In Your Face: Perception is Your Reality
Have you ever entered a networking event late, only to find several small groups of people in conversation, and you don’t know anyone? This can certainly happen, and the way we react, from our body language to how we approach a group, can have a tremendous impact on how people relate to us. Situations like this can catch up off guard on our communications.
I can’t tell you how many times as a female business owner that I have been at a networking meeting and felt like the silent security guard at the door or the immigrant who doesn’t speak English when two or more men only make eye contact with each other. Guys, I am sure you have experienced the same kind of situation with a group of women.
Who gets noticed the most at business meetings and social networking events? Is it always the person who requests business cards from everyone in the room? Is it someone who has that elevator speech memorized to perfection? Is it always the politician or enterprise CEO? NOT. I firmly believe that anyone can make an impact with the right attitude about communications, attention to the discussions they lead or engage in, and have a good sense of business etiquette. With training and attention to your communications, you can make significant differences in how you are perceived in groups, whether your goal is to build new relationships for your business, pursue job interviews, or just have a good time in a community you enjoy!
If you are in Hampton Roads on March 22nd, we hope you will join us for dialogue with substance about communicating effectively in business events. This month’s Communicate BIZ Roundtable is going to explore how to connect face-to-face and leave a positive perception of you and your brand. How do others perceive us as entrepreneurs and professionals in our fields during those fleeting moments at events? This is not just for novice networkers or connectors. We will look at how to bring your communications to the next level while interacting at networking, social, and business events, from the visual image you portray to verbal communications, body language and sheer business etiquette.
When: Tuesday, March 27th, 8:15 to 9:45
Location: Town Point Club, 101 W. Main Street, Norfolk
Presenters: Susan Long-Molnar, President of Managing Communications Consulting, is a communications, marketing and PR professional with 27 years experience in this market. Susan assists clients to manage face-to-face networking and is a national and regional presenter on communications topics including The Etiquette of Business Communications. Guest Presenter: Internationally-acclaimed Image Consultant Sandy Dumont is the founder of The Image Architect. She is also a founding member of the Professional Speakers Association (U.K.), and a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA). Sandy is past President of NSA Virginia, and Past President of the SE Virginia chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO. She consults with individuals and corporations and also conducts corporate and individual image makeover workshops.
Fee: $15 includes continental breakfast with fresh fruit, bagels, muffins, pastries and beverages. Reservations for this month are required with pre-payment by check or credit card.
To Register: Call Susan Long-Molnar, 757-513-8633 or e-mail
susan@managingcommunications.com
Our Agenda:
8:15-8:35 Networking and Introductions
8:35-8:55 Sandy Dumont on managing your image
8:55-9:15 Susan Long-Molnar on key messages, listening and transitioning, and communications etiquette
9:15-9:30 Q/A and group discussion on setting priorities for networking
And you will receive…
? Handouts of improving and managing perception
? Door prize drawings
? List of attendees and contact information for future relationship building
? Managing Communications’ April Business Calendar with Networking Tips for specific events
Sponsored by Managing Communications Consulting, Communicate BIZ Roundtable is a monthly seminar series for small business owners and professionals responsible for marketing, PR, sales and internal communications within their companies. We want you to join us if you are responsible for increasing revenue and/or engaging others to bring success to your organization in 2012! Monthly sessions will be facilitated by Susan Long=Molnar.
LOL/PR/SOS! Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Your Business?
Don’t you just hate when you make a comment in LinkedIn or Facebook and the author doesn’t bother to respond? Have you noticed how dry and boring it is when you see an article to review but the person posting apparently hasn’t taken the time to read it? What are your pet peeves in social media. Please share so I can use them in our next Communicate BIZ Roundtable in Hampton Roads.
How would you rate your social media?
- Using the company’s key messages to build the brand online
- Being authentic and weaving in the personality of the company
- Using a variety of communications techniques including photos and video
- Building credibility and perception of your company with subject matter experts
- Developing engaging content and strategically creating excitement with questions, games, trivia and more
And…are you making a point to help others in some way?
This month’s Communicate BIZ Roundtable is going to explore how well you are maintaining your brand’s reputation on social media. It’s not only what you do but what you don’t do which has an impact. Find out how you and your company can maximize use of new leads and build relationships with techniques, good content, and much more.
When: Wednesday, February 22nd, 8:15 to 9:45
Location: Towne Bank, 1312 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake
Presenter: Susan Long-Molnar, President of Managing Communications Consulting, a marketing and PR professional with 27 years experience in this market.
Fee: $15 includes continental breakfast (SMPS members, Hampton Roads Chamber members, and AdvantaCoach Marketing Power Lunch Chapter Members are $10) You may pay by check or credit card.
Pre-registration Required: Call Susan Long-Molnar, 757-513-8633
8:15-9:05-Networking and Introductions
9:05-9:20 What is important to fans and contacts? How will they react to what we do and not do? What content will most impact our reputation favorably?
9:20-9:30 Application—group investigation of social media communications
9:30-9:45 Getting company buy-in; Setting social media goals and Q/A
And you will receive…
? Handouts of actionable improvements for your LinkedIn pages
? Tips for how to engage EVERYONE in the success of the strategic plan
? List of attendees and contact information for future relationship building
? 15 minute complimentary phone meeting to analyze one of your pages with you.
Communicate BIZ Roundtable is a monthly seminar series for small business owners and professionals responsible for marketing, PR, sales and internal communications within their companies. We want you in the room if you are responsible for increasing revenue and/or engaging others to bring success to your organization in 2012! Monthly sessions will be facilitated by Susan Long-Molnar, President of Managing Communications Consulting , who will often be partnering with another expert on the topic.
The Joy of Podcasting
By James Applebach, PR Associate
There are many options for communicating with audiences today. We can keep in contact with customers on websites such as Facebook and Twitter which provide up to the minute updates with the newest thing our brand has to offer and help to develop social relationships. These are quick and easy ways to send and receive information.
However, one thing these tools do not provide is a channel to catch and keep someone’s attention for an extended period of time. We’re always concerned with ‘cutting through the noise’ in the over saturated media market. Rather than being the loudest or the brightest, you can entice your audience to come to you by becoming a source of entertainment.
To do that most effectively follow these guidelines: Be Likeable – Podcasts can be fun, and people want to listen to something that will make them feel good. You will not get listeners if your podcast is too dry, or too heavily focused on a product or service. People respond to good humor and humility.
Also, your host or hosts should be upbeat, funny, authentic, and people who sound like they know what they’re talking about. Production values such as music, good sound quality and a well planned script can also add an air of professionalism to your show. More on this later.
Don’t come on too strong – Mention your company only once or twice during the podcast (perhaps once at the beginning and once at the end). Your podcast shouldn’t be about you, but about your audience. What do they want to know? How can you use your knowledge to fill that niche?
Don’t use jargon – It’s important that your audience knows what you are talking about. If they don’t, they will surely get frustrated and turn you off.
Here is an example of a format a health Insurer could use:
After an audio brand and music interlude, the hosts should introduce the show with a recurring theme, such as the health tip of the day, and proceed with news on a current issue (such as heart disease). The hosts would then provide information to the listener about measures to prevent this issue from affecting their lives by promoting health guides, their website, and any other resources they can offer for further information. The host could then close the show by reminding the listeners of the company sponsored 5k that’s coming up.
This is a brief description of how a podcast might go. In my next blog, I will discuss how to create a podcast and distribute it to the masses.
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