Industry Domination Insights Blog - By Ben Angel
Video Interview with Robert Gerrish of Flying Solo for BNET Australia
Posted by Ben Angel on 2nd September, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: conference speakers australia, marketing for business consultants, professional speaker melbourne, personal brand, Personal Branding, Ben Angel, Robert Gerrish, Flying Solo 4 Steps to Getting Your ‘Business’ Off The D-List
Business professionals have been asking the question, ‘How do I get more media, more clients and more recognition?” for years.
But the answer to the question of ‘getting off the D-list’ and onto the ‘A-list’ (where things are ten times easier) doesn’t necessarily lie in ‘just’ delivering an amazing service.
It is more than that. In fact it requires strategically creating a perception of your ‘self’ and ‘business’ in the marketplace to create intrigue, mystery and credibility. All of which equals respect; respect being at the heart of why someone would refer you new business, put you on television or shout your name from the roof tops.
The best way to get off this list (other than watching Kathy Griffin’s hilarious show ‘My Life on The D-List’ of which she has won an Emmy for) is by taking my four point checklist.
Checkpoint 1: Credibility by Association
We see it every week in the gossip mags: “Up-and-coming wannabe movie star ‘caught’ schmoozing at the hottest party with established (and too often married) star.” None of this is accidental, neither is it accidental when new and typically ‘unknown’ music acts get to headline for international artists on tour. It’s blatant PR.
Go to events and functions where you can network and be seen with industry heavy weights. This can help you skip a few rungs when climbing the professional ladder – plus who wants to schmooze with the plebs anyway?! Cut the chase and go straight to the top in your industry.
Checkpoint 2: Groomed to an Inch within Your Life
Being an A-lister in your industry isn’t for everyone. It takes a well-groomed individual to attract and maintain such acute levels of attention. This doesn’t happen overnight. Key areas to groom your ‘self’ include;
- Managing conversations (how to steer them to best serve your agenda and that of whom you’re networking with; it has to go both ways for it to work);
- Handling the media (what to say, what not to say and when not to say it; what to wear – shapes and colours to avoid etc)
- Signature visual styles (commanding presence; looking like you own your title)
Checkpoint 3: Are You Coke or Pepsi?
It may sound cold and harsh, but have you ever thought of yourself as a ‘physical’ product, as in something that could be put on a shelf and sold? If not, you need to, here’s why.
Stereotypes are alive and well in our society and they aren’t going anywhere soon.
Stereotypes allow others to place you into a particular area or field of specialty and personality, it also means that they can refer you business a whole lot easier because they understand where you fit in the greater scheme of things. The trick is not to be stereotyped into a category that you don’t want to be.
What type of brand are you? Are you the cheap, comparable or even expensive version of your brand in your marketplace? Define this and you will instantly make head way quicker than you can say, ‘Oops, Britney Spears has done it again!’
Checkpoint 4: Signature Brand Values
When getting off the D-list, you need to be clear about which list you are trying to get off of in the first place. Is it your clients, the media or your colleagues? Have you fallen out of favour in particular circles? Are they the circles that matter? If so, you have a whole lot of work to do.
To get focused and get to the top of your game a hell of a lot faster, be very clear on what your top brand values are. What do you want to be known for within your industry sector? List your top 3 and stamp them on your forehead so you never forget them. Getting onto the A-list is as much about knowing what you stand for as it is networking with influential contacts. Don’t be a sell-out, stand for something important professionally and personally.
How far will you go?
I believe in doing ‘whatever’ it takes to get ahead in my career – as long as it is not at the expense of others. This means working my butt off to establish my networks, credibility and industry presence. It also means training in new areas every single year that exposes me to greater education in a broad range of industries. Because media is my goal, over the last four years I have added to my education, personal styling, radio presenting, selling from stage and soon stand up comedy.
Why? Because it all adds to a diverse brand that will help me reach my final outcomes a whole lot easier.
Laying starfish on the casting couch isn’t going to cut it – you have to at least wriggle around or something!
What are you doing to get on the A-list?
That's what Ben's brand new book 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of step-by-step practical Marketing strategies that will see you and your team attract more clients, exposure and credit.
Click here to grab your copy today, plus receive over $400 worth of bonuses with every purchase!
Posted by Ben Angel on 2nd September, 2010 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: australian conference speakers, motivational speaker, public speaker Australia, how to create a personal brand, how to develop my personal brand, personal brand, conference speakers australia, public speaker melbourne, Personal branding, professional speaker melbourne, professional speaker, increase conversion rates, conversion rates The 2 Major Reasons Why Customers Aren't Buying From You
Ouch!
It's a big statement to make but is it true?
Are your sales lacking?
If customers aren't buying from you then who are they buying from?
Your competitors of course but 'why' is the question that we need to answer and quick - it could be costing you thousands!
What do your competitors do that you don't? How are they seducing them that you aren't? But most importantly what can you do about it today to turn it all on its head and forget that your competitors even existed?
The great news is that you don't even have to focus on your competitors, instead you need to turn your attention inward.
Confronting, maybe, but necessary? Absolutely.
Here's how to win more customers and put your best foot forward and it comes in two easy to follow steps. Read closely, hell! Pin it to the wall so you never ever forget it.
1. Your Brand Relationship
A client business relationship is defined as an exchange of money and/or time in return for a product or service. The crucial element that many businesses miss out on however - is that every single prospective customer is also purchasing an experience with and of your organization.
If the initial exchange is disjointed or disconnected, they've already dumped you before you've even dated. The profitability of your business relies on the profitability of your customer relationships and the 'experience' that you and your staff deliver.
