Careless talk costs business
I do a lot of networking and truly believe that it's one of the best ways to market your business, but sometimes people forget that there's a verbal equivalent of "a minute on the lips a lifetime on the hips".
This is when they allow a stream of consciousness to shape their 60 seconds rather than thinking first.
In a pretty short space of time I've heard fellow networkers come out with things like:
- I was formerly "Joe Soap company" but it closed last year
- I've just started up and...
- I made a bit of money at Christmas so can now get some business cards printed
- Once I get more clients I'll probably get some premises
- This business has arisen from the ashes and I'm going it alone
- Sorry, I am always a bit chaotic...
- I decided I wasn't great at XXX and am now concentrating on YYY...
- I've now started to xxxx as well - which brings a few pennies in
- I stopped the business for a while and got a job but I hate being told what to do so I'm back...
Yes that's right - none of them and what's more we're likely to have made snap judgements that will be extremely difficult to eradicate.
Marketing is not just websites and printed material, social media and signage it's also what you say and the way that you say it. Guess what intense, unsmiling, vague, untidy people don't get work either - strange that.
Have you any other verbal bloopers you'd like to share?
For related posts please see Putting together a great networking 60 seconds