When you question the effectiveness of business networking it basically comes down to how effective you are in your 60 second Sales Manager Presentation.
In sixty seconds or less, you tell your peers a lot about yourself.
Are you creative?
Do you make the effort or do you make excuses?
How do you feel when you hear a member say, "Oh my business is very straightforward, I don't know what else to say?"
The most common complaint is that people in the business of tangible products have it easier than someone who provides a service.
"Of course his 60 seconds is interesting, he has got interesting props to show!"
Well, in my opinion that's an excuse not to make the effort. Product or service, we all have to educate our members on what we do and why we are different. When you make the effort to plan a good 60 second presentation, even if you stumble or stutter, it is clear to all that you made the effort.
When the meeting is over and we are out there conducting our own business, meeting our clients, vendors and suppliers, who are the people that are utmost in our minds for referrals? I can say for myself, the members I remember are the ones who:
1. Came prepared
2. Were pleasant
3. Didn't make excuses
We can't go wrong if we follow this 6 step process. 10 seconds for each step.
1. Your name, where you're from and the company you're representing
2. What you do (think in terms of benefits you offer, not features)
3. The type of people you're looking for (who do you know who...) - be specific
4. How you can help them, with testimonial(s) if possible
5. Repeat your name and company
6. Finish with a memory hook
Not all of us are blessed with the ability to create witty catch-phrases or possess the gift of the gab. All we need to do is make the effort each week to make Step 2 & 3 as simple and interesting as possible.
In time we will improve but we can't improve until we start making the effort to make our 60 seconds count.