To ramp up your appeal, implement some of these key customer relation strategies:
'Touch' your customers on a regular bases (at least once every three months), this can be via regular email campaigns, a telephone call to check satisfaction levels or even to follow up to find out why they didn't purchase from you and how you can potentially assist them in the future.
This indicates to them that you are serious about high levels of customer service and that you will do whatever it takes to win their business because you 'believe' in what you offer. Passion provides proof of quality - shift them emotionally and you will shift them to purchase.
Also, assign yourself and/or your staff a few key clients to personally 'fluff' and take care of. We all want to feel special. As soon as a prospect walks through your door, visits your website or engages with you on social media - you must make them feel important and that their issues are at the core of your concerns as a business. A personally assigned individual to assist them will demonstrate the 'wow' factor and you will have them falling
to their knees in love with you.
2. 'Your' Customer Relationship
The second level of relationship that any client has is with YOU directly (you as an individual). I call this relationship '1 to many' as it is the way in which you provide your consumers with a slice of your own unique self
(personality). Ideally this will be a quality familiar (something that speaks to them on an emotional level) yet also aspirational (something they yearn to be associated with or emulate) i.e. Louis Vuitton.
To achieve this, position yourself or a spokesperson for the business as the marketplace expert on a specific key area relevant to your industry. This works by;
- Making you less of a player and more exclusive and desirable, thereby driving your prices up (if you are in a service based business particularly);
- It attracts people to you because you're confident, upfront and they know that you will always tell it like it isbut always, always to their benefit;
- You build your reputation which builds social proof which equals positive word-of-mouth.
Establishing sound communication channels through which you build your business and market brand may include; blogging, books, e-books, articles, television, radio, print and of course newsletters and social media.
Communicate consistently across the platforms that your audience utilises most and instead of them purchasing from your competitors - they will purchase from you 'because' you are no longer just 'another' face in the crowd, you and your business are perceived as the 'who's who' of your industry and the only ones to turn to when in need.
Educate your consumers on how to use your products and services and overcome their challenges and they will be like putty in your hands.
That my friend is why customers are purchasing from your competitors instead of you - it's up to you to change it. As soon as you do, you won't even notice that your competitors even exist because your customer service experience will be far superior to theirs, they will be the ones wondering where all the customers have gone!
Ever wonder why your sales are lack-lustre?
Keep thinking that your luck will change? The cold hard truth is that it won't unless you take immediate action and learn the key formulas for attracting and seducing more customers. The game plan has changed and you must change with it.
That's what Ben's book 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of step-by-step practical marketing strategies that will see you and your team get more sales on and offline.
Click here to grab your copy today plus receive over $400 worth of bonuses with every purchase! Offer only for a limited time.
Posted by Ben Angel on 5th August, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: inspirational speeches, motivational speakers and bureaus, motivational speakers teamwork, sleeping your way to the top in business, professional speakers, keynote speakers Australia, marketing tips, australian conference speakers, marketing for business consultants, motivational speaker, how to develop my personal brand, conference speakers australia, image consultant, professional speaker melbourne, personal brand, professional speaker 3 Steps to Boosting Your Conversion Rates Overnight
Everyone understands how important conversion rates are, right!?
Clearly not or businesses would be doing more to increase theirs on a weekly basis instead of running around like headless chooks promoting to every Tom, Dick and Harry they come across.
Is it that they’ve run out of time to focus on it? Business has become too overwhelming for them? Or, are you (oops I mean them) simply struggling to grasp the key fundamentals to increasing their conversion rates on and offline?
Well, today I have put together 3 of my top tips for increasing your conversion rates - areas in which business typically fail to provide ample evidence that they are good at what they do, thereby putting their sales and business in jeopardy.
1. Demonstrate Proof
It may sound obvious but collecting and displaying testimonials in your brochures, email campaigns, proposals and on your website is a key fundamental step required to boosting sales and yet few do it well.
I recommend you ask every single client that you have ever worked with for a testimonial / recommendation. From there, select a key phrase from the testimonial and highlight that in bold text and display above the 'complete' testimonial. Here's an example from my book, Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business.
"An engaging, well written and very amusing book with practical guidance and ideas" BRW Magazine
This key phrase has been pulled from two paragraphs of content. Select the phrase that will influence your target market the most and ensure you have chosen one that reflects what they are seeking. For ideas, raid your bookshelf and see how they have displayed testimonials on the front or back covers. This is the same method but only utilised in brochures and or on the web.
Third party endorsements carry more weight than direct promotions. Ensure that you have scattered testimonials in key areas, areas in which prospects are deciding whether or not to purchase from you, i.e. the ‘Buy Now’ button on your website or above an enquiry form would be great places to start.
2. Demonstrate Credibility
Social proof is the art of getting the 'crowd' and or your markets overwhelming acceptance – once again a third party endorsement but on a larger scale. This may be in the form of obtaining media exposure in which the publication endorses and deems you credible enough for state, national or international media coverage.
Prospects then can't help but 'perceive' you as credible because others have endorsed you publicly - an essential part in demonstrating credibility and social proof. Remember, perception is reality on and offline and you must be made highly aware of this to generate real tangible results.
Social proof can also be demonstrated by strategically (but not overly obvious) name dropping, i.e. weave into conversations and text the names of the largest and most recognisable organisations that you have worked with. i.e. Sally has worked with companies such as x, y and z. Her media exposure includes but is not limited to, a, b and c.
Demonstrating your credibility upfront assists in gaining interest and buy-in from prospective customers. Without it, convincing them that you are the best at what you do will not only be an uphill battle but it's a battle that many do not win - especially since overall impressions of you and your business are formed within the first 30 seconds of interaction. An interaction that has been statistically proven that it can take up to eight or more meetings to undo.
