Business Networking – Do you know your ROI?
Have you calculated your actual ROI on your Business Networking activities? If not, why not?
- Periodically you should figure out exactly what it is costing you in not only hard dollars but soft costs to attend any networking function.
- Hard Costs include: Membership Dues, Chapter Dues, etc.
- Soft Costs include: Drive time, Meeting time, and any time that you spend outside of the actual event having a 1-1 with either synergy partners or prospective clients.
Ask yourself, am I getting out of this group or activity exactly what I planned or expected? If not, it might be time to make a change. Look for other networking groups that more appropriately helps you attain your ultimate sales goals.
Peggy P. Edge (c) 2013
Networking: Crafting an Effective 30-Second Commercial
Do you know how to craft an effective 30-second commercial? Most commercials that you hear at networking events really do not give you a clear idea of what that person is all about.
Some of the key elements of a well-crafted 30-second commercial will:
- Paint a verbal picture.
- Establishes you as an expert in your field.
- Profiles you and your company.
The standard 30-second commercial goes something like this:
Hello, I’m Lucy Jane and I’m an Account Rep with Joe Bob’s Freight Company. We are looking for prospective clients who ship anything. We have the best rates in town and provide excellent service.
Blah! Blah! Blah!
Using the 3 elements listed above here is how Lucy might re-phrase her commercial:
When was the last time that you had an order to ship and the freight company damaged it? It was returned by the customer and you lost money?
For the past 25 years, Joe Bob’s Freight Service has been rated in the top 5 out of 25 delivery service organizations in the region by the East Texas Business Journal based upon our excellent dependability, reliability and expedient services.
Today I’m looking for an introduction to Jimmy Joe, Operations Manager at Ralph’s Refrigeration Corporation.
My name is Lucy Jane and I’m the Regional Sales Manager for Joe Bob’s Freight Service.
When you are more detailed with explaining your target market, being more precise on the product and/or service you provide, and describe your value proposition thoroughly, your commercial will be more effective.
Source: “5 Key Steps to Effective Business Networking” – Peggy P. Edge © 2012.
To write or not to write…that is the question!
Hugh Prather wrote in “Notes to Myself,” “If the desire to write is not accompanied by actual writing then the desire is not to write.”
With the invention of social media, that is all we are doing now is writing. All of us are writing about something–our likes, dislikes, our religious persuasion, our political stance, comments on cats, dogs, ex-husbands and wives, etc.
Because every single one of us is an expert in something, now we have the venue to spout out our innermost thoughts and opinions.
For years, I thought my only expertise was what I did for a living–packaging. I don’t know everything there is to know about packaging but after 30 years in the industry, I think I’ve learned a thing or two about the subject.
Most recently I have discovered I know a thing or two about several other topics: business networking; sales training; mentoring. Why? Because over almost 30 years in industrial sales, I have some pointers and tips that I can teach other, younger salespeople as well as share my expertise in having owned 2 businesses.
Wow! I’m a writer now! You can be too. Pick up that pen and pad and write what’s on your heart. It doesn’t matter if you post it on FB, Twitter or any other media but what happens is that it is exciting and exhilarating when you are finished.
Let me know what is on your mind that you are writing about today.
