 |
The Stairway to Success: 7 Steps to Positive Self-promotion
Author: Althaf Ahmed  | Posted: 14-09-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 11 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
When you look at Donald Trump, Bill Gates, or any of the other high profile multi-billionaires that are such impressive entities in the area of e-commerce, you often assume that they made their riches through the impressive capabilities of internet marketing. This is only a small piece of the puzzle that is their current status. The larger picture, the angle with which they concentrated on, was personal marketing. To put it in layman's terms, they are masters at selling themselves.
Multi-national corporate giants, successful entrepreneurial companies, and all other major conglomerates have one thing in common. No, it is not money, though this is something they all seem to have an abundance of. It is something that you will find if you trace the roots of the business back to its origins. It all started with one individual who know how to sell him/herself.
Anyone can sell a product. It's very simple. What you get is what you see. The prospective buyer can look at it, touch it, compare it to other similar products, and buy it if he/she so chooses. The seller simply talks about it to the customer. A service works the same way. The salesperson makes a presentation, states the pros of the service, what it can do for the consumer, and makes the sale.
Selling yourself however, is a little more involved. No two people are identical in every aspect, so no one really knows what to expect from them. You cannot sell by appearance. At the same time, you cannot sell yourself by experience either. Oh, that will get you a bite, but it will not hook the fish. One might stretch the truth a bit about their experience, and the buyer will know that. So how does one sell him/herself successfully? There are several different methods when utilized simultaneously will produce very positive results.
1) First impressions: First impressions do matter. Actually, this is the most important part of the whole process of establishing a positive relationship. Regardless if your meeting is via email, online messenger, or in person, that first two minutes of your confrontation will be the most helpful or harmful. Make that initial contact work! Do not kiss up, be professional, and be courteous. Act interested in this person in regards to whatever subject they are most fascinated with. Make it about them, not you. People want to be impressive. If you act impressed, but not childish, they will respond positively.
2) Your Client has Priority: You may have two thousand clients and you may only have five or six. Regardless, whatever individual you are dealing with at any given moment needs to feel like they are your most important client.
3) One Hundred and Ten Percent: No such concept truly exists. You can only give one hundred percent, as that is all there is. However, you can give one hundred percent of what the individual is paying for and then give ten percent for free. If you are, for example, offering to submit ten websites to a search engine for a client for a fee, do so. Then, give them one more, to make them think that you are concerned about their well being. This leads us to our next subject.
4) CARE! If you are in a business where you are only interested in making money and have no regard for the quality of your work or the welfare of the client, then your business is inevitably doomed for failure. You have to want your client to grow, to excel in his or her own business, for yours to grow. Remember, word of mouth is one of the best, and most damaging, forms of marketing. If you get a reputation for poor quality work, again you are headed for failure.
5) Availability: Make yourself available on a bias of a minimum of 40 hours per week, and if possible, even more. People want to know that they can reach you at a moments notice without having a long wait. Waiting makes people irritable and stressed. In reality, this overtaxes your relationship in the professional aspect.
6) Be Personal: You will find that you can attain a deeper, more effective and long lasting relationship from the people you know personally then from a professional associate. The remedy for this issue is to make the business associates your friends. Do not be overwhelmingly intrusive and ask all sorts of questions at your initial contact. However, if the associate mentions an aspect of his life, such as his favorite food, drink, existence of children, etc, make a mental note. Let us take children for example. Let's say your associate mentions that he has to leave early to take his daughter to the doctor for a cough. Take note of that and next time you speak with them, ask about the daughters health. Is she okay? Then, associate your life with theirs. Something like, "She's going to be okay? That is great. I know what you are going through. My daughter just got over a stomach virus". You get to know them and they get to know you. Eventually, a relationship is formed and your business benefits.
