Do You Get Attention With Your 30-Second Introduction?

It's one of the most important marketing tools you can have in your toolbox. Are you prepared with a crisp, concise, and powerful statement to introduce yourself at that next networking function, or to answer the question, "what do you do?"

Keywords:

small business marketing, marketing tips, marketing ideas, marketing strategy

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I went to a networking event the other day where the meeting leader said, "We’re going to skip doing the 30-second introductions today because mine’s so bad and it doesn’t work that it nauseates me." I thought to myself, WOW! I’d skip the next networking meeting until I’d worked out a new introduction.


Do you get attention with your introduction? Are you prepared to introduce yourself at your next networking event or for when someone ask, "What do you do?" Consider these tips for developing an attention getting introduction.


1. Start With The First 10 Seconds. What if 10 seconds is all you get? Does your first sentence tell your listener enough so they understand what you do and inspire them to want to know more? Here’s the simple, but effective approach. "I work with [type of clients] who have [these types of problems, issues or challenges]." That’s it. Don’t try to sugar it up or make it real catchy.


2. Avoid the What You Are Approach. "I’m an accountant" or "I’m a marketing consultant" or "I’m a financial planner" or "I’m a growth coach". You’ve heard them time and again. You’ve probably even done it yourself. The problem is your listener(s) may not understand what the title means or even worse they may fill in an incorrect definition.


3. Avoid the What You Do Approach. "I do small business accounting including sales tax and payroll" or "I provide business owners with mentoring and training in comprehensive strategies to improve bottom line results..." Tends to be boring and doesn’t help the listener(s) understand what they get as a result.


4. Say How You Solved a Problem or Served a Client. Reinforce your first 10 second sentence with a second sentence that shows how you solved a problem or overcame a particular issue or challenge. "I help mid-sized accounting firms plan big conferences on a small budget. I just recently lined up free live entertainment for a firm that hosted 500 people in town last week."


5. Tell Them Why You Are Unique. What makes you stand out from the crowd? Maybe it’s a unique model or approach for better results, focus on a specific niche, a guarantee, or extras that others don’t provide. There are many ways to define your uniqueness that will help gain attention and make you memorable.


Make your introduction an attention getter. Start with the first 10 seconds. You can always build from there once it starts getting attention. Actually write it down and practice out loud several times until you can just say it naturally.

Five Ways To Attract Attention At Your Next Exhibition

Attending an exhibition is still one of the best ways to get in front of thousands of potential customers in one go. Whilst your internet site might be accessible by people the world over, an exhibition is only attended by people who are interested in your sector and it’s an ideal opportunity to make your presence known.

1. Choose your space well

If you leave it too late, all the best stand space has already gone. Book early and you can have your pick of the best spots ...

Keywords:

display stands, point of sale display

Article Body:

Attending an exhibition is still one of the best ways to get in front of thousands of potential customers in one go. Whilst your internet site might be accessible by people the world over, an exhibition is only attended by people who are interested in your sector and it’s an ideal opportunity to make your presence known.

1. Choose your space well

If you leave it too late, all the best stand space has already gone. Book early and you can have your pick of the best spots – directly opposite the entrance; unmissable from the bar or café; a corner stand or a stand at the top of the stairs. These are all great places for your company to be, so the earlier you book, the better your chances of getting a top spot.

2. Think about design

Your stand needs to be eye-catching, so think about what distinguishes you from the opposition and use it to attract attention. From bright colours to unusual photography, there are lots of ways you can stand out from the crowd. Enlist the help of your designer to make sure that you do.

3. Clever marketing

Exhibitions are full of giveaways and we know that most of it goes in the bin when delegates get back to their hotel rooms. Be creative with your marketing. Consumer-led companies can give away vouchers, whilst others need to look for gifts that add value or have immediate use. Put your brand on water bottles or blister plasters or face wipes – anything that’s going to attract the attention of a hassled executive.

4. Get your displays right

Stands that are crowded with leaflets or where information isn’t readily available are often by-passed. Delegates don’t always want to speak to you, but they might want to take your literature and they shouldn’t have to fight their way to the back of your stand to get it. Use a variety of display systems for products and literature to entice people onto your stand rather than shy away from it.

5. Smile

You’d be surprised how often stands are by-passed because the stand staff are eating, drinking, smoking or looking downright unapproachable. It’s amazing the difference that a smiling, welcoming face can make – the difference between netting a big client and getting nothing at all.

Grab Customers' Attention With Advertising Balloons

Advertising balloons - also known as advertising blimps and advertising inflatables - are an incredibly cost-effective method of gaining the attention of passersby and turning prospects into customers.

