Networking is always challenging for me...I have joined many networking groups in the city and I always look for the reaction in the faces of the people I meet when I tell them the nature of my business. The women are usually interested or mortified!I'm a member of a networking group for black professionals in NYC and I recently attended one of thier events. The reactions of the men vary, some are cool with it, some feel intimidated because of their own "short-comings" and others instantly make me feel the need to fight off the stereotypes. Those are the ones that If I was a man who owned a porn store thier reaction would be to ask for my card and give me a high-five, instead of the ogling and instant assumption that I am a nympho!There is so much more to this company, there are programs dedicated to women who have suffered through cancer and teaching them how to feel sexy again, there is a college-tour done every year that focuses on being safe and respecting yourself enough not to sleep around...but all they picture is vibrators! I'm a tough woman, so I can handle it and these reactions always reaffirm for me how much the service I provide is needed! ;-)
What I find interesting is that people view sex as "Taboo", but everyone is doing it (well on one level or another). How one's own perception of him/herself is soley dependant on how accepting or open they will be to your business. What I've leaned is trying different approaches of presentation. How a product or service is presented sometimes affect if the bait on the line that you put out will be biten.
In marketing your product to different individals try to take the subtle approach. I don't know it you are already doing this, but displaying your products in a gift basket with other things that will make it less intimidating. Offering a package instead of single items.. getting creative and raising the bar.
Also, in doing your pitch, instead of telling them about what you do. Put the focus on them and their needs. Asking questions that would produce only a yes reponse. Questions that would allow you focus on their body langauge and buying cues. Introducing less intimidating products at first. Encouraging buying and then come back to you for repeat business. And then bgein to introduce the more risque products. Whoo-Hoo.
One thing for sure. Be it business or personal we have to tend to the whole person. This means in order to be happy in all areas we must tend to every need. Keep on educating sister. Vital information for us in order to have healthy relationships we have to be sure about ourselves. We have to feel good about ourselves and pampering ourselves in one way to do so..............
Great Advice. I too am in the Adult novelty business and some people do not understand that we educate women about their bodies and having a healthy sexual relationshp.
I read an AMAZING article in this month's "Success Express" by Belinda Ellsworth called "Explaining What You Do In 15 Seconds or Less." I now say something along the lines of, "I teach women about their bodies, help them renew the romance and bring the fun back in the bedroom."
And then I get, "How do you do that?"
There's my chance. Isn't that amazing? I'm sure my speech will change hundreds of times as I perfect it, but I thought I'd share because this article really hit home.
You can tell perspective clients and recruits what your title is but they don't really care. They want action and action is what you are all about. Clients and prospects want to know what you can do for them.
I applaude your stance at approaching an "uncommon" business for women. I also appreciate that you also have more than one concept to your business, namely that of aspiring to help other women feel good about themselves. There is so much more to feeling sexy and beautiful than the act of sex itself. For instance, I have a friend who had to have surgery that altered the look of her body by leaving a very noticeable scar. She is married and was very reluctant to be sexually intimate with her husband. She had to learn how to "make love" all over again by one, appreciating herself for who she was on the inside and two, allowing her husband to display that he truly loved her. Through acceptance, she began to feel sexy because she realized that "sexy" is not just physical...it's a state of being, a state of mind and then that state can be expressed physically when appropriate. I think that is a good target market...those that have been through a divorce, surgery, health challenges, etc. Not to accentuate their pain; rather helping them to enhance their strength and feel sexy again. My suggestions (humbly): present it from both prospectives...mentally and romantically. Perhaps then people won't see it as taboo, but rather for what it is: healthy, normal and something that can be beautiful. Keep striving!
I just started reading Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch. In it he gives a formula for talking about your business (from page 34 of the book):
When someone says "So, what do you do?", the reply looks like this...
action verb (I show, I teach, I help), target market (business owners, homeowners, teachers, divorced women, Fortune 500 companies), how to xxx (solve a problem or meet a need).
A few of the examples he gives are:
- I show small service professionals how to triple what they charge
- I help recently divorced women drastically reduce their taxes
- I teach business owners how to get famous
All make the other person ask the follow-up question "How do you do that?"