Scary, right!?
Demonstrating your credibility needs to form part of a methodical step-by-step marketing approach when speaking with prospects in person or online. Why take the hard route when you can make it seamless and easy for your prospects to buy from you based on your previous street cred.
You’ve already put in the hard work, it is simply a matter of leveraging it.
3. Make a Bold Guarantee
Consumers are more wary than ever when it comes to trusting companies, particularly online. Make it easier for them by providing a strong guarantee - a guarantee that bowls them over and takes the guess work out of purchasing from you. For example; - 30 Days Money Back Guarantee
- Lifetime Guarantee
- Cancel anytime
- Better than your money back
Guarantees are essential in increasing your conversion rates. If you truly believe in the products or services that you are offering – put your money where your mouth is. It will not only increase your level of customer service but demonstrate to the market that you are a passionate, reliable and trustworthy individual or business.
Focus on increasing your conversion rates and you may just discover that it isn’t an issue of getting to larger markets – but rather in providing a highly seductive offering to an existing one you already have immediate access to.
Do your conversion rates suck?
That's what Ben's brand new book 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of step-by-step practical Marketing strategies that will see you and your team convert more clients than ever before!
Click here to grab your copy today, plus receive over $400 worth of bonuses with every purchase!
Posted by Ben Angel on 2nd August, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: australian conference speakers, motivational speaker, public speaker Australia, how to create a personal brand, how to develop my personal brand, personal brand, conference speakers australia, public speaker melbourne, Personal branding, professional speaker melbourne, professional speaker, increase conversion rates, conversion rates Are Your Customers Drying Up?
Posted by Ben Angel on 23rd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: attract customers, attract clients, marketing advice, marketing tips, Personal branding, conference speakers australia, professional speaker melbourne, public speaker melbourne, personal brand, image consultant, professional speaker, motivational speakers for leadership, motivational speakers, speakers melbourne, motivational speakers and bureaus, business networking, presentation skills Are You Failing to Connect with Prospective Customers?
Posted by Ben Angel on 23rd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: presentation tips, marketing techniques, team building activities, Ben Angel, conference activities and icebreakers, speaker selection, motivational speaker selection, motivational speakers and bureaus, motivational speakers teamwork, speakers melbourne, marketing for business consultants, how to develop my personal brand, how to create a personal brand, conference speakers australia, Personal branding, personal brand, professional speaker melbourne, professional speaker, customer engagement, customer service Are Your Customers Drying Up?
Are your customers drying up? Are you failing to convert prospects? Are your teams not asserting influence over the customers buying decisions?
If so, you could have a problem.
Human's are emotional creatures and must be treated as such. We each posses the ability to impact others on a deep neurological level when we address key emotional needs.
One of the first emotions that your business should communicate is an empathetic acceptance and understanding of your target markets concerns.
You need to create a safe brand experience so that your customers feel able to ask every question, however serious or dumb they feel it to be. It should go that without saying that you must never laugh at a customer's question.
Nobody refers a business on to others that make them feel stupid. So whenever you or your staff are tempted to throw your intellectual weight around, remember that you're potentially trading thousands of dollars in lost revenue for a split second's selfish little ego boost.
On a scale from 0-10, how do you feel you and your team provoke feelings of being accepted and trusted within your target market?
Answer that, and you'll answer why your customers may be drying up.
Confused As To Why Your Prospects Aren't Purchasing?
That's what Ben's brand new book, 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of Marketing GOLD that will see your conversion rates jump DRAMATICALLY!
Click Here to Grab Your Copy Today!
Posted by Ben Angel on 15th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: personal branding tips, sleeping your way to the top in business, seminar sales speakers, professional speakers australia, Australian keynote speakers, professional speakers, keynote speakers Australia, marketing tips, what is a personal brand, time management tips, australian conference speakers, corporate trainer, motivational speaker, networking trainer, public speaker Australia, marketing for business consultants, how to develop my personal brand, how to create a personal brand, conference speakers australia, public speaker melbourne, personal brand, image consultant, personal stylist, Personal branding, professional speaker melbourne, professional speaker, personal styling tips for business professionals Coco Chanel Would Turn In Her Grave!
Would Coco Chanel turn in her grave if she saw what you and your staff were wearing in front of prospective customers?
Quite a sobering question - but a question that must be asked nonetheless.
If your staffs professional presentation leaves little to be desired, they look scruffy, their hair is untidy and their clothes are ill fitting and out of date then it may be time to implement a dress code or revisit the one you currently have.
Unprofessional attire costs businesses thousands of dollars every year. Customers fail to take team members seriously and choose to purchase elsewhere based on their initial impressions of you and your team.
Among other things, your choice of attire indicates"
- your status;
- how seriously you take yourself;
- how seriously you take your business;
- how seriously you take the other people you are meeting with;
- whether or not you are the sort of person others want to be associated with as a customer or a colleague.
At the end of the day YOU are the product and your clothes are the wrapping (as are your team) that represent the overall business brand as a whole and the individual personal brands within the organisation. Fail to impress and you will fail to convert clients.
Set standards for your own work environment for;
- well groomed hair;
- clean finger nails;
- polished shoes;
- neatly ironed shirts;
- up-to-date clothes;
- and a high standard of personal hygiene, including managing body odor and bad breathe effectively.
Make it incredibly clear to your employees that unprofessional presentation 'will not be accepted' and more attention to detail must be paid - after all, it could be costing your company more than what you might realise!?
Unsure If Your Dress Code Is Up To Scratch?
Ben's brand new book, 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' will teach you how to dress step-by-step for varying industries and what to wear to instil confidence and credibility - for you and your teams. Intrigued?
