Your 60 second commercial
So now you are attending the meeting – or have somebody in your place, how do you make the most of it?
First of all, aim to get there for 6.45am. That way you will have more time to catch up with other members of the group. If you arrive just as people are sitting down for breakfast, you’ve missed perhaps the most important half an hour of the group – at least in terms of getting to know the other members.
The formal part of the meeting starts at around 7.30am. During this portion of the meeting is your 60 second slot. This is your chance to impress other members, update them on what you have been up to and ask for something specific.
Who are you?
Start your 60 seconds with your name and your company name. Most weeks there are a few guests or substitutes who may not know you. Make sure you clearly state who you are and where you are from at the START and at the END of your presentation.
It’s not who is here, it’s who they know
There might be 20 people in the room, but they probably work with, have been to school with, live near to, go to church with, attend community groups with and generally know at least 1,000 people each. And of course each of those people will know at least 1,000 people each.
You are not just communicating to the 20 people in the room – you are in fact communicating to that greatly extended circle of people. That’s a lot of people that you could be reaching every week.
Ask for something you want
It seems strange, but the more general or vague you are in what you ask for, the less leads you will get. However, if you are very specific and ask for leads into a particular sector or company, the more leads you are likely to receive. We see it week after week. So it’s a good idea to go into the meeting with a clear idea of what you’d like from the group and who you’d like to get to know, rather than just making a general, bland request.
Make things interesting
We all remember adverts that are weird, unusual and interesting don’t we? So think about what you could do to make your presentation stand out. Can you show something that illustrates your work? Could you read out a letter from a happy customer? Demonstrate what you do in a way that the group can identify with? Whilst most people simply talk for a minute, you are welcome to make your 60 seconds unusual and memorable as long as you don’t break the law or make a mess!
Your lasting impression
In order to stand out from all the other people in the group it’s a good idea to end with a simple message. You’ll notice that some people end with a rhyme or a strap line. Some people even end with a little song! This is your memorable ‘hook’ and helps sum up what your company does so that people can take away what you do from the meeting and into their working week. Spend a bit of time working out something that will help make you memorable.
To find out more about Working Breakfast and join us for a free meeting, contact Alastair on 01858 44 55 43.
