I volunteered to listen to a sales presentation today. A friend of mine is new to her company. The regional person was in town and asked her to set up appointments with her friends. While I was up front with her that I just was not interested in the business, she asked me if I was still willing because it was good training for her. No problem, as long as she understood I wasn't ready to be part of the company.
It really wasn't a problem. I was so glad to hear from her after not seeing her for nearly a year, it was worth it to get back in touch with her. And, I love to meet successful people who are in sales because I can always learn something.
What a lesson I got!
The regional person was very well-spoken and engaging. He told personal stories, he related the information to everyday life, and he didn't tell me that it would be work-free. All very positive, right? Part of a good sales pitch, right? No pretense, just a good presentation.
Except for two major things. First of all, at no point did he ask if I found it interesting, or if I thought I could do this, or if I was ready to sign up. Personally, I think you should ask for the sale early on, because if they're ready to go, why waste their time with a pitch. And if they're not interested, best to find out early so my time isn't wasted. And if he had asked me questions, I would have been reassured that he thought I was a living, human being.
Second, he forgot my name. I know this because he had to ask me what it was about 10 minutes into the presentation, even though I'd told him when we were introduced.
Oh, and I have the same name as his daughter which I know because he told me so when we were introduced the first time.
Networking tips and the best way to network ... by Networking on Purpose! Professional business networking strategies from Beth Bridges, speaker, and author.
The Best Thing You Can Give
I took about a half hour on a three way phone call today with Sally Dove and Cindy Garrett, Clovis Chamber Ambassadors and good friends of mine, showing them how to use Twitter. It was a gift of time, but not in the way you think.
You expect that the gift is the time I spent with them on the phone. That's not a gift, it was an investment I made in people I care about. I call it an investment because I am richly rewarded by their friendship and the help they give me in finding new members for the Clovis Chamber.
The gift I gave them was the time they will save in having to figure out how Twitter works. They won't have to spend the same time and energy I did in figuring it out, instead they can jump into it at a higher place on the learning curve than they would have on their own.
I'm not selfish with any knowledge I have - whatever is in my brain that is worthwhile, is yours too! In no way does it hurt me that someone else doesn't have to spend the same effort learning something. In fact, when it's a friend or a business partner, it helps me. The time they save in learning what I already know can be spent on something else productive. And if my friends are successful, I'm successful.
P.S. I recommend following Sally and Cindy on Twitter here: @SallyDove and @Sis-ters for Women
You expect that the gift is the time I spent with them on the phone. That's not a gift, it was an investment I made in people I care about. I call it an investment because I am richly rewarded by their friendship and the help they give me in finding new members for the Clovis Chamber.
The gift I gave them was the time they will save in having to figure out how Twitter works. They won't have to spend the same time and energy I did in figuring it out, instead they can jump into it at a higher place on the learning curve than they would have on their own.
I'm not selfish with any knowledge I have - whatever is in my brain that is worthwhile, is yours too! In no way does it hurt me that someone else doesn't have to spend the same effort learning something. In fact, when it's a friend or a business partner, it helps me. The time they save in learning what I already know can be spent on something else productive. And if my friends are successful, I'm successful.
P.S. I recommend following Sally and Cindy on Twitter here: @SallyDove and @Sis-ters for Women
Forget Lying, Social Media is a Tangled Web
"Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” Sir Walter Scott
Forget about that deception stuff, you want to talk about a truly tangled web? Try explaining to people how you met someone through Social Networking. The days of saying "I went to school with her" or "we were neighbors" are over! Instead, conversations are "Oh, Tyrone Turner? I talked to him during a BlitzTime that I was reminded about on Twitter after I met Mike Sachleben on LinkedIn."
And because of social networking, you can a) never talk bad about anyone ever again and b) find people who know people you know in the most unlikely way. Here's a great example.
I spoke on the phone today to Mindy Selinger, Networking Guide and developer of www.networkingeventfinders.com because I clicked a link in one of her Twitter posts and downloaded an mp3 and she called me to follow up. (Sorry but all explanations about how you met someone that involves social networking is going to require run on sentences).
We had a very convivial time - she's an excellent conversationalist as well as good at following up - when I asked her where she was located. San Diego.
"Nice," I said, "I have a friend from Fresno who moved there and now says she died and went to heaven."
Mindy asks, "Oh, what does your friend do?"
"She teaches people about self-defense and personal safety," I replied.
"Is her name Kelly?!" says Mindy.
!
Well, sure enough, Mindy knows Kelly Rudolph who I've known for years (who was a member of the Clovis Chamber before I started there) and whose blog was one of the first I linked to from here. Now, how's that for finding something in common?
I suggest when you meet someone new, whether in person or on line, that you figure out who the two of you both know. The world is small enough that there's got to be someone. And you better discover who it is before you say something bad about them!
Forget about that deception stuff, you want to talk about a truly tangled web? Try explaining to people how you met someone through Social Networking. The days of saying "I went to school with her" or "we were neighbors" are over! Instead, conversations are "Oh, Tyrone Turner? I talked to him during a BlitzTime that I was reminded about on Twitter after I met Mike Sachleben on LinkedIn."