Click Here to Grab Your Copy Today!
Posted by Ben Angel on 15th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: personal styling tips for business professionals, professional speaker, professional speaker melbourne, Personal branding, personal stylist, image consultant, personal brand, public speaker melbourne, conference speakers australia, how to create a personal brand, how to develop my personal brand, marketing for business consultants, public speaker Australia, networking trainer, motivational speaker, corporate trainer, australian conference speakers, time management tips, what is a personal brand, marketing tips, keynote speakers Australia, professional speakers, Australian keynote speakers, professional speakers australia, seminar sales speakers, sleeping your way to the top in business, personal branding tips Are You Failing to Connect with Prospective Customers
Are you failing to connect with prospective customers? You could be missing out on a key ingredient - energetic engagement.
Energetic engagement underpins the way we interact and engage with one another and takes things to a whole new level. It provides a contextual current to sweep your prospects up in and carry them along to the final destination of making a purchase.
Each member of staff in your business (or it could be just you) brings various elements to the table, i.e.: Skills, Insight, Attitude, Integrity, Personality, Experience and Care & Attention to Detail.
The missing ingredient that is also brought but not always discussed due to its somewhat more esoteric nature, is the intangible yet highly influential underlying bedrock of positive and negative energy.
This energy is produced by the emotional currents, ebbing and flowing in each individual's life. Currents of negative energy or thought in the personal lives of your staff or customers will naturally affect how they interact with one another: how they do their work or make their purchasing decisions.
Each interaction you engage in is like a chemical experiment: energy is getting swapped constantly - for good or bad, better or worse, like it or not. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed or even hurt, the person you are interacting with may experience those same feelings without consciously realising or understanding why.
They may even go to great lengths to withdraw themselves from the conversation to get away from you or your team without being able to put their finger on the reason. What they will remember is that for some reason they don't feel good around you.
Check your energy levels at the door and positively, energetically engage your customers on a sliding scale to create a memorable experience. Be the source from which they feel good and they will keep coming back to you over and over again.
Are Your Customer Interactions Memorable Or Are They
Turning to Your Competitors?
That's what Ben's brand new book, 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of Marketing GOLD that will see you and your team become HIGHLY influential overnight! Click Here to Grab Your Copy Today!
Posted by Ben Angel on 15th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: personal styling tips for business professionals, professional speaker, professional speaker melbourne, Personal branding, personal stylist, image consultant, personal brand, public speaker melbourne, conference speakers australia, how to create a personal brand, how to develop my personal brand, marketing for business consultants, public speaker Australia, networking trainer, motivational speaker, corporate trainer, australian conference speakers, time management tips, what is a personal brand, marketing tips, keynote speakers Australia, professional speakers, Australian keynote speakers, professional speakers australia, seminar sales speakers, sleeping your way to the top in business, personal branding tips Is Your Business Getting Lost in The Crowd?
BRAND BLOCK #1: I'm judging my Business based upon what others in my industry are doing
In school this would have been called cheating. In business it means you're cheating yourself, your industry and your customers. People deserve innovation, not cowardice so do some legwork & use your brainpower to create a NEW angle and represent a fresh new perspective on an old problem. Customers consume service providers like they consume the media - how is your business newsworthy enough to attract their attention and lure them in to make a purchase?
BRAND BLOCK #2: I'm holding myself back by being stubborn
Get out of your own way! You must be willing to let go of old ideas about how to do business as they become outdated so that your hands can be free to pick up the new ones and really run with them!
Unfettered creative brainstorming with your team can produce GOLD and should be encouraged. Every great idea was once a seed in someone's mind; allow them to grow or miss the fruit! As we travel along our business journey we collect certain beliefs and ways on how things 'should' be done. Understand how to differentiate a 'limiting decision' and a missed opportunity. They tend to come disguised in the same package and could cost you thousands if you get the two mixed up.
BRAND BLOCK #4: I don't like attracting attention and am afraid to rock the boat
Quit your whining, bitch! Ruffling feathers is the ONLY way you’re going to find new ways to fly! Imagine delivering OUTSTANDING goods & services that stir up your competitors as well as a media storm: that’s liquid GOLD! Learn to love attracting that attention or you will get lost in the crowd.
Everyone needs to learn how to become a compelling self promoter – no one else is going to toot your horn because no one else knows that you exist! Until they do, it’s up to you my dear friend then you can let the crowd takeover.
BRAND BLOCK #6: I'd rather be LIKED than be effective
BRAND BLOCK #7: I KNOW I'm way more interesting than YOU or them or anybody else.
If you're having trouble attracting clients, you're just not that interesting or remarkable and neither is your business. I suggest you watch, 'What Women Really Want' with Mel Gibson & apply the insights to your
most challenging clients! I find the female of the species especially confusing. They're emotional creatures who require heaps of attentive pampering (& my mother still wonders why I'm gay?!)
At the end of the day there is what you KNOW you KNOW (how to ride a bike), what you KNOW you DON'T know (how to split an atom in your kitchen) & everything unknown that you don't even know that you don't even know! (this last section is the BIGGEST by the way).
So the moment you decide you 'know enough' is the moment you surrender control & find yourself in life's passenger seat instead of behind the wheel being truly remarkable.
Stay curious. Re-educate yourself & your staff in your chosen field.then forget it all & start again! Audiences will return to reframe their own thinking and you will not only stand out in the crowd - you will control the crowd!
Is Your Business Lacking That Extra 'Pop' To
Make It Stand Out?
That's what Ben's brand new book, 'Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business' is all about. It contains over 290 pages of Marketing GOLD that will prevent customers from passing you by once and for all!
Click Here to Grab Your Copy Today...