It's always interesting when you don't have a "normal" business. I used to have a similar either/or reaction. I had to rethink how I introduced my business...so instead of saying "I'm a premarital counselor & marriage consultant", which made people think "Therapist. I don't need one of those!" Instant brain shut-off.
I had to switch it up to "I help couples plan for and maintain successful, proactive marriages by emotionally and practically preparing for major life transitions. That includes premarital counseling and preparing for anything from having 1st baby, to starting a business, relocating, retiring, etc. Having been a couple therapist, I decided that prevention work makes more sense than waiting until couples to come when the relationship is in distress". Still tweeking it. But I've found the second version gets folks engaged in (sometimes very interesting) conversation, instead of being instantly defensive - single, married, & divorced alike. I still get the occasional "I don't think I need your services", but the ratio is much better.
All that to say, what's your current "elevator pitch"? Could it use some tweeking? Do you get to tell others what a good referral is for you? Or do they think you are only looking for hosts and to "recruit"? Unfortunately, MLMs have a bad rep.
Sorry for all the questions. But since networking IS so important, my hope is that some of this can make it less challenging.
Comments
In marketing your product to different individals try to take the subtle approach. I don't know it you are already doing this, but displaying your products in a gift basket with other things that will make it less intimidating. Offering a package instead of single items.. getting creative and raising the bar.
Also, in doing your pitch, instead of telling them about what you do. Put the focus on them and their needs. Asking questions that would produce only a yes reponse. Questions that would allow you focus on their body langauge and buying cues. Introducing less intimidating products at first. Encouraging buying and then come back to you for repeat business. And then bgein to introduce the more risque products. Whoo-Hoo.
Also, ask for 5 top-qualitly solid referrals.
I hope this helps.
Best to you!
Great Advice. I too am in the Adult novelty business and some people do not understand that we educate women about their bodies and having a healthy sexual relationshp.
I read an AMAZING article in this month's "Success Express" by Belinda Ellsworth called "Explaining What You Do In 15 Seconds or Less." I now say something along the lines of, "I teach women about their bodies, help them renew the romance and bring the fun back in the bedroom."
And then I get, "How do you do that?"
There's my chance. Isn't that amazing? I'm sure my speech will change hundreds of times as I perfect it, but I thought I'd share because this article really hit home.
You can tell perspective clients and recruits what your title is but they don't really care. They want action and action is what you are all about. Clients and prospects want to know what you can do for them.
Good Luck
I just started reading Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch. In it he gives a formula for talking about your business (from page 34 of the book):
When someone says "So, what do you do?", the reply looks like this...
action verb (I show, I teach, I help), target market (business owners, homeowners, teachers, divorced women, Fortune 500 companies), how to xxx (solve a problem or meet a need).
A few of the examples he gives are:
- I show small service professionals how to triple what they charge
- I help recently divorced women drastically reduce their taxes
- I teach business owners how to get famous
All make the other person ask the follow-up question "How do you do that?"
"I own a franchise of Pure Romance. I sell bath & massage products and bedroom accessories online and at in-home parties (for women only)."
That usually gets them asking a few more questions, but maybe I need to tweak it, I'll work on that and get back at you! :-)
I had to switch it up to "I help couples plan for and maintain successful, proactive marriages by emotionally and practically preparing for major life transitions. That includes premarital counseling and preparing for anything from having 1st baby, to starting a business, relocating, retiring, etc. Having been a couple therapist, I decided that prevention work makes more sense than waiting until couples to come when the relationship is in distress". Still tweeking it. But I've found the second version gets folks engaged in (sometimes very interesting) conversation, instead of being instantly defensive - single, married, & divorced alike. I still get the occasional "I don't think I need your services", but the ratio is much better.
All that to say, what's your current "elevator pitch"? Could it use some tweeking? Do you get to tell others what a good referral is for you? Or do they think you are only looking for hosts and to "recruit"? Unfortunately, MLMs have a bad rep.
Sorry for all the questions. But since networking IS so important, my hope is that some of this can make it less challenging.
Natasha
www.NatashaCrawford.com