Do you ever ask clients what life was like before you came along? Not only in relation to your specific service or product, but their business life generally: What is driving them to do what they do? Where do they want to take their company longer term? What is getting in the way of their… Read more
Honestly speaking, this is how to tell your business story.
I first met Nikki Gatenby (above) when I was chairing a discussion about high growth companies. She was a great panelist, energetically fluent about how she had grown her SEO and search marketing agency Propellernet. She’s done it by focusing steadfastly on the wellbeing of her team and their sense of purpose – “to make… Read more
Stories that do your business a big favour.
Let me tell you a story. When Mark (pictured above, juggling pineapples) was 21 he went on a big adventure. He travelled the world for two years, getting lost in the rich colours, sounds and smells of Asia, Australasia and the Caribbean. He returned with vivid memories of remote villages, expansive beaches and magical moments… Read more
Delegate your story to people who tell it better
One of the best ways to explain why your business is valuable is to get someone else to do it for you. Someone who can do it better than you. They’re not necessarily a better communicator than you, but they will have the edge over you because of who they are. That someone is your… Read more
Be understood the first time. Use DIY.
This is not about losing yourself amongst the aisles of B&Q and Homebase. (Oh, the horror.) This is about using drawings to make your message clearly understood and memorable, the first time round. That’s what I said. The first time round. Imagine never having to repeat yourself because your colleagues or your clients get… Read more
How to find new angles to your story – and get new clients.
Yes, your prospects are busy. So how do you get their attention? One way is to keep writing content. Even if they’re too busy to look at your first 3 blog posts, they might have 5 minutes for the fourth. Another way is to find different angles to the issue you’re tackling. One of them… Read more
Do words fail your business? Let me help.
I use the word ‘interview’ a lot to describe what I do. But I wish I didn’t. I wish someone could come up with a new word because ‘interview’ is so loaded. Do you have a similar problem? Mention your profession – accountant, builder, coach – and you see your networking companion glaze over. Or… Read more
Get those clients – but get your thoughts together first. Pick My Brain.
We live in a world where, if you run your own business, you are expected to be out there. A website and LinkedIn profile are bare minimums. After that, there’s your blog/vlog/YouTube channel/Twitter feed… I could go on, but I won’t. For any of these things to work, you have to be clear in your… Read more
When you stop speaking, how much will your audience remember?
Even in the age of cyber marketing, doing the occasional event – a presentation, speech, workshop – in front of an audience of real human beings, is a good way to promote you and your work. But it has to be worth all the effort – the thinking time, the rehearsal and the nerves. You… Read more
Be a knock-out success with your audience. (When being weak is a strength.)
Does anyone have a question? It’s a question speakers routinely ask at the end of any session. In my experience, it kills the conversation. An irony, because it’s designed to do the opposite. And I understand that. When I go to conferences, I never want to speak up first. It takes me back to the… Read more
