Write Now Editing

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Editing Services
  • Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Professionalism: 3 Simple Tips for Better Smartphone Etiquette

October 23, 2017 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Smartphones. They’re so much fun. They’re so convenient. They’re such an evil, tempting distraction!

The emergence of the smartphone has necessitated the development of new etiquette standards because people don’t leave their work phones at the office anymore. More often than not, they bring their communication hub with them to every meeting, dinner, and networking event they attend. There’s nothing wrong with that; however, it becomes an issue when every event revolves around the phone.

When it comes to phone use in a professional setting, here are some basic cell phone etiquette tips to remember:

Phone Calls – Identify Yourself: When I was growing up, we always answered the house phone, “Hello, Van Buren’s.” It let the caller know whether or not they’d dialed the right number. These days, I often call entrepreneurs who answer the phone, “Hello?” It immediately makes me wonder if I’ve called a business or personal line, or if I even have the right number.

Don’t make the caller guess who they’re talking to. You don’t have to say your company name, but at the very least, let them know who they’re talking to. A simple, “Hello, this is Karin,” gives the caller someone to relate to.

Text Messages – Be Proper: If you’re texting a friend, it’s perfectly acceptable to use abbreviations, emojis, and any other vocabulary substitutes that you like. When you’re texting clients and employees, however, your text is still a professional correspondence. You wouldn’t say to a customer, “BRB,” so don’t text it. Your text messages will reflect your business, so make sure they present the right image.

Phone Etiquette – Put Down Your Phone: The year was 2001. When I had a meeting at work, I walked away from my desk – leaving my phone and computer behind – and gave my full attention to the speaker. I worked at that company for five years, and never once did the world end because a client had to wait an hour or two for me to finish my meeting. The same could be true today … if people would put down their phones.

There are very few instances when we need to be available 24/7. Few of us are so important that we need to respond to others within minutes of getting an email or text. All of us, however, show disrespect to others when we’re checking our phones during someone else’s presentation.

Put your phone down, and be present. In fact, turn it off or put it on silent (yes, we can all hear your phone vibrating on the table – it’s distracting). Not only will you be showing those around you that you care about the person/people talking to you, you’ll also get a lot more out of the event because you’ll have given it your complete attention.

Smartphones have revolutionized the way we communicate, but we need to make sure we’re using them wisely. These three simple smartphone etiquette tips will help you maintain your professional appearance while making the most of your smartphone.

Did you find this information helpful? Sign up now to receive more business writing and entrepreneurial tips right in your inbox! And don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook!

Filed Under: best practices, entrepreneur, freelance

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Noticed for the Right Reasons!

Learn how (and why) one easy fix will keep agents and publishers reading your manuscript. It's not a secret, but it might surprise you!

Enter your email to receive this 2-page PDF with the easiest way to make a great first impression, and get monthly tips, book reviews, and author interviews.

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

Contact Me

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copywriting

Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

Editing

Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

Author Page

Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

Resources

Fiction: Substantive Editing Classes Substantive Editing for Fiction 101 In Substantive Fiction Editing 101, we’ll look at the basics of a well-written novel and learn how to help our … [more]

© Copyright 2015 Write Now Editing · All Rights Reserved · Design by Pink Haired Pixels/Carol Jones Media

· All Logos & Trademark Belongs To Their Respective Owners·