Archive for November, 2011
Are You Shooting Yourself In The Foot?
Have you ever been at a networking function talking to someone when during the conversation you felt very self-conscious trying to say the right thing? Were you afraid that maybe if you said the wrong thing the person might not find you likeable, and therefore not want to do business with you? If you have, I am about to tell you why you should not worry about it. Like the obnoxious song “Don’t Worry – Be Happy” from years ago, I want to share with you the reason why being careful about what we say works against us in the networking environment.
Our goal in business networking should be to establish new relationships and through the process of follow-up develop them over time. As with any relationship, being honest plays a very important role in that development.
When we meet someone for the first time, we want to make a good impression. Often we put on our “party face” so that we do. This can often cause us problems that we do not expect. One problem is that when we try to appear to be something that we really do not feel inside of us, we often have a fear that we are going to be “discovered”. This fear causes us to feel uncomfortable about the situation and though we may be smiling, we are really cringing inside.
Most people worry that if they just be who they are, that no one can accept them. I argue that if we do not just be ourselves, sooner or later who we really are will slip out and then we will have to deal with the consequences of being discovered. This then leads to a feeling of distrust between people.
Have you ever been in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex where you did not tell them something important early on and later had to reveal it or even worse it was revealed by accident? It leads for difficult times after that and a lot of shuffling and apologizing.
In my opinion, it is better to risk being who I am up front. To let people know exactly how I feel. People, for the most part, have a forgiving nature. They actually want to forgive. If you make a mistake and say something that can be potentially embarrassing, you can always apologize for it and be forgiven. But if you say something that is not necessarily true and are discovered later, your credibility may be permanently damaged.
If you go into a networking environment prepared to be relaxed and genuine, you will find that it is a lot more fun to be there. If you have a plan of action to really get to know people, you will be much more productive in a shorter amount of time. People will feel comfortable talking to you and you to them. In an environment of truth, more people will want to do business with you and to be around you.
Authentic enthusiasm is contagious. You will always appear to be more attractive when you are excited about what you are doing. When you are not worried about making mistakes, you will appear to be happier. Being happy about the situation will help you to smile more, and the smiling face is a natural human attractor.
So next time you attend a networking function, just be yourself. Your results will improve and you will feel better when you leave to go home. Over time, the difference will be measurable in more ways than just your income. You will find that you have more friends than you had ever imagined possible. When it comes time for the referral, your friend will remember you because friends really do refer friends.
Beer Coasters Will Drive Visitors To You
If you want more traffic on your beer label’s website, the simple, useful and well-accepted beer coaster may be the answer! A recent German market survey describes the beer coaster as one of the consumers’ favorite forms of advertising. Survey participants classified beer coaster ads as entertaining, eye-catching, appealing and non-intrusive. More than 50% would take a coaster home with them – and they’re a lot more useful than a soggy cocktail napkin. Their durability is what makes coasters a viable advertising format.
The direct marketing situation is ideal. Your customers come across a beer coaster in their free time in a relaxed atmosphere where their attention will be drawn to the coaster on the table. With your brewery’s website address prominently advertised, the message is immediate. Integrating creative ideas such as contests, merchandise sales and the promise of details on your website will prompt the customer to visit the site and extend the temporal attachment to the advertising medium. If you have joined the growing number of companies buying advertising space on the beer home page you will see how beer coasters or beer mats drive up the traffic count.
The next step is getting your beer mats under the noses of your target audience. Of course it is common practice to supply beer coasters to the brew pubs, restaurants and clubs that sell your beer. Let’s extend the market! Do you sell your product in cyber-pubs, or non-alcoholic beverages in cyber-cafes? Providing coasters to these venues is a marketing opportunity that is bound to succeed.
Besides making beer coasters available at your booth, roam the crowds at beer festivals giving out coasters as you go. Contact sporting events and local fairs offering beer gardens – you will supply their beer coasters! When your company sponsors or provides beverages for a charity or special event, include beer coasters in your handout goody bag.
Contests are an interactive way of attracting attention to your coaster and on to your website. Along with your logo and company name, ‘Win A Pub Crawl In New York’ is sure to get attention! Add an arrow or ‘turn over coaster to learn how’ and use the flip side to ask the customer to visit your website for details.
Contest advertising on coasters is ideal for distribution at events and festivals. Attend with a display table and a computer with your website running so people can enter and join the fun instantly. Signage will prompt those present to look at the coaster and visit your site.
Coasters are collectible. A simple Internet search proves their popularity. Including your brewing company’s website address on special collection editions, lottery or coupon campaigns, etc., will enhance the coaster’s value for beer enthusiasts and coaster collectors.
Remember, beer coasters may not be potable but they’re portable. Not many customers take home a beer bottle with its label, set it in front of their computer and log-on; but they will take home a beer coaster!
Buy Fantastic Novelty Chairs
Novelty chairs are stylish chairs which are based on modern designs and patterns. These chairs remain available in market in many attractive shapes and colors. The various kinds of novelty chairs which one can find in market are scoop chair, cup chair, round chair, neptune chair, phantom chair, soft folding chair, dome chair, mercury chair, cube chair. Novelty chairs can be found in market in great variety to suit every taste.
You can purchase novelty chairs for your home or office. Novelty chair can add novelty to environment of your home or office. Novelty chairs are most suitable for coffee houses, hotels, restaurants, bar clubs. These chairs provide refined looks to all these places. Novelty chairs are places in cafes, restaurants, hotels and bars to make these places appealing to customers. Kids also like novelty chairs. These chairs can also be placed in the kid’s room.
You can look for refined or outlandish novelty on Styleourhome. The types of novelty chairs which are available on www.styleourhome.com are Abbraccio chair, Barcelona two seated chair, Corbusier chaise lounge chair, Barcelona three seated chair. You can take novelty chairs to your home or office.