Marketers: 5 Things to Consider In Business and in Life
A little birdie once told me - Be Prepared. When a marketing representative is in the field whether at a home show, a festival, in a business meeting, or out on the street, it is important for you to remember five things before you even speak to someone about your product or service. This is a guide to those five important things to remember.
1) Have a reason for speaking - It sounds simple, but every meeting has a purpose, whether it is initiated by you or someone else. If you are not consciously thinking about the reason for you meeting or speaking to someone, you are not focused. Without focus, you will lose your audience and your train of thought - ultimate you will lose the opportunity to make a sale. Focus on your mission.
2) Know your brand - Know the ins and outs, ups and downs of why your product or service works. Without this your message will fail at the onset of the conversation. Questions should be welcomed, not looked at with trepidation or worse, objection. People are investing in you their time, money, or other assets. The only way to win them is to know what you are talking about when it comes to your brand. You need to know yourself, but you also need to...
3) Know the competition - As a marketing representative, one of the keys to my success which made me the top grossing marketing representative in my company two months in - was knowing why my product was the best. Knowing this means doing research. It means researching not just the competition's strengths, but their weaknesses, but yours as well in comparison. Doing research on the market in general makes you well-rounded in conversation.
4) Go in it to win it - If you go into a conversation with the mindset that you will not be successful, you won't! Approach every opportunity with the knowledge that you will gain something. But more importantly don't doubt yourself. Clients and new customers need to trust you before they can trust what you present to them. Whether you are a recognized brand or small start-up, your presentation is what makes someone want to go with your company.
5) Be engaging and smile! - Have you ever heard the expression, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar? Everyone who you encounter is evaluating you - it is important to remember that if you are happy with your product, they are more likely to believe they will be too!
These five things to consider are the basis of a great conversation with a potential customer or client - What would you add?