Posted by Joyce Oladipo on December 12, 2008 at 1:39am
Now that it’s December there is going to be loads of Christmas Networking meeting to go. You have PLENTY of time to finish your shopping (or start! if you’re like me). You also have plenty of time to get ready for these networking events, the one where everyone comes all dressed up and looking great. The one that you always rush into feeling frazzled and disappointed by your outfit and your hair and your lipstick. THAT party.Here’s a thought: if you start planning NOW you won’t catch you off guard.Here are 7 simple things to do now, before the rush starts, so that you can sit back and enjoy the parties in style.Get a Smashing Speech ReadyCreate a smashing elevation speech that clearly communicates what you are looking for in a client: You gotta have something to say that will make them:1. Want to work with you2. Want to refer clients to youA smashing elevation speech is a commercial speech you would use with an ideal prospect if you only had 20 seconds to get a message across. It’s meant to describe what you do in a very short amount of time, with the objective being that this person will not only want your card, but will also want to talk to you further.Use my smashing elevation speech formula and you are good to go.I work with (insert ideal client profile) who struggles with (insert client challenges) and would like to (insert result and benefits).What separate my business from other (insert competitors) is (insert your unique selling propositions) and because of this clients receive (insert motivator and your claim).I get a lot of attention with this formula.Have a Client Attractive Business CardYour business card should be a sales tool that gets you clients. Something that someone looks at and have a very good idea about what you can do for them. Put a compelling message that gives them a reason to call you. Or perhaps you want them to visit your site or sign up for your ezine. So the idea is to get prospects to take action just with your card.Get a business card created that has your name, business name and phone number and have some pull marketing questions on the back that invites readers to consider working with you. Use your tagline too.My business card has prompted several clients to refer potential clients to me. The information on the back of my card always prospect to self-qualify themselves as to whether they will be an ideal client of mine or not. It has an invitation to call saying “Call me to share your business struggles, ask key questions, and ask about solutions, free of charge”. I get a lot of calls because of this statement.The objective of your business card is to get the ideal prospect to say “Wow, I need you!” Vistaprint.com creates nice business cards and they get them delivered within a week.Use the Ultimate IcebreakerGoing up to someone you don’t know can be quite frightening. So try going up to someone or two people that are approachable. Have a big smile on your face and extend your hands to initiate a handshake. In an upbeat voice say “Hello, I don’t we’ve met yet” My name is ... What’s yours? Believe me; people will literally thank you for making the first move. Then ask them what they do for a living. Get them talking first so that it takes the pressure off you. After a short while, they’ll ask you.Wear Clothing with PocketsWhat will you wear to all these functions? Think, in particular, about when you will be getting business cards. Have you ever given someone else’s business card to someone instead of your own? I have in the early days. (It was a little embarrassing).So I figured out a trick. Wear a jacket with 2 pockets. One for your cards and one for the cards you receive. It’s as simple as that, it’s a no brainer.Pretend It’s Your PartyAnother tactic I love using when I’m feeling overwhelmed by a room full of people is I pretend it’s my party. I’m a pretty social person and love to entertain. So when I throw a party and I see a guest that I don’t know, I just walk up to that person and say. “Hi, I’m Joyce. We haven’t met yet. What’s your name? Who did you come here with tonight” with a smile. So when I get slightly shy in a large room, I shift my thinking about the event and pretend it’s my party, then I use the ultimate ice breaker I mentioned before.It always work and ‘am never nervous.Get a Haircut, and Maybe Some Colour too.Book your hair appointment before the event, because if you do not, I guarantee that you will wake up on the morning of the event and think ‘My hair looks horrible!’ Or, even worse, you’ll see the photos after the event and wonder why no one told you that your roots were a COMPLETELY different colour from the rest of your hair.Try one new makeup trick or strategy. Smoky eye, false lashes, berry red lips — go all out this season! A new dress might not be in the budget, but I’ll bet you can do something special with your makeup, possibly without buying anything new at all. But practice now, when you’re not rushing to get out the door. Keep in mind, though, that you only want to do ONE dramatic makeup thing at a time — if you have the smoky eye, keep cheeks and lips neutral. But don’t go too dramatic, you know what I mean.Have a Manicure.If you’re really in the mood to pamper yourself this holiday season, get a manicure; in most places, a French manicure is less than $20, including a generous tip. To make your manicure last longer, choose a sheer shade that won’t show chips or dings. And make an effort to maintain your pretty hands — wear gloves, both when you’re cleaning up in the kitchen and when you’re out in the cold air, and slather on the moisturizer. So you have soft hands, no one want to feel your shaft hands~ Joyce OladipoJoyce Oladipo, The Business Growth & Marketing Mentor, is creator of the Profit Building system, the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to grow your business fast without spending extra money on marketing. To Add $1,000's In Pure Profit To Your Business and receive her weekly marketing articles on dramatically increasing your income, visit www.BeAWealthyEntrepreneur.com.
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