Building Your Own Business but Wary of the ‘S’ Word?
Building Your Own Business but Wary of the ‘S’ Word?
While our businesses may offer different products or services, they are all about filling a need for people. The key word here is “people”…our businesses are all about “people”. People thrive on connection. They like being listened to and courted and chosen.
Selling is about forming connections, finding commonalities, enjoying conversations, figuring out what’s missing, helping to clarify what’s needed, and partnering to find solutions.
Let’s create a plan that will help you to embrace your professional selling self.
Step 1
Know yourself. Who are you? What makes your business tick? What makes you unique? What characteristics do you have that would attract someone to partner with you?
Step 2
Get clear on who you want to attract. Who would you really like to connect with? What qualities do those individuals have? Why do they need you? How would your business thrive if those types of people became aware of your product or services? Create a “My Favorite Client” profile. Keep it in full sight.
Step 3
Look for “My Favorite Clients” everywhere. It’s like a treasure hunt. Where do they hang out? What do they read? What radio stations do they listen to? Where might you run into them?
How might you reach them?
Step 4
Create an image for these individuals to see! How will you portray your business to these people? What can you send them that will make them curious about you? If you were them, what would make you reach out to you?
Step 5
Imagine yourself conversing with exactly the type of Client you seek. If you could talk with your favorite prospective Client, what would you like to find out about them? What would you like to share? How would you introduce yourself? What would you like them to know about you?
Step 6
Be a conversation starter. Remember, people love to talk about themselves. Ask an “open-ended” question. Listen to the response. Listen some more. Come from curiosity. What does this person have to teach you? How might you two connect? What are the commonalities of experience? Is this someone you’d like to know more?
Step 7
Move it forward. Are you eager to share the “good news” about your business with others? Are you excited about what you do? Are you comfortable in your own skin….even if it’s new? Just be yourself. Share what turns you on. Tell a fun story. Move the relationship forward
Step 8
Watch for the “magic click”. Are you feeling on the same wave length with this person? Does it just feel “good” to talk with them? Is the conversation “flowing”? Enjoy the connection!
Step 9
Enjoy the new relationship for what it is right now. Be sure to be clear about what you do and why you love it. Invite your new acquaintance to “try you on”. Nurture this new connection. Be there when they’re ready to learn more.
Step 10
Be ready for them when they’re ready for you. When the time is right for them, be easy to find. Build on this wonderful, new relationship. Strengthen it with intimacy, caring, and skill.
So this, my friends, is selling! How much fun is this! You have opportunity after opportunity to connect with people, share your worth, and build your business…just what you signed on for.
Don’t forget to keep the conversation going for a long, long time. Ask your new client to give you feedback on how your business feels to them. Give them an outstanding experience. When they’re delighted by the results, ask them to spread the good word. If they forget, ask them again. Stay in touch.
Happy conversations!
Building Your Own Business but Wary of the S Word - To learn more about this author, visit Flo Schell's Website.
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My guess is that you’re an independent sort. You like running your own show, creating your own hours, and making things happen! I’ll bet you thrive on building connections…connections that get you where you want to go.
While our businesses may offer different products or services, they are all about filling a need for people. The key word here is “people”…our businesses are all about “people”. People thrive on connection. They like being listened to and courted and chosen.
Selling is about forming connections, finding commonalities, enjoying conversations, figuring out what’s missing, helping to clarify what’s needed, and partnering to find solutions.
Let’s create a plan that will help you to embrace your professional selling self.
Step 1
Know yourself. Who are you? What makes your business tick? What makes you unique? What characteristics do you have that would attract someone to partner with you?
Step 2
Get clear on who you want to attract. Who would you really like to connect with? What qualities do those individuals have? Why do they need you? How would your business thrive if those types of people became aware of your product or services? Create a “My Favorite Client” profile. Keep it in full sight.
Step 3
Look for “My Favorite Clients” everywhere. It’s like a treasure hunt. Where do they hang out? What do they read? What radio stations do they listen to? Where might you run into them?
How might you reach them?
Step 4
Create an image for these individuals to see! How will you portray your business to these people? What can you send them that will make them curious about you? If you were them, what would make you reach out to you?
Step 5
Imagine yourself conversing with exactly the type of Client you seek. If you could talk with your favorite prospective Client, what would you like to find out about them? What would you like to share? How would you introduce yourself? What would you like them to know about you?
Step 6
Be a conversation starter. Remember, people love to talk about themselves. Ask an “open-ended” question. Listen to the response. Listen some more. Come from curiosity. What does this person have to teach you? How might you two connect? What are the commonalities of experience? Is this someone you’d like to know more?
Step 7
Move it forward. Are you eager to share the “good news” about your business with others? Are you excited about what you do? Are you comfortable in your own skin….even if it’s new? Just be yourself. Share what turns you on. Tell a fun story. Move the relationship forward
Step 8
Watch for the “magic click”. Are you feeling on the same wave length with this person? Does it just feel “good” to talk with them? Is the conversation “flowing”? Enjoy the connection!
Step 9
Enjoy the new relationship for what it is right now. Be sure to be clear about what you do and why you love it. Invite your new acquaintance to “try you on”. Nurture this new connection. Be there when they’re ready to learn more.
Step 10
Be ready for them when they’re ready for you. When the time is right for them, be easy to find. Build on this wonderful, new relationship. Strengthen it with intimacy, caring, and skill.
So this, my friends, is selling! How much fun is this! You have opportunity after opportunity to connect with people, share your worth, and build your business…just what you signed on for.
Don’t forget to keep the conversation going for a long, long time. Ask your new client to give you feedback on how your business feels to them. Give them an outstanding experience. When they’re delighted by the results, ask them to spread the good word. If they forget, ask them again. Stay in touch.
Happy conversations!
Building Your Own Business but Wary of the S Word - To learn more about this author, visit Flo Schell's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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