Posted by Ben Angel on 8th July, 2010 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speaker, professional speaker melbourne, personal stylist, image consultant, Personal branding, how to create a personal brand, personal brand, public speaker melbourne, marketing for business consultants, conference speakers australia, seminar sales speakers, australian conference speakers, motivational speaker videos, personal styling tips for business professionals, motivational speakers for leadership, keynote speakers Australia, corporate team building ideas, motivational speakers teamwork, personal styling tips, corporate events organiser The Fine Art of Profitable Networking for Big Business
Your staff are sometimes the first and perhaps only, impression you make on a prospective client. Without a compelling connection that turns an enquirer into a purchaser, your services may as well not even exist. So, from a business acquisition and marketing standpoint, networking is a critical skill that every team member must learn and fully comprehend to satisfactorily navigate business networking opportunities.
Remember, every ingredient to creating a compelling connection with a prospect has just one purpose – to have them take the next step. Whether that step is to supply your organisation with ongoing referrals, add them to the database for regular news updates or preferably purchase a product is not important – the individual must act.
So it’s fairly obvious that if your front-line are failing to build effective and profitable relationships then your company may be haemorrhaging money at the sides without any indication.
This raises some very critical questions;
How do you measure your team’s relationship building skills?
Where exactly are your team failing to connect with prospects and alliances that could potentially bring in tens of thousands of dollars in new revenue to your organisation per year?
And...
What are the basic fundamentals of building profitable relationships within your industry?
The better your teams networking skills, the better your odds at increasing your conversions become and the sooner your profit and loss statement will reflects this. The following networking fundamentals will provide you with a concrete basis in which your team will become more effective and profitable networkers within your organisation.
Each of the fundamentals cannot be satisfactorily applied without the one that precedes it – they are all intertwined and are significant to the final outcome.
Fundamental #1: Purpose
You must identify your team’s purpose for networking with the intention of it going from connection to monetization. The biggest challenge business faces is the fact that networking isn’t taken as seriously as marketing. Networking is marketing and a purpose must be outlined as such to keep individuals on task and in focus.
Fundamental #2: Message:
You must clearly define the message you are taking to market to ensure it is aligned with your customer’s values and most importantly, that your team’s messages are matching and representative of the larger organisation. Miscommunication on this front is disastrous to making a positive and influential first impression. If the message waivers and is unclear prospects will be unaware of your team’s individual role in the bigger picture.
Fundamental #3: Presence:
Your team must establish personal presence to build credibility, trust and connection with prospects and existing clients on an ongoing basis.
Identity of ‘self’ is a basic facet of effective networking. If your team lacks ‘individual’ self confidence and ‘presence’, i.e. the X factor then this will inexplicably impact their sales results time after time. By simply uncovering the ‘identity’ that they can hold and own when they approach a networking situation they will immediately find an innate confidence that connects and produces outcomes on larger scales.
Your team must be memorable and the only way to positively achieve this is through their presence.
Fundamental #4: Package:
You must package yourself and your team up as a ‘marketable’ product that establishes instant credibility with your target market.
Your package includes the way you behave and most importantly networking etiquette. Do your staff understand the basic networking etiquette practices or do they go in blindly and ‘accidentally’ insulting others based on their actions, i.e. in Asian cultures you must accept a business card with two hands and acknowledge it before placing it in your pocket. These finer distinctions become even more important the higher you play.
Fundamental #5: Image:
You must style yourself and your team visually to establish instant presence and credibility within your marketplace and be taken seriously.
55% of all communication is visual. If your staff fail to impart the correct perceived impression of themselves and your company whilst networking – put simply, they will fail to gain trust, influence and most importantly satisfactory outcomes from their interactions.
People won’t take them seriously which mirrors the companies values and beliefs and reflects poorly. Basic grooming policies need to be put in place and reviewed regularly to ensure teams are adhering to them. They are after all your front line in a number of cases.
Fundamental #6: Connection:
Your team must learn the ‘real’ way to build connection within business relationships via energetic and emotional engagement techniques that assist in building lead streams.
We each have the potential to shift someone neurologically via our interactions – whether we anchor positive emotions with the business brand is another question.
Have your team interact and engage at varying levels of energy to better connect, i.e. company policy that all prospects and alliance partners must be greeted with a smile. You may think this is basic, however I can tell you right now that not all of your team are practicing this.
Fundamental #7: Action:
Your team must leverage all of their skills, abilities, credibility factors and resources to streamline and automate their networking process to maximise their productivity.
Failure to follow through on influential connections is detrimental to the income of your business. Put in place a step-by-step networking and touch-point-system for your staff when meeting new business connections.
This takes the guess work out of the process to produce more effective outcomes.
Is your team lacking the basic necessary networking skills to convert new relationships into clients and profitable business alliances?
Ben Angel has trained the likes of Toyota, VECCI, Australian Institute of Company Directors through to Australia Post and Real Estate Institute of Australia on effective networking practices.
If the idea intrigues you, email Ben at ben@benangel.com.au with your requirements and to find out how Ben can assist you with your teams results or alternatively, you can purchase a copy of Ben's brand new book, Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business by clicking here...
Posted by Ben Angel on 5th July, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speaker, professional speaker melbourne, image consultant, personal brand, how to develop my personal brand, conference speakers australia, Personal branding, corporate trainer, networking trainer, business networking 4 Sure Fire Tips for Commanding Influence Instantly
 Would Judge Judy frown upon your professional image?
No matter whether you're a business professional or an employee - or both - you, I and them have unfairly judged someone based on the way they look at some stage in our lives, consciously or unconsciously particularly in business.