7) Take Notes: Nothing will sell you better than the sudden realization that you have noticed your associates' life. If you find out that your associate has a birthday coming up, send a card and a small gift, such as a box of chocolates, a beautiful pen, etc. If their child has a recital or a game in the near future, send a "good luck"
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/the-stairway-to-success-7-steps-to-positive-selfpromotion-214187.html
About the Author:Online Investor and Web entrepreneur Althaf Ahmed, native of Bangalore India, is well versed in the intricacies of creating a successful web business venture. Althaf takes great joy in passing on the insider secrets to young web enthusiasts. Visit Althaf's Website at
http://www.halomark.biz
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Help please
By: surfacing-art.com | 02-07-2008
I live in Charlotte NC and mostly do an acid stained multi-color build-up technique using Kemico and Scofield brand stains and sealer. I am not able to find any sources on the net that are for finding jobs or obtaining new clients. No one even has a subcontractor for hire relating to decorative concrete systems. How does someone like myself, fairly new to the business; find jobs??? Should I send information to interior designers, architects, or who? I am a very good artisan with a mechanical engineering background as well as fine arts in sculpture, I am just not that great at marketing and promoting due to a lack of funds. Can you help me at all with some knowledge? Jeremy Wilkinson, Innovative Color Solutions info@surfacing-art.com
Should ISAC Congress President Prevent Certain Conversations on the Mail List
By: flowcytometry | 01-07-2008
Is it Ethical for list members on Purdue Cytometry Mail List-ISAC Congress to talk Poorly about BD's service Contracts Service terms when they could have PERSONAL personal interest with competitive companies? ie have interest in companies offering SERVICE CONTRACTS, Flow Cytometers, & Cytometry Software? >From: Steve_Ziganti@bd.com >Sent: Nov 13, 2007 12:36 PM >To: Cytometry Mailing List flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu> >Subject: FACSVantage Service > >We have heard a number of comments and concerns from our BD FACSVantageTM >users regarding our need to discontinue offering service contracts after >2010, and I would like to offer some clarification. As many may know, the >BD FACSVantageTM was first introduced in 1991 and has been a workhorse for >many labs around the world. I want you to know that we remain committed to >customer support at the highest level and regret that this communication >has caused concern. > >Due to the age and design characteristics of the BD FACSVantageTM, many of >the replacement parts are being phased out by our suppliers. As a result, >with the many Vantage systems installed worldwide we can not confidently >guarantee a supply of parts and thus can no longer offer service contracts >for the BD FACSVantageTM after 2010. The reason is simple - if we can't >guarantee that parts are available, then we can't meet our obligations to >you to service your instrument. > >However, while parts are still available to us, we will of course continue >to use our best efforts to supply service for BD FACSVantageTM customers >on a non-contract basis after 2010. > >Please accept my apology for the concern this has caused. We remain >committed to providing the highest level of service possible to all our >customers. > >Steve Ziganti >Vice President US Sales and Services >BDB Immunocytometry Systems >BDB Pharmingen >BDB BioImaging >phone (408) 954-2564 >fax (408) 954-2393 > >Make ordering BD Biosciences products easier! Register for your on-line >account today: >http://shop.bdbiosciences.com > > > >----------------------------------------- >******************************************************************* >IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR RECIPIENTS IN THE >U.S.A.: >This message may constitute an advertisement of >a BD group's products or services or a >solicitation of interest in them. If this is >such a message and you would like to opt out of >receiving future advertisements or >solicitations from this BD group, please >forward this e-mail to optoutbygroup@bd.com. >******************************************************************* >This message (which includes any attachments) >is intended only for the designated >recipient(s). It may contain confidential or >proprietary information and may be subject to >the attorney-client >privilege or other confidentiality protections. > If you are not a designated recipient, you may >not review, use, copy or distribute this >message. If you received this in error, please >notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete >this message. Thank you. >******************************************************************* >Corporate Headquarters Mailing Address: BD >(Becton, Dickinson and Company) 1 Becton Drive >Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 U.S.A. >*******************************************************************
Boat transport contracting for the military
By: knocker | 01-07-2008
How do I go about starting a small business opportunity shipping boats for the military personell
Cheeting services
By: Jennifer | 01-07-2008
My best friend is wanting to know if their is a service, where she can pay for her husband to be set up.
Letter business closing
By: loner | 01-07-2008
how to write a professional notice of business closing letter to vendors....???
I've been going out with my girlfriend for about ...
