Most Common Business & Networking Terms |
- motcollective
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Don’t be the person who doesn’t know how to operate your part of a business in a room with people who do. If you can.
Reading this is definitely a great start for you if you’re here to use these for your own work with a fresh team, collaborators & similar.
Thanks to several business majors who approved the post & some life experience Throughout the years I’ve come across terms I’ve not seen or heard before by reading & along with that there was several instances where I’ve faced these terms in real life by someone who simply assumed I didn’t know them.
If you aim to be the best at what you do and expand it towards education you need to start learning. Because a random person from a potential company who you don’t even necessarily need will deem you as insufficient just because you haven’t either shown this language in conversation, haven’t finished university, haven’t achieved big streams etc.
It happened in my personal life with very own certain family members, friends, acquaintances, potential business partners with an ego & if I didn’t choose to learn long time before that I wouldn’t even know how much I was lost or wasn’t.
Avoid it, trust me. Keep a business plan to throw in their face rather than let them turn you into an idiot if you are not.
Before we start the topic of business plans, Electronic Press Kits(EPK) let’s start off with basics.
I’ve come to accept that some things are avoidable & some aren’t and as much as the people who do not want you to be in the conversation can be avoided - the conversation sometimes has to happen.
Here’s a no-BS cheat sheet of the terms every young creative should know, whether you’re freelancing, working at an agency, or building your brand.
1. Project Basics
Brief:
The “game plan” - This is where the client or team tells you what they want, why, and when.
De-brief - The “after party chat” - reviewing what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned.
Deliverables - The stuff you actually hand over - designs, videos, copy, campaigns.
Deadline - The day it’s due. Treat it like sacred.
Milestone - Big steps along the way it’s like checkpoints in a project.
Scope - The what’s included vs. what’e not a project. Avoid scope creep!
Scope Creep
Definition: When a project slowly starts to grow beyond what was originally agreed on — more tasks, more changes, more work — without extra time, budget, or resources.
Example:
You’re hired to design a website with 5 pages. Midway, the client asks for 10 pages, a blog, new graphics, and extra animations — all without adjusting the timeline or budget. That’s scope creep.
Get ready to hear those, and learn how to not be disrespectful about saying what you should be saying about it.
Why You Should Avoid It
Stretches you and your team too thin.
Can ruin deadlines.
Can make a project unprofitable if you’re working for a fixed price.
Often leads to frustration for both client and creative team.
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How to Avoid It
Set a clear brief from the start.
Document the scope — exactly what’s included and what’s not.
Communicate changes formally — any additions should come with a new timeline, budget, or agreement.
Learn to say no (politely!) — protect your time and resources.
2. Business Stuff (Made Simple)
Stakeholders
Anyone who cares about the project - ” clients, bosses, collaborators.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
The numbers that show if your work is hitting the goal.
ROI (Return on Investment)
Basically: “Was this worth it?” in money, time, or attention.
Pipeline - Your to - do lists of projects, clients, or opportunities in progress.
Benchmarking - Checking out what competitors or peers are doing so you can level up.
3 networking & making connections
Elevator Pitch - A 30-second intro to you or your work - short, snappy, memorable.
Touch Base
Just checking in with someone - keeping relationships alive.
Follow-Up - After meeting someone or submitting work, don’t ghost - follow up!
Referral - When someone sends work your way or recommends
Soft Skills
Communication, teamwork, and people skills - yes, these matter as much as talent.
Marketing & branding
Target Audience
The people you want to reach with your work.
Brand Identity
The vibe of your brand - logo, colors, tone, everything.
Brand Equity
How much people value your brand beyond the product itself.
Campaign
A coordinated creative effort - like a series of posts, ads, or videos.
Call to Action (CTA) -What you want your audience to do next - click, sign up, share, buy.
Tone of Voice Your brands personality when it talks - playful, serious, bold?
Startups & creative hustle terms
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
The simplest version of your idea to test if people actually like it.
Pivot
Changing direction when Plan A doesn’t work.
Bootstrapping
Starting out with your own money, hustle, and creativity.
Pitch Deck
A visual story of your idea for potential investors or collaborators.
Burn Rate
How fast your money is going while building your dream.
Runway
How long you can keep going before you run out of cash - plan wisely.
Pro Tips for Fresh creatives
Always ask for a brief — don’t assume anything.
Keep your pipeline updated — it’s your creative career map.
Master your elevator pitch — you never know who you’ll meet.
Treat feedback loops like gold — they make your work stronger.
Know your value proposition — why you, why your work?
These books are great starting points to familiarize yourself with business terminology and concepts. They offer practical insights and are written in an accessible style, making them suitable for young creatives looking to expand their business knowledge.
If you want, comment some interesting & beneficial books on the topic below!
Here’s some recommended titles:
1. “Business Words You Should Know” by Editors of Adams Media
3. “The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business” by Josh Kaufman
5. “Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist” by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson
6. “How to Read a Financial Report” by John A. Tracy
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