Nobody likes having to tippy-toe around the statistics that if you're not dressed appropriately and professionally for your industry - you will be judged and this judgement 'may' result in; loss of a promotion, not being taken seriously, prospects purchasing from your competitors, being publicly criticized, losing media opportunities and even being excluded from particular business and social circles.
So, before you step out of your front door tomorrow morning run through this handy little checklist;
- Are your clothes fitting you perfectly and in all of the right places - if not, take them to a tailor for alterations and advice.
- Does your haircut reflect that you are current in the marketplace or does it look like you've been styled by the team at Antiques Roadshow?
- Do your clothes reflect your personality and the industry you work in?
- Are you clothes up-to-date and reveal to your prospects that you are in front of the curve when it comes to matters of interest.
Understand this, it's not about being vain, it's about being professional and standing out in a cluttered market place - when you achieve this you will achieve influence over the masses.
Unsure if you make the grade?
If the idea of 'Personal Branding' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speakers australia, conference speakers australia, professional speakers, australian conference speakers, keynote speakers Australia, Australian keynote speakers, networking trainer, personal branding, business networking, marketing books, marketing techniques The 7 Rules of Perception
Not everything in life is assured.
But this one rule – The Rule of Perception – is absolute.
It doesn’t matter who you are, or what your objective is you will never find evidence to prove this wrong.
It impacts us in every aspect of our lives; dating, gaining a promotion, sex and business – perception will get you every single time and work to your advantage or destroy your hopes.
The unfortunate truth is that it is more complicated than Lady G’s wardrobe changes. So if you’re willing to cast off your own perceptions on The Rule of Perception join me now for a quick look at what makes a ‘perceived’ representation of an individual (namely you) and how you can apply it to your advantage in ANY situation.
Albert Mehrabian discovered that there are three elements to all face-to-face communication which impact upon our ‘liking’ of another individual. They are made up of; 7% words, 38% tone of voice and a staggering 55% body language/visual.
What the study fails to reveal however that there are other elements that can sway our perception of an individual within a nanosecond positively or negatively. Here they are...
Perception #1: Visual
Your visual presentation provides back up support to everything you do and say – otherwise known as ‘visual shorthand.’ Looking the part for the environment you’re entering will dictate how others treat you, whether it be at work or a party, out networking or shopping.
Take a good hard look at yourself before you walk out your front door in the morning, is your; posture straight, hair styled appropriately, shoes fitting for the occasion, clothes clean and tidy and reflect your own personal style whilst fitting and complementary to the environment you’re about to walk into?
Finer distinctions always make the largest impact when dressing for your target audience no matter ‘who’ you are.
Perception #2: Tone
The words we speak are only a small element to creating a beneficial ‘perceived’ representation of ourselves to others.
We firstly respond to the sounds being presented (38% tone), then and only then we respond to what is actually being said. Whatever the situation ensure you speak clearly, vary your tone to keep interest and change pace to focus on key parts of your message and drive home particular points.
Monotone speakers do little to engage, influence and impact others. Not only that but they also come across as placid and lacking motivation and passion – not the impression you want to impart on prospective clients.
Perception #3: Energy
The non-verbal are just as important when developing a strong personal brand. Have you ever walked away from an individual feeling like they just sucked the life right out of you (and not in a good way either)!?
Energetically they drained you with their interaction. If you want to create a beneficial perception of yourself no matter what the occasion turn up or turn down your energy to influence outcomes. Think of energy being on a sliding scale, 0 being a negative energetic exchange, 5 being a neutral experience and 10 being off the radar.
At a level 5 no one will remember who you are and anything less they will develop a negative representation of who you are. The ideal is to shift someone from 5 – 8 within each interaction. Shifting them up and down the top end of the scale will create a positive representation and shift them energetically.
The person with the highest energy will always win the sale and influence as they are perceived to be the most passionate and driven to complete the project at hand.
Keep check of your energy levels prior to entering any meeting or influencing any key party.
Perception #4: Body Language
When you understand body language your power to influence others dramatically increases.
The benefits include; being able to “read between the lines” and decode any silent signals being given off - and position your ‘self’ to make a great impact on others.
Body language is communicated via; posture, facial expressions, mirroring, eye contact, head position, gestures, use-of-space, eye movement and distance in relation to others. Express your emotions effectively through your body language to change others perception of yourself.
Be aware of the following;
- Sitting/standing with arms crossed indicates that you are standoffish and disinterested
- Constricted pupils indicate that you are lying
- Pupils that dilate signify that you are seeing something pleasurable
- Chin up and shoulders back indicates confidence and can assist in changing state in an individual down
- Entering someone’s personal comfort zone (45cm’s – 1 metre) will make you appear confrontational, overbearing or even sleazy
To truly dissect the meaning of non-verbal clues, all signs need to be read as a cluster, i.e. body language, combined with tone and energetic engagement. Once you have satisfactorily dissected their message you will be able to redirect your own communication based on that of others to better effect the outcome.
Perception #5: Emotion
Shifting someone emotionally makes a strong neurological change within them and whatever change you have managed to cause will impact how you are perceived.
Leave every conversation on a positive note otherwise you will neurologically anchor yourself to negative emotions within others – after that it won’t matter what you say, they will distance yourself from you or react to you in a negative manner before you’ve opened your mouth.
This is common in ‘toxic’ relationships. Individuals at the sight of their partner instantly experience a negative physical and emotional state change. Be aware of the emotions you are stirring up in others.
Shifting them from a negative to a positive state will assist in creating a strong personal brand and positive neurological activity. The easiest way to do this is simply with a smile and positive communication.
Perception #6: Action
At the end of the day you will only be judged based upon your actions however if you don’t understand the other critical steps in creating a ‘positive’ representation of yourself you will not get to prove your word or your actions.