By: hopeful | 01-07-2008
I've been going out with my girlfriend for about 10 months, just yesterday I got back from celebrating her college graduation party. We are really close and we both say we love each other, I am even planning on going to grad school in the same state she plans on going to work. We are engaged to marry in a year. However at the party I had brought her digital camera, she forgot it, and I was showing her mom some pictures we had taken of the party, when suddenly I come across a few pictures that show her with another man, and he is kissing her on the cheek. This didn't bother me until I looked at the time and dates of the pictures. They were taken when we had been going out for about 5 months, and they were all after 8p.m. I forgot where I was at the time. I don't know if she cheated on me but I know that on the same day she was upset at me, and had taken a picture of us around 3p.m. and was still wearing the same clothing as when the pictures taken later at 8p... I'm afraid to ask about it because it might be nothing. However I don't want to not ask and let it bug me. Should I ask her about it or not? p.s. she is having a very hard time finding a job right now and almost had a mental breakdown, I'm afraid to push her off the edge. I'm still in pursuing my education...so when should I ask her about the pictures?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Internet Articles
How To: Take Your Small Business to the Next Level
By: Katrina Sawa | 27/07/2008
You've built a successful business, you have an established customer base and you are well known in your geographical area or your industry or both; so now what do you do to stay ahead of the pack? How do you take your business to the next level?
Benefits of Article Marketing Series- #7 Write an Ebook
By: Jeff Schuman | 27/07/2008
If you have written e-books in the past, you may be sitting on a gold mine. In this article, let's talk about using your articles to create an e-book.
Increase Sales Commission Percentages With These Tips
By: Jason Szova | 26/07/2008
Do you want to take your Click bank check to the next level? If you do I have a couple strategies you might find intrusting that will help you boost your commission check 10 fold.
The Dreaded Google Penalty
By: Jennifer Horowitz | 26/07/2008
Many people insist there is no penalty (except Exclusion for really blatant "Black Hat" techniques), and rather it is all about Filters. If you do something that triggers a filter your site won't rank as highly. Whether you call it a filter or a penalty, the results are the same. If you don't follow best practices, sooner or later your site will be penalized or filtered out of the top rankings.
Benefits of Article Marketing #6- Email Marketing and List Building
By: Jeff Schuman | 26/07/2008
In this article we want to talk about how to use article marketing to build your list and do email marketing in the future. This is a great concept and is another one of the many benefits of article marketing.
The Worst Work at Home Business Scrams
By: Dock J Murphy | 26/07/2008
The dream of thousands of people is to be free to work at home. The ads are enticing. Be your own boss. Make as much money as you need. There are so many opportunities it seems impossible that you could fail. But the sad truth is that many, if not most of these opportunities are scams. Some are worse than others.
Do You Want to Optimize Your Own Web Site?
By: Jennifer Horowitz | 25/07/2008
Think of the engines like teachers handing out gold stars for everything that you do well. Google currently has about 200 factors in their algorithms that determine how your site will rank. Imagine your teacher with a clipboard and checklist with 200 items on it and she assigns you gold stars for each of the things you do well.
Multi-level Marketing and Potential Income Stream
By: Dock J Murphy | 25/07/2008
MLM is the kind of business that works best for self-starters and those with dedication and initiative. Traditionally good employees might not make the best MLM team members as they might not have the go-to to get the job done without prodding.
More from Althaf Ahmed
Window Washing - the Untapped Fountain of Financial Success
By: Althaf Ahmed | 23/09/2007 | Business
Have you ever considered the three most in demand services in the world? You might be surprised to find that they are funeral homes, toilet paper manufacturers, and, oddly enough, window washers.
Orkut - the Marketing Farmers Field
By: Althaf Ahmed | 20/09/2007 | Advertising
From a marketing standpoint, what would be the ideal environment, the perfect web presence to work within to get the most from your valuable time?
Hedgefunds - a Brief History
By: Althaf Ahmed | 16/09/2007 | ECommerce
Alfred Winslow Jones is being considered the father of hedge founds, since he founded the first one in 1949, although he had forerunners like Jesse Livermore, Bernard M. Baruch and Benjamin Graham, who operated characteristics of the modern hedge funds long before him.
Old School Networking and the Internet
By: Althaf Ahmed | 09/09/2007 | Internet
Perhaps you would be interested in learning how the original marketing techniques utilized in the early years of low-tech business can be applied to the online industry today.
|
|
Internet 
