5 Ways to Make a Great First Impression
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
It only takes a few seconds for someone to gain an initial impression of you. Studies show that your tone of voice and body language actually make a greater impact on someone than the words you choose.
Here are some things to think about if you want to make a great first impression
5 Ways to Make a Great First Impression
1. Smile.
It seems so simple, but the warmth you send in a smile generally comes back automatically in a return smile. What a great way to start a relationship!
2. Eye Contact.
Another no brainer, but it’s amazing how many people will shift their eyes around the room to see if there’s someone better to spend their time with. Your have a much greater impact on someone when you focus on her while speaking.
3. Lean In.
And not just because Sheryl Sandberg says so. Leaning in is a strong way to show your interest and attention.
4. Head Nod.
This is actually something that women are better at than men. Nodding sends the message that you’re on board with the comments the speaker is making.
5. Open Posture.
Keeping your arms uncrossed sends a message that you are open to their ideas, rather than being defensive.
5 Time Wasters to Eliminate
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
You’ve only got 24 hours in each day. And so do I. So the trick is to use those 24 hours to drive the most positive results in both your business and your life.
One way to do this is by focusing on the things that waste your time and developing a plan to eliminate them. Here are a few to consider.
5 Time Wasters to Eliminate
1. Failing to capture ideas.
Have an online folder and/or a notebook to capture great ideas as they move through your head. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself wasting time thinking, “Wait. What was that million-dollar idea I had?”
2. Failing to put things away.
Unless you put things away in a consistent place, you find yourself spending time looking for them later. “Where did I put those keys?”
3. Cleaning up other people’s work.
If you feel that you’ve got to regularly come behind someone to check on what he’s done or make modifications to it, you’ve either got the wrong person in that role, or you’re a control freak. Either way, you’re wasting your time doing something that you’ve already paid them to do.
4. Answering the phone every time it rings.
Here’s a different way of looking at it: Your phone is there for your convenience. Unless you’re expecting an important call, don’t feel obligated to answer the phone every time it rings.
5. Eating junk food.
You might not think of this as a “time waster” but eating that donut or candy bar not only wastes your time, but negatively impacts your body, as well. If you’re going to take the time to eat something, make it a healthy snack.
Build a better business by being a better leader – discussion panel
Join me on Tuesday evening, as I sit on a panel on October 28 and explore the topic of leadership with Vancouver’s leading experts. This discussion panel will explain leadership in the context of small business and answer your questions. The panel will be moderated by Kerry Vega and will consist of Terry Clark, Caroline MacGillivray and Pamela Chatry.
Your investment is $10 cash at the door.
When: Tuesday, October 28th, 5:45-8:45pm
Where: Pyatt Hall – VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC
The Pyatt Hall is inside the VSO School of Music at 843 Seymour Street (between Robson and Smithe) in downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver City Centre Station is nearby. Underground parking is 30 meters north and costs $7.50 from 6pm until midnight.
- Want to explore the link between leadership and small business success?
- Want to be more comfortable and charismatic as a small business leader?
- Want to be, and be seen to be, an effective small business leader?
For more information and to register visit: http://www.meetup.com/the-vancouver-business-network/events/211753922/
5 Elements of a Winning Sales Call
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
Many women start a sales call as though it were just another conversation. Sure it IS a conversation, but so much more.
If you build your sales call around the five elements below, you’ll see a real jump in your new business.
5 Elements of a Winning Sales Call
1. Do your homework and start with a compliment.
Review the prospect’s website and search online so you can open the conversation with a compliment. Has she recently won an award? Did she just land a new multi-national client? Has she launched a new product? Lead with that.
2. Lead in to her current situation.
Discuss her problem or challenge from HER perspective, not yours. You might say something like, “With the current state of XYZ, you may be thinking about…”
3. Share examples of how similar companies solved the problem.
Tell a story or two of how an organization similar to hers was struggling with the same situation and how your offering helped to overcome it.
4. Ask if she’d like to share in those benefits.
You might say, “So you can see that our ABC offering has helped other companies achieve DEF; is this something you’d like to see for your organization as well?
5. DON’T ASK for the sale.
Rather than closing with a question, close with an affirmative statement like, “So, the next step in moving forward would be to…
5 Ways to Increase Your Prices
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
You can greatly increase your margins by offering premium alternatives beyond your standard product or service.
Here are five ways to do that.
5 Ways to Increase Your Prices
1. Premiere Version.
Create a premium version of your product or service such as hand-selected produce, package differentiation, or a highly-stylized version.
