Have you ever experienced this? → You’re at a networking group. It’s time for the quicky 30-second intros in which everyone stands up and shares their name and what they do.
You dread this for two reasons:
- Some people ramble on & on and spend 10 minutes pitching their products or service while everyone else tuned them out after 2 seconds because they’re thinking about what they are going to say.
- You don’t want to be the one to ramble on & on but you can’t think of exactly what you should say because, hey, you need to promote, too.
Yes, the unavoidable circle introductions at any networking group often reveal how clearly we do or do not understand our own businesses.
Truth be told…you should have the same answer every time, and it needs to be clear.
If people walk away and they don’t understand what you do – well, then you don’t have a clear idea of what you do either.
CUT OUT THE CLUTTER
In order to articulate ourselves in a way that others understand and receive, we need to cut out the clutter. In other words, find the extra “fluff” and weak words. Even the “pretty” and “trendy” words…kick ’em out. Yep, kick those babies out.
You know, phrases like, “I help people connect with the Universe in them.”
Huh? What does that mean?? (Seriously, what DOES that mean?)
Some words and phrases may sound really neat but are ambiguous. Ambiguity leads to confusion. Removing generalities results in “Ahhh” moments instead of, “huh?”. And done.
In order to cut out the clutter, we need to uncover all the clutter. I do that by writing out everything in my head.
ACTION STEP: Write down everything in your head.
Let’s create an intriguing Intro Script that you can use on the spot. The key is to not memorize the script but instead, converse from your heart (that’s another blog post for another time). That way, you’re ready to answer at any unexpected moment. No more being caught off guard and worrying if you’ll get all your words right in your “practiced” Intro Script.
Write out the answer to the question: What Do I Do? but don’t limit yourself. Write a book if you want to. This is the time to pull out all those floating little thoughts that pop up like a Whack-A-Mole whenever someone puts you on the spot and asks you what you do.
It happens to all of us. We pause for a second while a dozen answers zip through our mind and ultimately we randomly spout out the nearest thought to our mouth. And it’s not always a great response.
Have you ever walked away thinking you should have said something different? I have.
☛ Write until nothing else comes out.
☛Then, read it back, out loud, and start narrowing it down.
ACTION STEP: Think About What’s Important To Your Core Customer.
As you narrow down your answer to, “What do you do?”, consider what’s important to your audience. (This is where knowing your Ideal Representative Client becomes vital). You’ll need to determine which aspects of your business and what words resonate best with them.
- Write those words and aspects down.
- Start rewriting your Intro Script using the words and phrases you’ve identified.
☛ Keep rewriting the answer to What do you do and taking out unnecessary or “filler” words until you get to a point where it is one clear, sharp thought.
Will you get it right away? Maybe, maybe not.
As you grow in your understanding of yourself and your ideal customer, your answer will become clearer until you won’t even have to think or bat an eye the next time you’re asked to stand up and quickly tell everyone, What Do You Do?
RECAP: 6 STEPS TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE, CONCISE ANSWER TO, WHAT DO YOU DO?
- Write down the answer to the question: What Do You Do? Use as many words as you want the first time.
- Read it out loud.
- Considering your audience, go back and start cutting out all the extra and fluffy words.
- Be specific, avoid ambiguity.
- Keep re-writing the answer to the question until you have one, concise thought.
- WRITE DOWN YOUR INTRO SCRIPT WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT EVERY DAY.
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