Here’s a quick top ten for you to turn your conversations into new business:
1. The question “What do you do?” is the opening of a dialogue, not a monologue.
2. Reveal what you do in an engaging sequence. Don’t share too much at once.
3. The goal of your first answer is to grab your listener’s attention so they’ll want to hear more about what you offer.
4. Create surprise and interest the second you open your mouth with one short, really interesting sentence.
5. Watch and listen to for signs of interest. If you don’t see/hear signs, stop talking.
6. Have a plan for how you begin your business conversations. The opening 30 seconds is too important to leave to chance.
7. Prepare your answers ahead of time so you can use them instantly when someone asks what you do.
8. Stories vividly sell your value, capture your listener’s emotions, and influence their thoughts and actions more than anything else you say.
9. Invest the time to collect, practice, and tweak your stories so they will work for you in a variety of situations.
10. Remember that the best business conversations are planned. The key is to make them sound and feel casual.