PaulaW

5 Keys to the Art of Engagement

 Blog, Engagement, Tips  No Responses »
Aug 062013
 

 

Working with companies on their Trade Show and Expo presence has shown how many people are lacking in the art of engagement.  Exhibiting is like Speed Dating. If you are lucky you have about 90 seconds to convert them from slightly interested to the second date (or qualified prospect in business parlance). Here are the 5 keys to engaging with strangers at your next show:

 

1          Smile

It seems obvious but many people on stands or even in retail or at your front desk, don’t want to be there. One of the simplest things for the team to do is smile. Not a fake, cheesy “looking like you are a little insane” smile but a relaxed, pleasant smile on your face. It will make them appear more pleasant and approachable, and they will feel better about themselves. Some people don’t want to just smile for no reason but remember you are speed dating, a smile may attract your prospect but at the vey least, it won’t scare them away.

 

2          Be interested

When you first speak to someone it is easy to dump on them everything you know about the product or service you are selling. Sometimes it is not until the end that you find your “prospect” is not interested. So be interested about them. What are they here for? What are they looking for? How were they thinking of using your product or service? This enables you to find our more about their needs that you can satisfy and about any issues they may currently be facing.

 

3          Have some One-Liners

Just like trying to get the attention of someone on the speed date, you need a snappy statement that captures the prospect’s attention and engages their curiosity. Sometimes it can be a challenge to stand out so try different things that suit your image, product and brand.  Here are some that I have heard:

“Excuse me sir, can I make you pregnant?” – Empathy Belly pregnancy vest for dads

“Would your child like to be the Star of the Show?” – Dressing room stars for kids bedrooms

“Would you prefer to stay in a 5 star hotel or a hospital” – For a maternity hospital

“How would your business cope with a full system failure?” – IT Offsite backup services

 

4          Have a Crowd

Nothing builds a crowd like a crowd. So have something that attracts the crowd and gives your message at the same time. Options can include comedians, magicians, wire bending or even a TV with the cricket on. While the crowd is there watching the show, your team can start engaging with them.

 

5          Be the Host

Check on their needs while at the show. Advise them where the food and toilet areas are. Help them find the booths they want to see. Ask them what they want from the show and help them try and achieve it. This reflects incredibly well on you and your organisation and keeps you top of mind when they are discussing your products and services.

 

Everyone wants a date when they are speed dating at the show. It may be to find out about certain products or services, it may be to discover something new or it could just be to get a bargain.  Whatever it is, use these 5 keys to help engage and be the one to help the visitor achieve their goal.

 

Thanks to Warwick Merry and Danielle for contributing this article to our blog.

Warwick Merry and Danielle Storey are the founders of The Exhibiting and Sponsorship Institute. They work with organisations to achieve Excellence in Exhibiting and Event Sponsorship.

For some free tips visit www.EASITips.com

 

Do you show enough gratitude?

 Blog, Referrals, Social Media  No Responses »
Jul 092013
 

When social media became popular for business, while marketing our own business, we liked and shared other pages, made a point of actually checking out the pages we liked and even communicating with the business owners, shared links, did shout outs and showed our appreciation of others.  This seems to be a dwindling practise.

Most of you will agree that word-of-mouth and referrals are one of the best forms of business, and are also compliment or testimonial to the product/service we offer, so why don’t we do more of this for others.  Social media is a great way to gain a little more exposure for our business, while showing appreciation of others, and spreading the word about other great businesses out there.  Some of the ways you can do this include:

  • liking a page
  • sharing a link for a page/website
  • checking into a place
  • tagging a business
  • visiting a page and leaving a recommendation
  • doing shout outs to your favourite pages
  • recommending pages to friends
  • liking/commenting/sharing a post you like

Recently I joined the 21 Days of Gratitude Social Media Challenge, organised by Jo of Wildfire Social Media, and it has been a great reminder that as well as building and marketing your own brand, social media is about connecting, networking, building relationships, marketing your brand and your business as well as communicating with family and friends!

HOW DOES THE CHALLENGE WORK

  • Start today or pick a day to start
  • Choose your frequency and thank 21 people in your plan frequency (eg every day for 21 days, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 7 weeks, or once for a week for 21 weeks etc)
  • Select a person in your life to express gratitude to
  • Choose your social network (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In etc)
  • Share a message with image or video
  • Tag the Event in your post to gain exposure beyond your network (or use the hash tag #21daysofgratitude)
  • Create a new habit and plan to do this on a regular basis

It’s not too late to start, and there is no cost to you, but your commitment to take action.  Join in the challenge at http://www.wildfiresocialmarketing.com/wildfire/21-days-of-gratitude-social-media-challenge

Whether you join the challenge or not, I encourage you to build more gratitude into your social media strategy, by including thank yous, recommendations, shout outs, tags, sharing links, liking/sharing posts, inviting friends to pages, and rather than liking a check in or shared link visit the page, check it out and like the page if it appeals to you (you may discover a new product/service you didn’t know existed, and if you do let others know about it too).

Will you join me (and encourage others) to bring more sharing, promotion and gratitude back to social media?

What’s Happening at Wynyard Business Solutions

 Blog, What's happening  No Responses »
Jul 022013
 

As of 1st July, 2013, Wynyard Business Solutions now operates on a ‘Value-based‘ business model, which means we will be tailoring packages to our clients needs, rather than quoting hourly rates.

