Category Archives: Business Relation

Email Signatures Add Credibility, by Kimberly Law, AICI CIP

As a business owner, everyday I receive unsolicited emails from companies promoting their products and services. Each of these business solicitors tell me their product can make my business more successful. They provide information about how they have researched my image & etiquette consulting business ‘Personal Impact Image Management International’. And why they feel I need their help.

Although I personally don’t like to receive unsolicited email, occasionally something will arrive in my outlook inbox that looks interesting and could potentially be of value to my business.

I read through the email with great interest and then arrive at the signature line. All too often they look like this:

emailThis email signature lacks credibility. Other then the person’s name, it does not tell me anything about the person or the company they work for.

  • It does not provide a company name,
  • It does not provide the company location,
  • It does not provide a contact telephone number,
  • This person is marketing website SEO –  however there is no indication they even have a website; and
  • The email address in the email signature is a gmail account which would lead the consumer to believe this is a personal email address rather than a business email address.

The signature below provides credibility to the company. There are no secrets.

email2A good email signature should include the following information:

  • Your name,
  • Your position (if applicable),
  • Company’s name,
  • Contact telephone number,
  • Company address (if applicable),
  • Company website; and
  • Contact email address.

Providing full information provides the potential client the opportunity to research your company before contacting you. This also provides reassurance to your potential client that you, your company and the product or service you are offering are credible.

Your personal image consultant,

Kimberly sig pic

Gift Giving at Work by Kimberly Law, Certified Image Consultant

During the Christmas season although it may be customary to give gifts to friends and family it can be a little confusing at work. Especially when you don’t know the etiquette for gift giving and there is no written company policy.

Here are three tips to make office gift giving less awkward:images

  1. If you are new to the job, check the company policy for gift giving. Some company’s allow it and others don’t.  If office policy permits or promotes gift giving to co-workers or you are expected to play the role of secret Santa at your holiday party, stick to the limits and guidelines that have been suggested.
  2. If you have developed a friendship with a co-worker and want to give a gift that is beyond the expected, it should be given outside the work environment.
  3. Gifts for the boss are not generally expected and may be considered brown-nosing when undertaken alone. If you wish to buy your boss a gift, ask staff members to chip in for a group gift instead.

Happy Holidays!

Kimberly sig pic

Use Your Company’s Image as a Personal Asset

Have you ever wondered why some people move up the corporate ladder quickly, while others consistently get passed over for promotion? Or why certain people do so well in sales? Yes, education, talent and people skills are major factors, but image also plays a major role.

Most companies spend a lot of money each year developing and maintaining their company image. As a representative of your company it’s up to you to reinforce this image by presenting yourself in a way that’s consistent with the company brand. Let’s face it, when we meet someone for the first time, whether we like it or not, we instantly form an impression about them. If the impression matches what they are trying to communicate, we are more likely to trust them. Once trust is established, it’s easier to build rapport and strong business relationships.