Business Etiquette: Why It's Important as a Young Entrepreneur

Etiquette matters, especially in business.

No matter in which industry you work, there are certain unspoken rules that guide our interactions with each other. It’s important to know how to work with people across professions, like when you’re working with a creative studio (oh, hi!)

Working with creatives isn’t all that different from working with any other business. While we do play by our own rules, we also value communication, lots of details, and friendliness from start to finish!

If you’re curious about what business etiquette looks like when you’re working with people in a creative field, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some basic etiquette tips for working with a creative business.

Etiquette Tips for Working with a Creative Business

Start Strong

All business relationships have to start somewhere. Usually, it’s when you reach out to the creative business that you want to work with, also known as an initial inquiry.

An initial inquiry is your opportunity to tell a creative business why you want to work together. But before you email, DM, or hit ‘submit’ on their contact form, make sure that you have all the information for your project ready to go.

Understanding what you want from a creative studio is step number one. Do you need them to help you with a logo? Some photography? Maybe some help with copywriting or social media management? Whatever it is, make sure that you’re specific. The best way for creatives to help you is for you to be as informative as you can up top.

If you don’t have knowledge of the specific area you need help with, that’s ok! We are here to help guide you through. Be transparent, ask for clarification, or set up a 30-minute creative call to better understand what you’re looking for. There’s literally no shame in wanting guidance from professionals!

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you send an initial inquiry:

• What do I specifically need help with?

  • A single deliverable?

  • A project?

  • On-going support?

• What is the timeline for my project?

  • When can I get started?

  • When do I need this delivered by?

• How do I need these materials delivered?

  • Digitally?

  • Printed?

• What am I using this creative agency’s work for?

  • Share the purpose of this project upfront to help guide creative efforts!

You wouldn’t believe how many messages we get that just say, “Need photography, rates?” or “Prices?” When we get messages like this, it’s often hard to craft a message back. We don’t know how to tailor questions to the project you’re inquiring about, and it can feel awkward trying to get project information out of you. For example, you wouldn’t walk into a restaurant and say, “looking for food. Prices?” The same goes for working with a creative agency!

Make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for before you reach out. When you share details in your initial inquiry, you’re actually saving time by allowing the creative team to get back to you with specifics about working together. Giving basic information right out of the gate will lead to smoother sailing all around.

Keep It Business

Don’t let our distressed jeans or vintage t-shirts fool you. We are serious professionals! Creatives often present as very casual and quirky, but we take our jobs just as seriously as everyone else. Keeping your interactions professional will let us know that you’re as sincere about working together as we are.

Although the lines can get blurred when you’re working with people you like, it’s important to understand the difference between speaking to a business partner vs. speaking to a friend. Expressing yourself politely and with purpose will go a long way when it comes to building professional relationships that last.

Remember: If you want professional-looking work from a professional creative business, you’re going to have to act profeshhh!

Trust Us

 It’s exciting to be working with a team on a creative project that you’re passionate about. However, it can sometimes get in the way of a creative’s process if you’re constantly checking in to see how things are going.

When you work with creatives, make sure to give them space to let their creative process unfold. Not only is it stressful for you to monitor everything a creative does, it’s also stressful for us when we get constant emails asking for updates. We want your product to come out exactly the way you want, and there is always time built into the process for feedback! For now, just trust us. Everything will turn out the way you like – maybe even better!

Set Realistic Time Expectations

Time is a valuable resource for everyone! That’s why we like to set reasonable time expectations for ourselves and our clients.

If we get a message on a Friday night, we probably won’t look at it until Monday morning. Don’t panic, though! We didn’t forget about you. We just need a break to reset. You should also take a break! After all, we all deserve some time to refresh after a long week of magic making.

We also like to be mindful of our turnaround times. Good work takes time, which is why we like to take our time to deliver the best possible product. Also, we always talk about turnaround time in business days. For example, if we say that a turnaround time for a photo is 7 days, that means 7 business days unless communicated otherwise for pressing projects. 

Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is the foundation for a great partnership! If your writing could use some tightening up, try using online tools to help you write more concise and clear messages.

We personally love Grammarly in the Ouu I Love office! Grammarly is a self-proclaimed “writing assistant” that can help you write professional-sounding emails! It helps with spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and even delivery mistakes. If you’re worried about getting your point across, Grammarly should absolutely be your next download. (https://www.grammarly.com/) 😎

Remember We are People Too!

When you work with creatives, always remember that we all make mistakes. Sometimes, an email will slip past us, or a text will be left on read. Just shoot us a follow up, and we will be able to help you!

Business etiquette sounds tricky, but it doesn’t have to be! As long as you’re polite, concise, and professional, you will have no trouble maintaining great relationships with a creative business.

Do you have any questions about working with a creative studio? Shoot us a DM at @ouuilove, and we can help you out!