What does this mean?
Prior to the commencement of work, we will have a consultation with you, so we can assess your needs.  We will then provide you with a written proposal, outlining our discussion, and confirming the value you will receive from our service.  Once the proposal is agreed upon, and a contract is signed, work will commence.  Work will be completed to meet agreed deadlines, to our consistently high standards, with no surprises when you receive the invoice.

Building a Team

I am putting a team in place so I am better able to service your needs, and  provide you with the best service possible.  So if there’s something I haven’t been able to do in the past, chances are I can now, or I can do it better!

Some of the recent jobs keeping us busy include:

  • Formatting a paperback for printing
  • Formatting & preparing 3 books to Amazon and Kindle
  • Creating client portfolios
  • Flyers and business card design
  • Facebook page set ups
  • Social Media management and strategies
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Various eNewsletter and a eNewsletter template
  • Website & Blog updates

Virtual Networking

 Blog, Networking  No Responses »
Apr 222013
 

As a business owner networking is a big part of my business, to discover services out there that may be useful in the future, and to help educate others about the Virtual Assistant industry in Australia.  I’m not sure about you, but I would much prefer to use someone I know or who is recommended than someone I find by Google search.

Although it would be easier to just hand someone your business card and leave, hoping they will keep your card and eventually need your services, to make networking worthwhile you need to make an impression, so you generally introduce yourself and find out a little bit more about the person and then exchange business cards. Continue reading »

Australian VA Conference 2013

 AVAC, Blog, Virtual Assistance  4 Responses »
Apr 022013
 

avaclogo

I recently attended the 4th Australian VA Conference (AVAC), which was in my home town of Sydney in the amazing Star Room at the IMAX.  I have been lucky enough to attend it every year since it’s inauguration, and it has been getting better every year.

This year the speakers were very relevant to my current situation, and all of the speakers appeared genuine, only wanting to share with us information to help us grow our business and improve ourselves, and not wanting to just sell their products.

There were a lot of information and tips I could take with me and use straight away, while I work through and implement some of the bigger ideas.

One of the things I have been told at each event is that a blog is great for SEO, and that it doesn’t have to be perfect, i.e. don’t spend to much time dwelling on it.  So while I was camping over the Easter break, I decided rather than procrastinating about it for another year, now is as good a time as any, so I sat in my camp chair in the shade with my laptop on my lap and started my first blog.

The great line up of speakers and topics included:

  • Mariette Rups-Donnelly of Powerhouse Presentation was our MC and did a sensational job
  • Nick Bowditch, from the Australian arm of Facebook, taught us how Facebook ticks behind the scenes.
  • Dr Natalie Shepherd, Embracing Your Life, presented on Communication styles, which has nothing to do with your personality, and with a brief 5 question survey most of us were able to determine our communication style.
  • Pam Brossman, Digital Authors Academy & She Experts, shared with us the next three up and coming digital marketing tools.
  • Terri Bell, Terri Bell & Co, reminded us of the spam act, and went through some of the important information that needs to be included in your Terms & Conditions.
  • Robyn Henderson, Networking to Win, gave us some great tips for networking, both personally and via LinkedIn.
  • Christine McKee, Be Institute, taught us about breaking our day into ‘snack-sized chunks’.
  • Rosie Shilo,Virtually Yours, started a great discussion about outsourcing overseas and the challenges that are faced by Australian VAs.
  • Donna Toothaker, Step it Up VA Coaching, who spoke about Value-based model versus standard hourly rate.
  • Phil O’Brien, Active Corporate Experience, explained to us different methods of self defence, to always be award of what is going on around us and planning and preparing action plans in the case of threat.
  • Charly Leetham, Ask Charly Leetham, shared with us some of her amazing wealth of knowledge about WordPress and specifically blogs.
  • Marianne Broeng, Meliam Consulting Pty Ltd, gave us information on how to use and understand the potential of a good CRM within your business.
  • Elissa Farrow, About Your Transition, gave us some key tips on how to manage projects to help ensure success.
  • Dana Skopal, Opal Affinity, gave gave us some great ideas and tips on how to manage and prioritise our time for business and personally.
  • Rosemary Marchsese, Fitness and Health Author, Physiotherapist and Trainer, spoke about our diet, exercise and stretching and incidental exercise.

I will expand on some of the wealth of information and tips I took away in future blogs.

Apart from the fantastic line up of speakers with useful information, a venue with amazing views of Darling Harbour, being in a room and networking with a bunch of phenomenal VAs from around the country is awesome.  Working virtually you get to know people by their email signature, logo or their social media profile picture, but meeting them in person is even better, you get to put a face and personality to a name.

Thanks to the organisers, Kathie Thomas, A Clayton’s Secretary,  and Anita Kilkenny, AKA Virtual PA, those behind the scenes Gai Brown, Make My Day VA, Kylie Short, Tilda Virtual, and Monika Newman, Absolutely Virtual, myself, Wynyard Business Solutions, and the sponsors, who made the event possible.

If you are a VA, or an aspiring VA I can not recommend highly enough that you put the 14 & 15 March 2014 in your diary, and plan to attend AVAC 2014.

 

 

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