Posted by Trina Newby on December 2, 2008 at 12:22pm
Meeting one-on-one with prospective clients can be an effective marketing tool, but you must do one important thing; don’t forget to ask for the business! The purpose of an in-person meeting is to establish trust, relationship and sincerity in a personal manner.As businesswomen we often enjoy the social aspect of talking with others so much that we often forget why we are meeting. To remedy this challenge, below are six ways to stay on track and get the business you deserve!1. Clarify why you’re meeting. When scheduling an appointment, make sure that the prospective client you are requesting a meeting with knows exactly why. It’s important that they don’t think they are coming to a social meeting.2. Know your prospect’s needs. If you don’t know the services or products your prospect needs, it’s important not to schedule a one-on-one meeting until you do. This should be done during the follow up call after you’ve provided information about your services/products.3. Prepare a short agenda. It’s important to maintain your focus with the help of a list of no more than 3 points you would like to share during your meeting. Writing your agenda on an index card or small notebook really can keep you on track.4. Don’t do all of the talking. Allow your prospect the opportunity to share information about their business and to ask questions they might have about your products or services.5. Ask the right questions. “How can I help you?”, “What can I do to gain your business?”, “How soon are you seeking to purchase this (name of your product)?”, “When would you like to get (name of your service) started?” Don’t allow fear to hold you back from asking for the business!.6. Save some time for socializing. Some communications experts say be polite and socialize first and ease into the sales part of your meeting. However, it can be awkward to socialize and then out of the blue break into the sales portion. By socializing last you both of you get a chance to relax and get acquainted with one another more and end the meeting in a comfortable and meaningful manner.Implement the above suggestions, ask for the business and see the difference in your one-on-one meetings!Trina NewbyWomen About Biz"If You're A Businesswoman, You Belong!"
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