When you first start networking it can be quite daunting getting your “one minute” introduction right but after a while it gets easier and you become more accomplished at delivering it…
… at which point you start to think about creating some alternative options but what should these be and what subjects should you talk about?
Well your first priority should be to create some different length versions of the introduction you are already comfortable with.
At Coffee and Connect you have thirty seconds – so you need to be brief and to the point; other events give you a minute or even two if you are doing speed networking in threes. The important thing though is not to guess – set a timer and practice to the clock.
Then you need to think about alternative content. I always suggest starting in the same way – your name, your business name and a simple, easy to understand sentence summarising what you do before moving onto your main content – and it is this main content which you should change.
I identify material for this main content from three main areas:
What have I been talking about recently?
Frequently I will get several calls from different prospective customers but they are all focussed on one particular query. A few months ago I had lots of discussions about the difference between regular magazine advertising and leaflet distribution so I spoke about that in my one minute. What is your “topic of the moment”?
What have I been doing this week?
Perhaps I have been editing articles and checking out advice from the Advertising Standards Authority so I will talk about the ASA and the requirement to ensure adverts comply with their guidelines – i.e. share your knowledge.
What have I heard about…
… in the news, or read about in a publishing / marketing journal or maybe seen on LinkedIn that is relevant to my business? Perhaps there has been a piece of market research published, a report presented by a national body, a new piece of legislation that will affect your customers or simply a piece of journalism that might be interesting to mention. A recent example of this was when I heard a fascinating radio piece discussing the rise of “Hyperlocal” marketing. Is there “News” that affects your business?
The reason I try and identify topics in areas that I have been talking about, doing and finding out about is that they are all subjects I know and can talk about with ease. I am not having to research, learn and memorise something new – I am talking about my business, the way it works and the wider context in which I operate – and I can quite comfortably do this for days on end!
… and most importantly so can you about your business.
So next time you want to refresh your one minute just think about your week and what you have talking about, doing and finding out about and take it from there.
Oh and one last tip – remember to write these new presentations down and save them so you start to develop a catalogue of “one minutes”.