If you’re starting up a new business, one of the key skills that you have to learn is about selling yourself and your services but to most people this doesn’t come naturally.
Take a look at some of the outside factors that represent your personal brand, such as the company you work for or the company you keep. Who are your friends, alliances and partners? What networking groups do you belong to?
Use your community. Job seekers often forget to use another powerful network: the community they live in. Drop the kids at school and chat with other parents. Help out at the next working bee. Talk work at the local pub or at the football game: it’s okay … really. You’ll never know who-knows-who unless you make this effort.
Email is another relationship building platform. Many gurus have beautifully branded emails. Others are just plain good reading without any branding logo. Yet, both have a feel and look to them. And, their personality shows through their branding efforts and communications to you. They are using marketing and women’s networking groups yorkshire that they found successful. Check these out and learn.
And secondly when you meet people at software defined networking events, take some time to find out more about them. It isn’t about building a group of transient people you may see from time to time, it is about creating a network of supportive people. Invite them out to lunch or coffee; get to know them on a personal basis too. This will give you the great opportunity to find out more about them, how you can work together or help each other out.
This is my favorite part. There is nothing better than sending a blank excel sheet to a virtual assistant and getting back all the contact information you need on potential clients. Contact person, phone number, email, websites, everything you need. And not only that, they’ll even import it into your contact management software, mailing list, or even submit friend requests to them on Facebook! I love it!
Your key to success is to be able to sell yourself in a positive way and let’s face it, selling doesn’t come naturally to everybody (me included), so it’s important to take time and consider how you can develop that certain je ne sais quoi that make you stand out from the crowd.
I don’t think your customer would appreciate a phone call three to five days after you have received their information. Even if they are still on the market for your product, you will not be off to a good start.