Keywords:

advertising balloons, advertising blimps, advertising inflatables, custom balloons

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Let's face it: most small- and medium-sized companies don't have huge advertising budgets. Traditional media, such as print, television, and radio advertising are far too expensive. And, for those businesses that rely on walk-in traffic, Internet advertising won't reach the intended audience. Thankfully, there's another advertising medium that's incredibly effective for a variety of businesses: advertising balloons.

Advertising balloons - also known as advertising blimps and advertising inflatables - are an incredibly cost-effective method of gaining the attention of passersby and turning prospects into customers. Starting at slightly over $100, the cost of an advertising balloon can be recouped in no time at all.

There are several different types of advertising inflatables. Advertising blimps have the traditional blimp shape, but come in a variety of sizes. They are easily customizable with a company logo, special message, or unique combinations of colors. Advertising blimps can be large enough to attract attention from miles away, or small enough to catch the eye of a trade show attendee. Larger advertising blimps can even be lit at night to garner notice 24 hours a day.

Round advertising balloons are also attention-grabbers. Again, they come in all sizes and can be flown high above the ground, acting as traffic magnets for a business' location.

A business can also buy a pre-made advertising inflatable, such as one in the shape of a hot air balloon that says, "Grand Opening." Eye-catching shapes and colors are sure to attract customers. Similarly, dancing balloons (also called wind dancers) are eye-catching. Inflated with a cold air blower, dancers will delight both adults and children. However, they're generally made with a light material that doesn't hold up well in sunlight or strong wind. For that reason, a tarp should always be placed under a wind dancer.

When you order custom balloons, you first need to think through the various elements that will give your advertising balloons maximum impact. Here are attributes to consider:

Lettering: If readability is important, stay with a small number of letters on one or two lines. Determine the distance at which you want your advertising balloon to be read. For maximum impact at 30 feet, for example, letters that are three inches high will suffice. On the other hand, letters that are 12 inches high have maximum impact at 120 feet but are still readable at 525 feet.

Colors: There are specific color combinations that will give your advertising balloon more impact. Black lettering or art against a backdrop of yellow, white, or orange is the most effective, followed by blue on white, white on green, green on white, red on white, and white on red.

Like everyone else, you probably look up when you see an advertising balloon in the sky. Just imagine how much recognition you can get from your business from the relatively small investment of an advertising balloon!

Getting Your Prospects' Attention: Create A Character

When you are marketing and selling a product or service, it's key that you understand who you are talking to.

Keywords:

target audience, clients, marketing, marketing plan

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When you are marketing and selling a product or service, it's key that you understand who you are talking to.

Who is your ideal customer?

Who has a problem that you, your product or service can solve?

Who would be most interested in your product or service?

Who is most likely to buy your product or service?

Once you identify who the best customer or ideal client is for your product or service, write a description of that person.

How old are they?

Are they male or female?

Where do they live?

What kind of work do they do?

What do they do for fun?

What is the problem your product or service can help them solve?

Are they affluent or is money tight?

You may not have all the answers to these questions, but do the best you can to write a detailed description.

Once you have completed the description, take it one step further: Create a character.

What exactly do I mean by that?

Picture in your mind, a single person who embodies all of these characteristics. Once you have a picture in your mind, begin to think about who this person is.

Here's an example

Let's say you are a wellness coach or fitness professional and your ideal client is a middle-aged, overweight woman who does not currently take very good care of herself, but wishes to drop a few pounds and get healthier.

First, here's a description

She is a woman between the ages of 35 and 50 years old; she's married with school-aged children; she works full- or part-time; leads a stressful, busy life trying to manage her family and work responsibilities; doesn't take very good care of herself because she's always caring for others; is 20-30 pounds overweight as a result; and doesn't eat very healthfully.

Now, here's how we create a character

First, we give her a name: Mary Smith

Then we imagine how her typical day goes, as follows:

Mary gets up at 6:00am and fixes breakfast for her two elementary school-aged children. She helps them get dressed and ready for school. She makes their lunches. She kisses her husband goodbye as he leaves for work, and proceeds to get ready for work herself.

Mary loads the kids in the car, drops them off at school, and heads to work. She works in a busy office, and rarely takes time off for lunch. Because she usually doesn't make time to pack her own lunch, she often runs out for fast food or another quick take-out lunch, and returns to the office to eat at her desk while she works.

At about 3:00pm, Mary needs a pick-me-up so she grabs a soda and a sugary snack from the vending machine.

Mary leaves the office at 5:30 and heads to the babysitter to pick up the kids. They arrive home between 6:30 and 7:00pm, tired and hungry.