Step up to the plate or risk being perceived as a deceitful individual when you fail to act on your verbal promises.
If you can’t follow through due to changing circumstances - at least explain to others why you weren’t able to fulfil your obligations in a genuine and sincere manner and suggest an alternative if one exists.
Perception #7: Consistency
If you behave more erratically than Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah (oops, I mean her couch!) – we could have a problem. Learn to manage your emotional states effectively.
Keep a daily diary for one week. In this time note all of the food you eat, any significant emotional experiences that occur and your reaction/responses to them, your sleeping patterns (not who you slept with!) and observe when you experience your peaks and troughs throughout the day.
This will give you a base template to work from and understand if you’re not getting enough sleep, what impact particular foods have on your emotional state and how ‘aware’ you are of your reactions to specific circumstances.
Consistency is king when developing a powerful personal brand and remaining at the top of your game.
If you want to ‘truly’ shift how people perceive you and attract new clients, go through the 7 steps above and see where you fall down and what you can do to pick yourself back up again.
Perception is all in the finer distinctions – how closely are you willing to look?
Unsure how you are perceived in
your marketplace?
That’s what personal branding is all about.
If the idea intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben’s new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: conference activities and icebreakers, corporate events organiser, personal styling tips, motivational speakers teamwork, corporate team building ideas, keynote speakers Australia, motivational speakers for leadership, personal styling tips for business professionals, motivational speaker videos, australian conference speakers, seminar sales speakers, conference speakers australia, marketing for business consultants, public speaker melbourne, personal brand, how to create a personal brand, Personal branding, image consultant, personal stylist, professional speaker melbourne, professional speaker The Most Important Marketing Tip EVER: Social Proof Your Marketing Already
 Gordon Ramsay understand and applies the art of social proof
more than anyone else.
What is driving you to this place? What is piquing your curiosity?
The same thing that drives you to do many other things: 'social proof'.
Social proof provides evidence to individuals as to whether or not to make a purchase, attend an event or visit a website;
It's also the reason why most of us will only ever eat at a busy restaurant because we assume that if it's busy and popular then chances are it tastes good.
You can social proof your marketing by ensuring that;
- Your top testimonials are on front display, testimonials that demonstrate specific client results will always achieve greater influence than ones written with broad brushstrokes.
- On top of that, plug in social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to your websites and utilise social proof via pictures and imagery of thrilled clients and happy staff.
If you have a strong lead stream coming into your business yet you're still failing to convert them to clients - it may just be that you're lacking social proof.
Social proof is often precisely the catalyst required to increase traffic to your website and convert leads. When this proof does not exist it fails to coerce enough individuals to make a purchase or engage.
What can you do today to social proof your marketing?
If the idea of 'Emotional and Energetic Engagement' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speakers australia, conference speakers australia, professional speakers, australian conference speakers, keynote speakers Australia, Australian keynote speakers, networking trainer, personal branding, business networking, marketing books, marketing techniques Surprise 101: The Art of Surprising Your Prospects into Buying
 Oprah has the art of surprise in the bag - let's give away a car shall we!
The art of surprise is like that. It's a highly specialised way of spreading word of mouth, especially when it comes to drawing attention to your personal brand. Whatever comes out of your mouth (within reason) has the ability to put people to sleep or to surprise and engage them within your thoughts, words and shared experiences.
So what does it MEAN to be taken by SURPRISE?
Surprise occurs when a situation disrupts the norm. It not only challenges the habitual way of thinking but more importantly it indicates to individuals that the information they are about to receive will be new and useful;
By surprising your consumers you ignite an instant curiosity they will need to satisfy by finding out more about you and your business.
Surprise can be achieved in a business context in similar fashion: for example, you can drip-feed your prospects short sharp pieces of information leading up to a new product or service launch, providing free and exceptional information around your speciality or simply by shocking them by providing phenomenal service with strong guarantees.
Whichever way you choose to do it, you must ensure you follow through on any surprise by delivering the goods. Tricking people into paying attention and then not providing them with depth or context will always do more brand harm than good and should be avoided at all costs.
What can you do today to surprise your existing clients or target market?
If the idea of 'Surprise Marketing' intrigues you' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: marketing techniques, marketing books, business networking, personal branding, networking trainer, Australian keynote speakers, keynote speakers Australia, australian conference speakers, professional speakers, conference speakers australia, professional speakers australia Reinventing Your Personal Brand - A Multi Million Dollar Business Practice
 Madonna has utilised the art of reinvention to build a
multi-million dollar brand, how can you apply it in your business to bring
in the big bucks?
Even in her fifties, good ole Madge still looks the (sex) bomb and manages to pull surprise after surprise out of her well-toned wazoo.
In her youth Madonna was a dancer, sussing out the latest underground trends in sweaty nightclubs all over New York and bringing them before a wider audience.
Not only does constantly reinventing her personal brand keep things interesting for her loyal fan base, but her determination and ability to fuse religion & sex, music & politics, and the achingly modern with timeless spirit in surprising new ways introduces her work to successive generations seeking inspiration.
Take a tip from Madge when building your own personal profile and develop your talent for industry innovation and personal reinvention. Simply ask yourself: what ISN'T being done and who's NOT being daring - and then go up against them as hard as a pointy metal over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder!
The easiest and most effective way to reinvent yourself is as simple as addressing the un-spoken issues within a particular industry sector that no one else is willing to touch.
This will not only see you establish credibility as an industry leader, but it will also see you seduce and attract more clients and position you for media coverage.
