Put pen to paper: a thank you goes a long way.

I’m on a “Get Personal” kick. Relationships, personal connections, and follow up power your referral network. When you build your business through referrals, you get the meeting at the level that counts. No time wasted, no frustration.

I’m also on a reading kick—to check out the communication connection landscape, and get a reality check. Guess what? I’m not the only person who thinks you should write a thank-you note after a new-client meeting, receiving a referral, or closing new business.

Good manners and the personal connection never go out of style.

Read Eliza Browning’s Inc.com blog post on business etiquette:

Business Etiquette: 5 Rules that Matter Now

“The word may sound stodgy. But courtesy and manners are still essential—particularly in business.

The word “etiquette” gets a bad rap. For one thing, it sounds stodgy and pretentious. And rules that are socially or morally prescribed seem intrusive to our sense of individuality and freedom.

But the concept of etiquette is still essential, especially now—and particularly in business. New communication platforms, like Facebook and LinkedIn, have blurred the lines of appropriateness and we’re all left wondering how to navigate unchartered social territory.

At Crane & Co., we have been advising people on etiquette for two centuries. We have even published books on the subject—covering social occasions, wedding etiquette and more.

Boil it down and etiquette is really all about making people feel good. It’s not about rules or telling people what to do, or not to do, it’s about ensuring some basic social comforts.

So here are a few business etiquette rules that matter now—whatever you want to call them.

1. Send a Thank You Note

I work at a paper company that manufactures stationery and I’m shocked at how infrequently people send thank you notes after interviewing with me. If you’re not sending a follow-up thank you note to Crane, you’re not sending it anywhere.

Read On: Click here to read the Eliza Browning’s Inc.com full blog post, “Business Etiquette: 5 Rules that Matter Now”.

Read all five rules and spruce up your business etiquette. Trust me, it matters.

Are Thank You Notes Fuddy-Duddy?

Tell me what you think? How has someone reaching out and going beyond “just the basics” made a difference in your business relationships? Comment here, and let’s talk about it.