Dinner is often fast food, frozen pizza or another quick meal, usually lacking in solid nutrition.

After dinner Mary helps the kids with their homework, gives them a bath and puts them to bed.

She sits down to relax in front of the TV with her husband around 9:00pm and has some ice cream f:00am to start this routine all over again.

Now, let me ask you a question

Do you feel like you know and understand your prospective client better based on the general description (age, family status, etc.) or based on the detailed 'character' description about Mary Smith and her typical day?

Which description would best enable you to create effective marketing messages?

Which description would enable you to select places to put your marketing messages to reach this ideal client?

If you're like most people, your answer is the detailed character description because it turns a generalized description of your ideal client into a person you can understand. A person who has very clear challenges and issues you can help solve.

Yes, you will be making some assumptions and generalities when you do this. That's okay. Just consider you are creating a character that represents the type of client you would like to reach with your marketing. This character is merely a representation.

Combine the character description with a photo

To further identify with your ideal client, you may even want to post this character description along with a photo cut-out from a magazine to represent him/her, as a reminder of who you are marketing to.

Creating a character brings your target audience to life

It allows you to market and speak to people. It enables you to create messages that touch those ideal clients and truly address the challenges they face in their daily lives. It allows you to see how you, your product or service fits into their lives as a solution to those problems.

It enables you to market more effectively

I challenge you to look at your target audience description and take it one step further and create a character. Then make sure all of your marketing is designed to speak to that person in language that resonates with them and helps them see you understand their issues or needs.

Try it. I think you'll find that your marketing becomes much more powerful and effective as a result.

(C) Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa

Electronic Cards: A Winning Business Solution for Keeping the Attention of Prospects and Costumers

E-cards, being a very good example of tradition and innovation fusion, are today’s Marketing Professionals’ lucky charm in attracting new clients and retaining the old ones.

Keywords:

Electronic card, business solution, clients, marketing

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Embracing the same age-old adage of keeping people together, greeting cards have become invincible in the business and communication industries.

If cards are yielding power in keeping distant friendships and relationships stronger and longer, why not apply the same principle to our clients and business partners?

That is exactly what many successful businesses are doing. They make use of anything that is proven effective, and then try to apply it to another area.

E-cards, being a very good example of tradition and innovation fusion, are today’s Marketing Professionals’ lucky charm in attracting new clients and retaining the old ones. They use electronic cards to boost sales by sending them to clients: old and new, as a substitute for newsletters.

Since the web is chalk full of free e-card websites, this strategy is unarguably less-costly than any other marketing means. And since these cards are grouped according to occasions, we can bet there is an appropriate card for every single event. For instance, we can come up with a send-to-all card for important occasions such as Christmas, Summer vacations or Thanksgiving. Or we can personalize it by sending Anniversary or Congratulations cards to companies. We can even send “thinking of you” cards to old clients.

Being remembered and valued is on top of everyone’s list. Few other happy feelings can replace the euphoria of being remembered and valued. And this is made even more special because e-cards often come with pictures, music and poetry lines. No person would say no to something that is sure to add a smile to his day.

Think wisely. Do business passionately. Do it with e-cards.

Differentiate Yourself And Attract More Attention, Sales, and Profits

How to sell more of anything via effective, cheap, useful, fruitful and intelligent advertising. Specific strategies to increase your sales in any type of business, online or off, without spending a fortune on copywriting.

Keywords:

selling,sales,small business marketing,advertising,marketing,small business,business,sell more,make more sales

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Differentiate and you stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Present your uniqueness and emphasize your rare attributes in your sales copy and promotions and you'll capture the imagination and interest of those you want to reach.

In a world of copycats, it pays to be an original. It’s usually the creator of a new concept who gets the most mileage from it. Innovative entrepreneurs often become market leaders while competitors keep doing things the same old way – until change is forced upon them. Differentiate or die.

Challenging the way things have always been done can lead to creative new options that reward you with a windfall of profits.

Differentiate your business and you attract attention. It’s new, different – even revolutionary – and it’s the kind of thing that generates excitement and creates a stir in the market. After all, few new customers would be drawn to you -- if you were doing the exact same thing, the exact same way as everyone else.

Consider this question... “What Could You Do To Differentiate Yourself, Your Business, Or Your Product In A Way Prospects and Customers Would Appreciate?” Another thought to ponder is this... “What Traditions Could You Break That Would Capture Attention And Interest?”

Putting an effective new spin on your business should be done with the needs and desires or your customers and prospects in mind. Differentiate from their point of view.

What changes can you implement that would make customers say “Wow!”?

