  Collect the names, if possible, from those who attended your event, bought your book, spread the word about your service. Send thank-yous to anyone who assists you in your efforts. Few people send thank-you notes anymore, and therefore, your note (and your name) will be easily remembered.
  
  
• Answer emails.
  Answer them quickly, with thought and with gracious thanks. Have contact information in a signature block so customers do not have to guess who you are, what you do and where they should contact you in the future. Answer with part of the original message embedded in your reply so they remember the subject matter. Putting yourself in your customer’s shoes at all times makes for pleasant business and happy acquaintances.
  
  
• Be on time.
  Whether you are returning phone calls or showing up for an interview, attending a signing or writing per a deadline, be timely in all your obligations. The more reliable you are, the more credible you become.
  
  
• Dress appropriately.
  When in question, overdress rather than underdress. Respect the appointment, your customer, the event by dressing for success. In today’s fashion scene, comfort is available in classy styles.