Archive for July, 2008
The Perfect Pitch – Part 3 – Winding Down
Congratulations! You’ve done it! Your new elevator pitch (show #61) coupled with your conversation starters (show #62) have enabled you to begin, join and maintain effective/enjoyable discussions – with new prospects and current clients – in a variety of business and social settings.
But, wait a minute! You need to move on to another meeting or commitment. How are you going to get out of your current conversation without being perceived as rude or awkward? After all, you don’t want to discount all the hard work you’ve done to get this far. Furthermore, you don’t want to damage the relationships that you’ve just begun.
“How to end a conversation properly” is rarely discussed. And, yet it’s a skill that you need to have and hone in order to really achieve the pay-off associated with establishing conversations in the first place.
Here are a few useful resources that will save you time and embarrassment as well as ensure every conversation ends up working for you:
Have you submitted an elevator pitch for the BusinessCast podcast? Remember, listen to show # 61 (The Perfect Pitch) and send us a pitch. You could very well Win a Prize!
Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes
The Perfect Pitch – Part 2 – The Warm Up
“After you’ve developed ‘the perfect pitch’ – how do you know that it really works?” This is one of the many questions that we received from BusinessCast listeners of show #61 (The Perfect Pitch) and show #62 (Talk Yourself Into Business).
So, here are a handful of practical tips that any entrepreneur can apply to address the challenge of developing a pitch that works effectively:
1) Record yourself in audio format. Ask a friend or colleague to listen to how clearly you enunciate your words as well as for your pacing and how natural it sounds.
2) Record yourself in video format. This is particularly powerful because your body language plays such an important role in conveying your key messages. Review it and watch for facial gestures or body movement that may distract, rather than reinforce, the message you are trying to get across.
3) Because your company relies on your team, encourage each member to prepare a pitch using the structure outlined in show #61. This isn’t about who can out-do whom. It’s about developing the pitch that works best. Watch for consistency of key messages without trying to enforce a ‘script’. Keep in-mind, that if the pitch doesn’t feel or sound right, it’s not the perfect pitch!
4) Test in low risk venues (e.g. informal family or friend get-togethers). Ask for feedback: Are you clear? Are you compelling? Are you succinct?
Remember: A perfect pitch doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and patience. But, the payback is always worth it – to the top line and the bottom line.
Have you submitted a perfect pitch for the BusinessCast podcast? Remember, listen to show # 61 (The Perfect Pitch) and send in a pitch. You could very well Win a Prize!
Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes
The Perfect Pitch – Part 1
In show #61 (The Perfect Pitch) and show #62 (Talk Yourself Into Business) we provide some practical tips to help any entrepreneur tell their unique business story to existing/potential customers with confidence, conviction and flare!
We took on the always-relevant topic of developing an effective ‘elevator pitch’ as well as what to do when the elevator hits the ground floor…in other words, once you’ve finished delivering your pitch. We developed a structure that anyone can easily use, remember and adapt to ensure their success.
And, because, small/medium-sized businesses face the challenge of telling their story often, we are asking you a very specific question:
[polldaddy poll="785835"]
After listening to show #61 and show #62, let us know what you think
As Robert and I outline in show #61, if you develop an elevator pitch for the BusinessCast and submit it, you could Win a Prize!
Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes
Gadgets That Help the Bottom Line – Part 3 – Resource Round-Up
Listen to BusinessCast #65 – Gadgets That Help the Bottom Line – and you’ll probably conclude that we are in deed geekier than you thought. The good news: we have identified a number of useful sources that will save you time and either bring out, or hone, your passion for gadgets.
Of course, we also outline some issues that you should consider prior to purchasing any business gadget/technology.
The online sources we turn to evaluate technologies – before investing in them – include the following: These include:
Some of the business efficiency gadgets we discussed heatedly in the show – while not always agreeing on their immediate utility, included:
Ultra Mobile PCs such as Asus EEC, Acer Aspire and HP 2133.
Voice Recognition: Dragon Naturally Speaking
Handwriting Gadgets/Software including: www.epos.ps.com, www.logitech.com and www.pegatech.com.
Let us know which of these (or other gadgets and/or resources) help your bottom line.
Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes
Gadgets That Help the Bottom Line – Part 2 – Preview
Well we got through our first podcast dedicated specifically to gadgets without out too many cries of extreme gadget-envy.
One thing is for sure: if you are drawn by the allure and promise of gadgets, you do need to apply a particular discipline to make sure that they help you achieve your business goals!
Topics that we covered in podcast #65 – Gadgets That Help the Bottom Line – include:
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Evaluating the need for gadgets
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Evaluating the technology/gadgets themselves
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Evaluating when you should purchase gadgets
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Evaluating the costs of the gadgets
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Evaluating the risks of purchasing gadgets
We also identify a slew of useful (and fun) gadget/technology resources that you’ll want to visit frequently and bookmark.
Keep in-mind that the show will be posted tomorrow. But, let us know anytime how you use gadgets to help your business succeed.
Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes