Cyberspace has (improbably) become not just the place where you re-connect with your 8th grade boyfriend, but the place where many of us now go to meet customers, colleagues, associates and friends.

All the Rules Have Changed…

It used to be that, by the time you were old enough to have grey hair, you pretty much knew how to act in the world.

Not so today.

Since the advent of Facebook and Twitter, plenty of people are re-learning their “social” skills.  In this brave new world,

* Grandmothers and CEOs are wondering who to friend and how often to tweet
* Blogs have replaced business cards, and “content” is anything you want it to be
* Privacy pretty much disappeared at about the time bra straps became accessories

As my daughter might say, “Whatevs.” …Or Have They?

Fortunately, some best practices for “how to win friends and influence people” have transferred from the real world to the virtual.  They include:
* First, make a connection with them. You can talk about what you need later.
* Make it easy for them to interact with you by saying things they can pick up on.
* Pick up on the things they say; every comment is packed with clues about the things they care about, and those things are key to forging a connection.

You’ll find that these tips apply whether your social sharing happens online, at a business networking event, or at a backyard barbecue.    And if you want to learn more, please join me on June 29th for Small Talk for BIG Success — or contact me about private coaching.   Meanwhile, enjoy the “social” whirl, and remember to Speak Up for Success.

All the best,

Jezra ]]> http://www.womenandbiz.com/2010/06/08/social/feed/ 0 http://www.womenandbiz.com/2009/02/19/realitycheck-business-message/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=realitycheck-business-message http://www.womenandbiz.com/2009/02/19/realitycheck-business-message/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:42:27 +0000 Jezra Kaye http://www.womenandbiz.com/2009/02/19/realitycheck-business-message/ As businesswomen, we’re constantly delivering messages (a/k/a, public speech) about the services and products we provide-and we need to make sure those messages stay relevant and fresh.

Sometimes the realization that we’ve fallen out of step with our customers comes from hard experience:  A drop in sales…    the loss of a valued client…   or an event that has to be canceled or (worse!) loses money.

While these ups and downs are part of normal business life, we can smooth out the road by periodically reality-checking our message.

Ready?

Step One:  Reality Check Your Pitch

Most women in business have heard of the “elevator pitch” (a description of your business that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride on an elevator with someone), but that doesn’t mean we all use this key tool to maximum effect.

If you don’t have (or don’t use) a pitch, run, don’t walk to Laura Allen’s http://www.15secondpitch.com/.  Laura created my tagline-Making Good Speakers Great, and Excellent Speakers Extraordinary-which I have now had quoted to me by total strangers, as in “Oh, yeah, you’re the woman who makes good speakers great and…?”   

That’s messaging Nirvana!

If you already have a good pitch, make sure that:

• You’re using it constantly
• It represents your current offering, and
• It’s attracting the interest you want.

If any of these aren’t true, it’s time to re-examine your pitch.

Step Two:  Reality-Check Your Audience

Many of us got into business with an idea of who we would be serving-but our customer base may have evolved with time.

Ask yourself: 

• Who do I speak to about my business? (flight attendants? civil engineers? moms with young kids?)
• Has that answer changed since the last time I updated my messaging?

If yes, it’s time to reconfirm that your old messaging is right for this new “audience.”

The next two Steps will get you going:

Step Three:  Reality-Check Your Offerings

The last six months have re-arranged pretty much everyone’s bottom line, so how we organize and describe our offerings has to change, too.

For example, last summer I wouldn’t have created a teleseminar called “Ace Your Next Job Interview.”  But after two clients in a row called for interview coaching, I saw the light. 

Whether your offering is a service or a product, ask yourself what special benefit it provides for your specific customers in today’s environment: 

• Yoga classes can be: (a) the road to inner peace, or (b) a way to get fit for the fight
• High-end artwork can be (a) an aesthetic self-reward, or (b) an alternate investment in a world gone mad
• Childcare services can provide: (a) a basic necessity, or (b) the ultimate luxury (not worrying about your kids while you work)

Your advisors, friends and customers can help you take a fresh look at the benefits your business offers.

Step Four:  Reality-Check Your “Ask”

In the non-profit world, an “ask” is a request that you make of your listener(s).

“Asks” are important in the business world, too.

Many of us claim that, when we talk to people about our business, we’re “just educating them,” or “just letting them know we’re out here.”

This is almost never true!  Don’t you want to “ask” this person to:

• Visit your website?
• Sign up for your newsletter?
• Come to your store?
• Give you their opinion?
• Book an introductory session?
• Tell their friends?
• Direct you to leads?
• Join you for coffee?
• Request a proposal?

All these “asks” have one thing in common:  They offer your listener (or audience) a chance to move one step closer to the benefits your business provides.

Don’t deprive people of that opportunity! 

Make an ask (of whatever kind) part of every conversation about your business.

Summary:

We constantly speak about our businesses.  We can fine-tune our messaging and achieve greater success by:

• Getting (or tuning up) a powerful pitch
• Reviewing “our audience” (who we talk to)
• Upgrading the relevance of our offerings (starting with how we describe them), and
• Making an ask-every time.

Enjoy implementing these four tips-and please let me know how it goes!