Think in terms of what people want. Essentially, they want to be served better, faster and with more convenience. They want to be entertained. They want to solve problems with less effort. They want instant gratification. They want respect and to be treated as VIP's (which customers are, of course). They want to do business with companies that care about them, their environment, and the world at large. Differentiate in a way that appeals to these desires.

Look at every facet of your business and compare the way you do things to the way competitor does. Are you operating in a similar manner? How might you do things differently? What changes could you make in that area that your customers would truly appreciate and value?

Differentiate and you gain a huge advantage.

Re-invent your business operations and marketing materials as though you were the customer. Design everything from the customer’s point of view. Take “tradition” and turn it upside down. Recast your business. Make it more user-friendly and benefit-oriented. Blaze a new trail... even if it means re-inventing your entire industry.

Let’s look at a few simple examples.

Many retail stores have their cash registers right up front – near the entrance. Couldn’t that prime real estate be better used to display enticing new merchandise and lure in more customers? PJ’s Pet Centres does this well. They’ve cleverly placed a large cage of adorable puppies right outside the front entrance. Few people can walk by without a short visit... and many of those are drawn inside the store.

Some entrepreneurial-minded restauranteurs do the same thing with their kitchens. Patrons find it interesting and entertaining to watch the chef expertly prepare a multitude of culinary delights. At the same time, most competing kitchens are at the back of the restaurant and out of the way, so no one ever sees inside.

East Side Mario’s has done something unique to differentiate itself. They know that desserts are among the most profitable items any restaurant can offer. So they don’t employ the traditional dessert tray or standard menu. Instead, they present beautiful color slides of their delicious, mouth-watering creations in a View Master. A View Master is a small plastic toy -- about the size of a camera – that you hold to your eyes and click to change the image shown. Who can resist viewing each one of their specialties? It’s a fun, novel way to unveil delicious treats. Everyone gets a chuckle out of it the first time around and I’d be willing to bet that more people buy dessert because of it.

Take a close look at your business and industry. What is considered “standard practice”? How might business be done differently? How could you change things in a way that creates interest, desire, curiosity, and more sales?

In a world of apples, it pays to be an orange.

More resources at www.makeyoursalessoar.com

Deliver An Elevator Speech That Grabs Attention and Has Them Begging For More!

When someone asks you what you do, do you stammer and stutter, then spurt out a label or winded explanation that meets you with a glazed-over look? Discover how a powerful elevator speech can generate energetic dialogues that will increase your recognition and attract more clients.

Keywords:

home-based,home,business,entrepreneur,work from home,work at home,entrepreneurship,job,based,SOHO

Article Body:

An elevator speech is a short verbal snippet that clearly and memorably introduces you. It highlights your uniqueness and focuses on the benefits you provide.

Imagine ... you step onto an elevator and there is a lone occupant waiting to travel with you to another floor.

You are together for less than a minute, but long enough to make polite conversation.

What you don't know is this person is your ideal client. She has a problem you can solve.

She cuts through the awkward silence and says, "I see you're attending the networking event as well. What do you do?"

Here it is! Your chance to make an impression and secure a new client.

After a short stammer, you answer with, "I'm a coach and a copywriter. I hold a Masters in Business Administration and have been running my own home-based business for ten years."

With only a few seconds left, the elevator doors open. She politely responds with a smile, then steps off the elevator, gone ... forever.

After you finish banging your head against the button panel, you realize you not only blew it, but you now have an indentation of the twenty-first floor button on your forehead.

What if instead you had answered with:

"I help women entrepreneurs get more clients than they know what to do with and triple their profits in six months."

If she were your target client, do you think the second response would have sparked her interest and kept her on that elevator a little bit longer?

We all ask ourselves, "What's in it for me?" when engaged in any type of communication, whether written or spoken.

You want to take something of value from a conversation, learn something new, create a certain feeling, or receive information that will help you solve a problem or meet a need.

If you spend the first 30 seconds labeling yourself and listing your credentials, or going into a technical spiel of your product or service, you will be met with nothing more than a big fat yawn, a glazed-over look or even worse, "Excuse me, I have to make a call" and a quick exit.

Take the time to develop a benefit-rich, passionate elevator speech that will engage your listeners to want to hear more.

Write down a list of benefits your clients/customers receive from working with you or buying from you, and use those words and phrases in your benefit statement.

There's no need to label yourself. Labels don't provide the benefits the listener is looking for.

Once you have your elevator speech developed, practice it over and over until it's as natural as stating your name. You'll be able to use it at networking events, in telephone conversation, when leaving voice mail messages, in any type of written communication, and yes, especially in the elevator!

So, ____________, what do you do?

2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source