Building Trust & Likeability in Online Business Networking

A message to an online community that I moderate

Dear Community,

As we learn to interact with one another effectively online, you’ll find that etiquette will define the quality of your online relationships, which can determine the success of your online business.

Some important tips for online etiquette, especially in groups/communities…

1. Do not post in ALL CAPS — unless you want to be seen as SHOUTING! ☺

2. Similarly, using multiple question marks or exclamation marks in a row has the same shouting effect, such as ??? or !!!

3. Trust and patience tends to get better results: believe in the person you are dealing with, that they have the best of intentions, and be patient and trust in the process. Practice responding with friendliness and lovingkindness, always.

4. Be slow to take offense, and practice being quick to forgive and “re-embrace” the other through warmth and kind acknowledgment of the other person. We are social creatures, and live or die by the love others give to us, or withhold.

5. Online communication is more relational than it is transactional. Let every paragraph you write, whether publicly or privately to someone, be a relational experience. With every sentence you are either creating more love & trust, or more coldness/distance/hostility. So pause before you write. Come from friendliness & kindness in your communications and you’ll find the same and more returned to you.

Yours in Service,

George Kao