As a certified and trained etiquette expert, you can teach conversation skills to children and adults. How do you teach the students in your manners class the gift of having a conversation? To have a conversation with anyone, an adult or a child is something to treasure these days…a conversation without distraction.My most popular topic when teaching business etiquette in the workplace is The Art of the Human Connection. The art of having a conversation, is a lost “art”. We are so consumed with social media that often we are so buried in it we miss out on so many opportunities. Often, it is the first request I have from a human resource director to discuss the basic skills of conversation to their team.
You can customize the Manners To Go modules and lesson plans to teach this important topic in your manners classes. Life is more interesting when we engage in conversations. This is a very important life skill for your students. Actually, we all become more interesting. A child learns so much about life when he/she hears us conversing with others.
Eye contact: This is a social skill that is so very important. By making eye contact, it shows someone that you are interested. It sends a message that you are confident. Point this out to your students. Explain why this is important. Take the opportunity to talk about confidence and how it feels. Get on their level. Literally! Get down on your knees if necessary and make eye contact with them.
Teach them “active listening skills”: Another important social skill is to listen. Tell them it is alright for there to be silence when having a conversation. This is the time to practice sharing-sharing the space to tell ideas and experiences. Tell them to put away their phones, iPads, laptops make eye contact and really listen to what the other person is telling them.
Ask questions: By asking questions, we show others that we are interested in their experiences. Ask the students in your manners program questions. Explain to them that you are having a conversation with them
Phone skills: The Wall Street Journal had an article about answering the phone. Remember when we were growing up and we took messages for our parents? With our phones today, this most likely is not happening. This was a great way to teach conversation skills. It is still important for your children to know how to answer a phone and converse. Practice with relatives. Turn on your speaker phone so your children can hear your conversations.
Read a story. After reading a story during to your students. Did they like the story? What was their favorite part? Tell them what you liked or what you learned from the story. Ask them to share their story with you.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
As an etiquette expert, you have a lot of influence in your community. Educators, parents, and children look to you for advice pertaining to manners and etiquette.
I have worked with so many amazing women who’ve helped teach children manners through many different programs in their communities. They made many contributions to help shape today’s youth. You have the opportunity to do that too!
One important way for you to connect with your community and promote your status as an etiquette expert is through social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are all popular sites that many of your community members may be on.
How Social Media Influences You As An Etiquette Expert (and Vice Versa!)
Social media influences the power of an etiquette expert tremendously. You have the ability to use social media to promote your expertise to your community. That means you can start making connections.
The benefit of using social media is a two-way street. Building a rapport helps you advertise yourself as an etiquette expert to potential clients. In turn, you can use social media to implement your own teachings.
Let’s take a deeper look at how social media can benefit you.
How Social Media Influences YOU As The Etiquette Expert
Creating a social media account gives you a platform for content. As an etiquette expert, you’ve got a lot to share. Having a place where you can discuss skills and tips involving etiquette allows you to build a profile.
Being active on social media gives you the opportunity to stay up-to-date on current trends. If you’re more aware of what’s happening in society, you’ll be able to tailor it to your own practice.
Your social media account provides you with an opportunity to dive deep with potential clients. You can see firsthand how people react to information on social media. As a result, you can keep in touch with people who might be needing an etiquette expert.
How You Can Use Social Media To Influence Your Community
As I mentioned before, social media is a two-way street.
By building your own social media page you have the opportunity to show your community what is possible. Share inspiring and engaging content. The more you show them, the more you can establish a connection with them.
You can continue to connect with them by providing advice and suggestions. Setting yourself up as an etiquette expert online is great. But if you can grant trustworthy advice, you’ll be in an even better position with your community members. They’ll have more respect and trust for you as an expert.
Social media allows you to be an etiquette guide for your community. They can come to you with questions that you can help answer. Then, you can point them in the right direction for resources they may need. You’re not an expert for nothing, let them know you’re there to help!
Tips To Help You Manage Your Social Media As An Etiquette Expert
Social media can be intimidating at first. With a couple of quick tips, you can create your own account and start promoting yourself.
Start With One Platform
As I mentioned earlier, there are many different social media platforms to choose from.
When I am training a new licensee, I always suggest they choose ONE platform. Starting with one platform gives you the opportunity to focus on only that platform.
If you create an account for multiple platforms, you could potentially be juggling five different accounts while learning new platforms. Overwhelming yourself with social media won’t help you utilize it to its fullest potential.
Focus on one platform until you learn to manage it well. Once you master one, you can add more to your list later on.
After you set up your account, you will need to start brainstorming content. The content you post must connect with your skills as an etiquette expert and attract the attention of your community.
Thinking about content as a whole can seem daunting. Try breaking down your content into categories. Then, you can stay organized on your social media account and in your own mind.
Content categories reign people’s attention to your specific topics. As a result, they will understand who you are and what you do a little better.
For your own peace of mind, content categories break down the idea of content as a whole. You can organize specific posts into categories so you don’t feel like you are lacking information.
Examples of content categories could be:
Advice
Inspiring quotes
Your unique offers, like classes or private instruction
Personal stories
Plan Ahead For Your Content
Running an engaging social media account takes planning. Plan ahead for your content. Having ideas for your categories ahead of time prevents future issues. It keeps you from feeling overwhelmed or pressured to come up with posts.
Create a planning schedule that works for you. You can plan a week ahead or a month ahead. Whatever puts you in a better position as an etiquette expert.
It’s important to think about your audience when you plan ahead. If you think about what they might need from you, you can be in a better position to provide that content. With more time on your hands, for instance, you can offer more of your skills to your community.