And because of social networking, you can a) never talk bad about anyone ever again and b) find people who know people you know in the most unlikely way. Here's a great example.
I spoke on the phone today to Mindy Selinger, Networking Guide and developer of www.networkingeventfinders.com because I clicked a link in one of her Twitter posts and downloaded an mp3 and she called me to follow up. (Sorry but all explanations about how you met someone that involves social networking is going to require run on sentences).
We had a very convivial time - she's an excellent conversationalist as well as good at following up - when I asked her where she was located. San Diego.
"Nice," I said, "I have a friend from Fresno who moved there and now says she died and went to heaven."
Mindy asks, "Oh, what does your friend do?"
"She teaches people about self-defense and personal safety," I replied.
"Is her name Kelly?!" says Mindy.
!
Well, sure enough, Mindy knows Kelly Rudolph who I've known for years (who was a member of the Clovis Chamber before I started there) and whose blog was one of the first I linked to from here. Now, how's that for finding something in common?
I suggest when you meet someone new, whether in person or on line, that you figure out who the two of you both know. The world is small enough that there's got to be someone. And you better discover who it is before you say something bad about them!
My Internet Media Debut
You are doing the right kind of work if you can have as much fun as I did today. I was a guest on Central Valley Talk, hosted by Charlee Simons. The show streams live on the internet at www.CentralValleyTalk.com
Charlee's show runs every weekday from 3 to 5 p.m. He starts with commentary about local news and politics. If you were a jerk and now you're in the paper, Charlee is going to let you know what he thinks of you! He then has guests from throughout the community. Athena Matsikas (remember Charlee and Athena in the morning on Fresno radio?) is a regular guest and the two have their same hilarious chemistry.
I'm no Athena, but Charlee and I did have a great time. We talked about the philosophies that make Clovis great and I appreciated the wonderful things he had to say about the Clovis Chamber. I look forward to being a guest again.
Now that I know what to expect, I'll give you more notice for the next time I'm on the show. In the meantime, be sure to bookmark the page and make Charlee a regular part of your day.
Charlee's show runs every weekday from 3 to 5 p.m. He starts with commentary about local news and politics. If you were a jerk and now you're in the paper, Charlee is going to let you know what he thinks of you! He then has guests from throughout the community. Athena Matsikas (remember Charlee and Athena in the morning on Fresno radio?) is a regular guest and the two have their same hilarious chemistry.
I'm no Athena, but Charlee and I did have a great time. We talked about the philosophies that make Clovis great and I appreciated the wonderful things he had to say about the Clovis Chamber. I look forward to being a guest again.
Now that I know what to expect, I'll give you more notice for the next time I'm on the show. In the meantime, be sure to bookmark the page and make Charlee a regular part of your day.
A Tale of Two Networkers, Part 3
Just when I thought the score for the year was 1-1 (great networkers vs. networkers who don't quite get it), Jay Petersen of Hire the Geeks Computer Service stopped by the Chamber office this afternoon.
Jay said he had a serious question for me. He has to tell you when he's being straight with you, because he's a hilarious storyteller with such a deadpan delivery that you need a warning. Otherwise you start cracking up when he says stuff like, "I was at the store ..."
2008 was the best and worst of times for Jay, who lost his father Chris Petersen in November but doubled his sales from December a year ago. And yet, with all that going on, here he was, sitting in my office with these burning questions:
Second, he's asking for a specific description of the most likely client to help him be as efficient as possible in finding referrals for me. I sure didn't tell him, "oh, anyone with a business." I gave Jay the most targeted description I could think of. That might leave out a few prospects, but it highlights the very best referrals.
In return, of course, I asked Jay what I could do for him. As any good marketer should, he knew what I could do to help him, which - somehow - is again helpful to me.
Year-to-date score of excellent vs. clueless networkers? 2 to 1
Jay said he had a serious question for me. He has to tell you when he's being straight with you, because he's a hilarious storyteller with such a deadpan delivery that you need a warning. Otherwise you start cracking up when he says stuff like, "I was at the store ..."
2008 was the best and worst of times for Jay, who lost his father Chris Petersen in November but doubled his sales from December a year ago. And yet, with all that going on, here he was, sitting in my office with these burning questions:
"How can I be more useful to the Chamber? How can I find the best membership prospects? And what are their characteristics so I can find more of them?"These are amazing questions on many levels. First, he's asking "what can I do for you?" Can you imagine what would happen if every one of your contacts asked you this question? Can you imagine if you had this question for every one of your contacts?
Second, he's asking for a specific description of the most likely client to help him be as efficient as possible in finding referrals for me. I sure didn't tell him, "oh, anyone with a business." I gave Jay the most targeted description I could think of. That might leave out a few prospects, but it highlights the very best referrals.
In return, of course, I asked Jay what I could do for him. As any good marketer should, he knew what I could do to help him, which - somehow - is again helpful to me.
Year-to-date score of excellent vs. clueless networkers? 2 to 1
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