February 9, 2010
Howdy Gang!!
I just wanted to give you some food for thought this morning. I was on my way home from my free breakfast at Denny’s this morning (O.K. I will say the chicken commercials during the Super Bowl really work) and I was thinking about where I could meet some new prospects or better yet where do my ideal prospects hang out. This is a question I am asked all the time and I never really had the best answer……..until NOW!! Remember that I like to do things a tiny bit different than most so when I look for people to network with I am always looking for new people, new situations and/or new ways to increase the number of people I have relationships with. O.K. so let’s get back to my drive home from Denny’s.
Let me first tell you that one of the groups I like to network with are sales people. Why? Because we are ALL in sales and these people have some amazing skills (the good ones anyways). In my line of work I like to deal with professionals. I like to work with super top notch quality people that actually have some people skills. Another thing I look for in people is their level of Entrepreneurialism. And then it HIT me like a ton of bricks!! I got so excited it may just made my day, so I thought I would share it with you!!
I will be taking a class at my local community college in sales!! Now, I can hear it already so let me explain. I am going where the people who I want to hear more about will be hanging out. I know these people are being proactive in developing the skill of selling!! It will be like shooting fish in a 55 gallon barrel!! So let me give you another example. If Realtors (by the way Realtor is only 2 syllables and I lost a HUGE sale because I use to say Real A Tor) are your best clients why not take a class with a bunch of them. They HAVE to take continuing education classes so only the good ones try to maintain their licenses!! Fish I tell you fish!! If you sell makeup does it not stand to reason that a class teaching people how to become makeup artists might be a good place to start? Who knows you may even learn something new about yourself or the products you sell.
I gotta go get registered for some classes so I can start finding the fish!! Happy networking!!
P.S. Thank you in advance if you find enough value in this little post to hit the Retweet button on the top. You ROCK!
Posted in Marketing Strategies, Useful Tips for Networking 
1 Comment »
January 23, 2010
Is it only $3.49!
Hey Gang~~ Casey here with another super easy simple little thing you can do to increase your effectiveness in developing a long relationship with someone whom you just met. This is so easy to do but also easy not to do. I will also give you a real life example of how not doing this can make someone feel like they are of no value to your network.
O.K. Here is the deal. The most valuable thing I have in my business is both time and knowledge. As is the case with most professionals and especially Entrepreneurs. I would like to tell you a little story of something that just happened to me this past week. I had met this guy at a networking event and it was very clear TO HIM that I was a good candidate for his services AND I had the knowledge to help him improve his business on a massive scale. He was pretty good about following up with me so I thought “hey, maybe he is someone good to know”. He called and asked if I would meet him for a cup of coffee so he could “pick my brain”. I tried to schedule the meeting outside of my own production hours but his calendar for whatever lame set of reasons would not permit it. It is worth repeating at this point that I was the prospect AND the one whose pea brain was about to be “picked”. So I reluctantly gave up a two hour block of top production time to meet this guy and listen to his pitch.
I show up at the coffee house on time and he is already there, sitting down and had already prepped the table for what I am sure he thought would be a lay down sale. It was covered with a brochure, flip chart, samples and by far the most telling an application for his services. Interestingly enough, he also had a coffee of some sort. (a fancy latte I believe). When I walked up to he table and shook his hand, he did say how nice it was to see me and that he appreciated the time I took t come listen to his deal and have him “pick my brain”. Then he said the DEAL KILLER, “I’ll wait here if you want to go get yourself a coffee”. Really? No, I mean….Really?
Now, let me tell you what went through my head. I was about to give up valuable time AND be pitched AND be asked about how to improve his business and he was making me buy my own coffee? Please understand, I can buy my own coffee but this guy was not thinking. He came across as cheap and unthoughtful. I went up and bought my iced soy latte (hint if we ever meet for coffee) and while I was at the counter I was telling the Barista about the situation. Even she chuckled. Now, please understand something, it was NOT about the coffee. It was about character! He lost me before he started and in fact I told him this during our “picking” session. I did tell him that he could have had a way higher chance of closing me if he had taken just $3.49 and offered to buy my iced soy latte!
I know this seems like a rant but there is a very valuable lesson here. If you are prospecting and or selling something and even better meeting with someone who can help you build your business, you might want to think about the time, energy and resources you are sucking away from them and provide them some sort of value as well. I would never expect someone to buy my coffee but I assure you by offering it does show you are a bit mindful. This is a really long story with a short moral…….
For crying out loud, shell out the $3.49!!
Give someone an AWESOME day!
Posted in Uncategorized, Useful Tips for Networking 3 Comments »
January 21, 2010
Pick your favorite social media site and check for connections
Howdy Gang~~
Casey here with a really simple yet VERY underutilized tool to continue building a relationship with someone you just met. Look, here is the real deal. How often do we go to an event where tons of business cards are being passed around and when you get home you have nothing but a handful of business cards and nothing to do? It is amazing to me how many people still feel that they can just go pass out some cards and business is just going to flood their doorstep. Well here is what I do and for some reason everyone thinks I’m smart (no comments from the peanut gallery please) because I love getting business cards at an event but I actually DO something with them, even if I have NO intention of ever talking with the nimrod. (I have no idea why, but I love the word nimrod!)
I want to get to know as many people as I can AND scout out the ones I want to do business with. I do want people in my information loop and I choose to use social media sites as a great way to do this. Note: I almost just went and deleted “nimrod” but then I smiled and just typed it again! On my facebook page, I keep people up to date with what I am doing but also use it as a data mine for things and situations I can help others with in their businesses. So, Are you ready for this thing that I do?
Easy: When I get home from every event I ALWAYS try to connect with the folks who were cool AND the NIMRODS on Facebook and twitter just to keep them in the loop. It is free and you never know who they may know. This sounds really easy to do but the reality is it is just as easy NOT to do. This will increase your connections and everyone wins. Now look, I am sure someone will say “yeah but why do you want to connect with nimrods?’ I don’t but they may be connected to someone I would like to know OR maybe they can introduce me to someone they have a relationship with.
Bottom line, In order for you to increase your social currency you must build a reputation for helping people. I run everyone I meet through Facebook right when I get home. I may or may not leave a message but I am just looking to connect.
Give me an awesome day and click on one of the little blue links to connect to a non nimrod!
Posted in Marketing Strategies, Useful Tips for Networking 2 Comments »
December 6, 2009
All this for $.69!!
O.K. Casey here with another simple networking tip that will set you apart! I learned this little trick from a friend of mine. Here it goes. Whenever you go to an event like a chamber mixer or a BNI meeting and you have a place to set out cards. Go buy a few card stands like the picture for .69 each and use them as a mini displays. I always, o.k. sometimes when I remember, carry two of these in my bag. I will usually set one up on the literature table and the other goes in front of my plate where I am eating. There is just something that looks more professional when you have some kind of display.
I know this does not seem like a huge thing, but remember it is all about the slight edge. I will be posting some really easy things we can all do to make the networking experience a bit enjoyable and by enjoyable I mean PROFITABLE!!
Now, a tiny favor. See the little tweet thingy in the upper right corner? We just added it today and it loaded all the posts with a big FAT goose egg! If you use twitter, and ONLY if you liked this tip, can you hit it so I can see something other than a zero?
Give someone an AWESOME day!!
Posted in Marketing Strategies, Useful Tips for Networking 2 Comments »
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