Social media opens up many opportunities for you as an etiquette expert. It provides you with the support to connect with your community while allowing you to promote your own skills. Creating your own social media platform is a great way to build your reputation as an etiquette expert.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Find out how these twins are making an incredible difference for all children -and especially those that are underserved in the foster care system.
I promise you will be doubly impressed!
Identical Twins Trained and Certified to Teach Manners To Go.
These two are go-getters and making such a difference in their community.
Watch the video as they talk about their goals while working with youth in the foster care system:
Teffani and Tessani help youth transition out of the foster care system
They identify those that are ready and help them with life skills such as opening a bank account, stress management, communication, and how to advocate for themselves
Their goal is to have an impact on the youth while they are still young adults
They have served over 500 youth and counting!
You will not want to miss this interview. It is rewarding and you can witness two women who are passionate and very good at what they do.
They both have such an entrepreneurial spirit and so many great ideas on how to package their manners classes for not only the foster care system but for schools and other organizations in their community.
Once their website and social media platforms are up and running I will post the links for you.
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
This is top of mind to me, because today, I am in the midst of setting up for a dining tutorial for two new licensees. More to come on them….hint they are a mother/daughter duo.
Like Reese Witherspoon, I Am a Big Believer in the Family Meal and Teaching Table Manners
Parents are looking for ways to supplement their children’s education. And, they are more than willing to pay for it.
This is where children learn their parent’s values. Yes, they learn to put the napkin their lap, but they also learn important conversation skills- not to mention how to hold a fork correctly.
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Choosing a brand name for your etiquette business is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
Teaching social etiquette and manners to children is an important position, and you’ll want to make sure that your business reflects those values.
Why Is Choosing A Brand Name As An Etiquette Expert So Important?
Introducing your etiquette consulting business to the world may be a little scary. But many people feel that choosing a brand name is the scariest part.
Why is it so scary?
Choosing a brand name means choosing the face of your business. People are going to remember names, so you’ll want to make sure that your business name is a memorable one. Your business’ success could really depend on its name.
But picking a name goes deeper than any regular, old name. By choosing a brand name, you’re creating your brand identity. This is an identity that your clients should connect with and ultimately want to be a part of.
Your brand name should offer a clear image of who you are. It will shape how your clients see you and let them know what kinds of services you offer.
The perfect name might not come to you within a couple of minutes of brainstorming. That’s okay! You’ll want to take your time creating the name that’s going to represent your etiquette business best.
6 Tips for Successfully Choosing a Brand Name for Your Etiquette Business
With the pressure that accompanies choosing a brand name, it’s difficult to sort out which names are contenders.
Here are some ways that you can pick the right brand name for your etiquette business.
1. Keep It Clear and Specific
Your brand name should reflect who you are and what you have to offer. That’s why the most important thing you’ll want to do is to make that message clear.
If your business name is too vague or hard to pronounce, clients may not understand what your business has to offer. As a result, you can lose out on a potential client base. With a loss of clients, your business may not be as successful.
For example, if you name the business just after yourself (let’s say, Jen’s), how are your clients supposed to know what type of business you are? You could be a grocery store, a hair salon, or even a restaurant. The name shows no indication of the services you provide.
If your brand name was Jen’s Etiquette Business, clients are going to know what you’re offering immediately—because the name is straight to the point.
2. Avoid Adding Location-Specific Words
While it might be creative and trendy to add the name of your city or state into your brand name, it’s best to avoid that route.
Location-specific brand names limit your business to your current location. As a result, you’ll only attract clients from that specific area. Bottom line is, you’ll be stuck where you are.
If you avoid using a location-specific word in your brand name, you will not be stuck. The best thing about your etiquette business is that it has the capability to grow. If you add a location to the brand name, you’re limiting your business’ chances.
Your business could expand to different cities or even different states. You’ll want a name that can fit anywhere you go.
3. Don’t Include A Specific Age Range
Specifics are always important. But too many specifics, especially when it comes to choosing a brand name, can hinder the audience you attract.
Avoid setting specific age limits in your brand name. If you set an age range from ages 5 through 10, you are losing out on an age range of seven years. Children ages 11 through 18 are a potential group of clients that you could lose because of setting an age limit.
When teaching the Manners To Go certified curriculum, we provide material for ages 4 to 18 (preschool to high school). You’ll have the opportunity to attract all different kinds of students without the constraints of a specific age brand name.
4. Use Positive, Descriptive Language
As a reflection of who you are, your business should spread the positivity that comes with teaching social etiquette. While some struggle with maintaining it, everyone wants positivity in their life.
To associate positivity with your brand is important! When you’re teaching manners and social graces, you’ll want students to feel the positive learning environment you create. One way you can advertise that is through your name!
5. Make Sure That Your Business Name Is Easy To Spell and Pronounce
Choosing a brand name that people can understand lets you guarantee its memorability. If your name has too many letters or is hard to pronounce, it might not stick with all of your clients.
Create a name that’s simple to spell and pronounce—that’s what will hold your clients’ attention!
6. Double Check That The Name Is Available
Before settling on a brand name, make sure the name you’ve chosen hasn’t already been taken. Double-check that your business’s name and internet domain match. You can use a site like GoDaddy to make sure your name is available.
As a new business owner, your name should be brand new. Serving as a reflection to a new image, your services will be able to take priority.
Manners To Go Helps You With Strategically Choosing A Brand Name
Manners To Go offers highly personalized benefits that can help you succeed in your etiquette consulting business. You can receive private one-on-one training to focus on specific aspects of your own business.
Starting your own etiquette consulting business is an exciting process with new opportunities. When you’re choosing a brand name, remember: it should reflect who you are and what your business values.
Choosing a simple, clear, and positive name is a great way to attract potential clients and maintain your goals as an etiquette expert.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Lisa Richey provides etiquette programs to businesses, schools, and individuals.
