Three tips that put you on equal footing with extroverts
Do presentation make you kill-over queasy? Do you pass up business opportunities just because you want to avoid face time with people you don't know?
Whenever I conduct a marketing workshop I here these complaints:
“I don’t feel comfortable talking to strangers”.
“I always stumble whenever I try to tell people about my products”.
“I hate networking!”
Trust me. I get it. Still there’s a strong assumption that all entrepreneurs are gregarious, fast-talking, sales-types willing to approach anyone sitting still.
Shy moments happen to the best of us. Yeah, me included.
First tip: Try Toastmasters!
Toastmasters International is an organization where you can practice public speaking and gain leadership skills in a supportive and fun environment. Being active in a club made my presentations 10 times more effective. I also met other professionals, many entreprenuers like me who were happy to refer me to their clients. I just can’t recommend this organization enough. So hurry and go to toastmasters.org to locate a club near you and then attend the next meeting.
Feel awkward mingling? Just strike up a conversation by talking about what’s in front of you. For instance, if you’re by a window with a city view, mention something about one of the buildings you’ve been in. You could even comment on how you had a similar one and traded it for a 10 second commute. Another option is to position yourself within a short distance from a small group engaged in conversation. Then when you hear something that sparks your interest chime in with, “That sounds like something I need. How can I find out more about it?”
Volunteering is an excellent marketing strategy for shy entrepreneurs because it automatically puts you in a circle with others who already share your interest. You can volunteer your products or you can volunteer your time. Either way it gives prime prospects the opportunity to see what you have to offer first hand—something that goes a long way in eliminating the barriers that come with trying to convince others your product is right for them. Locate various volunteer opportunities at any of these links:
taprootfoundation.org
Sonya Carmichael Jones, freelance direct response copywriter and direct marketing consultant helps you rev up your response rates and sales orders with compelling copy and direct marketing strategies. For effective online and offline copywriting and marketing solutions contact Sonya at marketingbuddha.com.
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