2. Priority Service or One-Day Offer.
Move an order to the front of the line or make a single-day offering.
3. Personal Training, In-Home/Office Installation or Direct Support Line.
Create a service that will enhance your offering and charge an additional fee for it.
4. Personalized Version.
Personalize or customize your offering by adding the client’s company logo or child’s name.
5. Special Edition.
Create a one-time, possibly commemorative version of something. Provide a one-time offering of a service, training class or stage presentation.
5 Difficult Things That Successful People Do
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
It may seem tempting to coast through life, but the only way you can coast is downhill. (Think about that for a minute.) To gain real success in business and in life, you’ve got to do things that are challenging.
Here are five challenging things that successful people make a habit of doing.
5 Difficult Things That Successful People Do
1. They care more about others than they care about themselves
2. They ask questions that others might judge “stupid.”
3. They are willing to make mistakes to move forward.
4. They are kind to people who have been cruel to them.
5. They meet unreasonable deadlines to deliver above-and-beyond results.
5 Ways to Keep Clients Coming Back
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
Do you know that almost 70% of clients who stop doing business with an organization do so because of what they call “indifference”? When you consider the cost of acquiring a new client, you understand the true value of retaining those that you have.
Here are five approaches to keep your clients coming back.
5 Ways to Keep Clients Coming Back
1. Do things for their convenience rather than yours.
This means communicating the way they like to communicate (phone, email, face-to-face) and being available at the hours that work for them. Eliminate every hassle you can to doing business with you.
2. Think of ways to reward them.
Can you provide them with a lead, send them a gift, send prospects to their website?
3. Keep everything ship-shape.
Be sure that every element of your business—from your website to your business cards to your front door—sends the message you want to convey about your business.
4. Serve as a resource.
Help your clients connect with whatever they need—even if it will have no immediate benefit to your business.
5. Eliminate corporate jargon and speak their language.
Eliminate obstacles and make it simple for clients to do business with you.
5 Questions to Ask Before You Start a Business
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
It’s great to start a new business because you’re fired up about a product or service that you really want to offer. But does the idea make sense from a business perspective?
1. Is there a real need for the offering?
Is there a real need in the marketplace, or is it just something you WANT to do.
2. Will it save time/money or improve the quality of life?
People might buy something once for the novelty, but to gain repeat customers you better be making a difference in their lives.
3. How big is the market?
Is the market large enough to justify the time/effort/expense to get this business going?
4. What does the competition look like?
I often hear women say they have no competition, but you’ve always got competition, even if it’s just doing without. Do the research to identify the competition so you’ll know what you’re up against.
5. Will it make money?
A friend once said, “The only thing worse than doing nothing, is doing something for nothing.” Be sure you’ve added ALL your costs in (including the cost of your time) and that your pricing will allow you to make a reasonable profit.
5 Ways to Lose Points While Shaking Hands
by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor
Whether you realize it or not, a good handshake is the first impression you make in meeting someone. And when you don’t shake hands correctly, you send a message that you’re lacking social confidence. More women than you would guess don’t know how to shake hands appropriately. It’s a simple thing that can make a world of difference.
If you avoid the five approaches below, you’ll win points with every introduction.
5 Ways to Lose Points While Shaking Hands
1. The weak, “ladylike” handshake.
This is my personal pet peeve; I think of it, not as ladylike, but as a “dead hand.” Maybe she was taught by her Great Aunt Mildred that a serious handshake is not ladylike, but the limp handshake sends a strong message that she lacks self-confidence. This is a simple thing to correct and the ROI is off the charts.
2. The “pumper.”
I notice this more in men than women, as the person pumps my arm up and down continually, and I just want to end the connection. Certainly not the best way to introduce yourself.
3. Eyes Right (or Left).
It bothers me when I’m shaking hands with someone who doesn’t make eye contact. Maybe she lacks confidence, or sees someone on the other side of the room she’d rather be with than me. Either way, it doesn’t make me want to know her better.
4. The “fingertip” approach.
When someone only puts her fingertips into a handshake, it sends a signal that she moves through life in a half-hearted manner. It’s called a “handshake” not a “fingertip shake.”
5. Squeezing the life out of you.
The opposite of the “ladylike” or “fingertip” is the “crusher,” a handshake so tight that it makes me want to pull away before any bones are broken. Find a happy medium and it will make a difference in your business and your life.
About Pamela
Recent Posts
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I was sourced in SpaRetailer Magazine! June 16, 2020
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Why Short Business Plans are a Viable Option For Entrepreneurs December 4, 2019
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