And on a final note; to quote Oscar Wilde, The Only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
If the idea of 'The Art of Reinvention' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speakers australia, conference speakers australia, professional speakers, australian conference speakers, keynote speakers Australia, Australian keynote speakers, networking trainer, personal branding, business networking, marketing books, marketing techniques Inherited Business Ideologies - What Have You Picked Up Lately That's Costing You Thousands!
 What business ideologies have you inherited lately?
It's important to realise, however, that every single one of these (false) beliefs is a limiting decision. Think about it: each successive generation growing up without having been exposed to your successes, failures, beliefs and experiences are free to get stuck in and create amazing new ways of doing business, happily unfettered by inherited doubt or insecurity.
Their ability to think outside the box is so effective because they're not even aware there is one! It hasn't been constructed for them yet and if they're lucky they will be self-aware enough to avoid it. The good news is that if you are willing to let go of the past, become fully 'present' in this moment, stop yourself worrying about the future and remind yourself to recapture this beautiful 'blank slate' mindset by embracing the question "Why not?", then you too will find renewed freedom of thought and creativity.
The world of business is changing with increasing speed on every conceivable level. So even if your past experiences taught you valuable lessons at the time, what worked yesterday is almost certainly not going to be as effective today - and it certainly won't position you ahead of the curve tomorrow!
Creative thought is the currency of choice for all highly successful entrepreneurs. The only question is, how far are you willing to go and how many past beliefs and decisions are you prepared to let go of in order to make a splash?
If the idea of 'overcoming inherited business ideologies' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily overcome it in a simple step-by-step manner that will see you attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speakers australia, conference speakers australia, professional speakers, australian conference speakers, keynote speakers Australia, Australian keynote speakers, networking trainer, personal branding, business networking, marketing books, marketing techniques Sweet Spot Seduction: How Word-of-Mouth Marketing Really Works
 Have you found your customers SWEET SPOT? If not, here it is!
The ability to powerfully shift an individual from one emotional state to another is an influential business tool well worth developing. Imagine being able to shift your customers from a neutral or flat-lined state into one of optimism or energy: wouldn't that be a great association for them to have with your brand? It's positive experiences like this which are the catalyst for customer conversations 'going viral' and taking on a (cyber-)
life of their own.
We exhibit this behaviour every day in our personal lives. Take dating for example. After you have a first date with someone, they may or may not call you back based on the quality of emotional and energetic exchange that occurred. For example:
- positive exchange = call back
- neutral exchange = unlikely to call back (unless they're desperate)
- negative exchange = restraining order!
The same principles apply when dealing with your customers: they too are all about the emotional quality and content of their interactions with you and your business. So if people aren't responding to your emails, there's no need to waste time wondering why, you've failed to shift them emotionally and energetically.
What can you do to step up your game and energy levels?
If the idea of 'Emotional and Energetic Engagement' intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben's new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new
customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: marketing techniques, marketing books, business networking, personal branding, networking trainer, Australian keynote speakers, keynote speakers Australia, australian conference speakers, professional speakers, conference speakers australia, professional speakers australia Are Women Snubbing Men in The Boardroom?
Imagine this...
You are one of one hundred and thirty females walking into a room to learn how to network with men to gain board positions.
As you walk in you see the only male presenter standing there smiling at you as you come in the door. “He” is not directly in the doorway however he is standing out just far enough from it that you have to change direction to make your way around him to enter the room and find your seat.
What do you do?
A.) Make an effort to meet and greet him and establish rapport? After-all his connections could be beneficial to your career.
B.) Do you smile back with a warm nod of acknowledgement, i.e. I acknowledge your existence out of politeness.
Or?
C.) Casually walk by pretending he isn’t even there?
Well this isn’t a ‘pretend’ scenario – this actually happened and the answer absolutely floored me as it may you.
The answer was C - one hundred and twenty seven women successfully decided to walk by and ignore one of only five males in the room. Not only that, but they ignored the only male presenter that they had paid to see speak to learn simple step-by-step techniques for networking more effectively with men for board positions.
This situation resulted in the speaker swiftly changing his introduction to pose quite a different and curious question;
“Out of interest how many of you actually greeted me as you walked in the room?”
Three women responded. He then went on to say,
“Isn’t that interesting – you’re all here to learn how to network with men and yet you didn’t even acknowledge the few males that are in this room tonight. Out of sheer curiosity can I ask why?”
The silence that followed was more deafening than Lady Gaga’s latest outfit.
Why would women decide to ignore the males in the room?
Did they do it without realising?
This audience was oblivious to the fact that they had even conducted themselves in such a manner, which poses some very serious questions;
- Are women sabotaging their own success in the boardroom by failing to network with men – the same men that hold majority of director and board positions?
- Are they seeking out males of influence at networking events to assist in furthering their careers or are they avoiding approaching them all together?
- Or, is this simply an isolated incident and quite an enlightening one at that?
Common logic would scream that if you are seeking board positions you would immediately flock to the key influencers that can cultivate such an outcome and take the time to build a relationship with them.
Now, the presenter may not have been a director they cared to influence – but why did they choose to ignore him and the other men in the room in such a manner?
So, are women snubbing men in the boardroom?
What are your thoughts? Post your responses below by hitting 'comment' now. I would love to know your thoughts and learn of any similar experiences you may have encountered.
If the idea of networking intrigues you, grab your copy of Ben’s new book, "Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business – The Ultimate Guide to Attracting & Seducing More Customers” and find out how you can easily apply it in a simple step-by-step manner to attract & seduce new customers TODAY!
Posted by Ben Angel - Personal Branding on 1st July, 2010 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: professional speaker, professional speaker melbourne, Personal branding, how to create a personal brand, public speaker melbourne, team building exercises, team building activities, keynote speakers Australia, Australian keynote speakers, personal styling tips, speaker selection
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