Networking With Memory Hooks
Ivan Misner, Founder and CEO of Business Network International (BNI), was a recent guest on my show. BNI is a business referral organization with thousands of local groups meeting around the world to share referrals and grow their businesses.In his book Seven Second Marketing, Ivan says, "Who you are, in the eyes of others, depends largely on what they see and hear in the first thirty seconds or so after you meet them. A Memory Hook is something you can use within the first seven seconds to ensure that you will be remembered favorably."
A good memory hook is essential to your small business because you must rely heavily on networking efforts to grow your customer base. You can network until you have holes in your shoes, but if the people you meet don't remember you, it's basically all in vain.
When I started my business consulting company many years ago a lot of people I met had never seen a business consultant, let alone have hired one. I had to come up with a Memory Hook that would sell for me after I was out of sight. Here's mine: "I'm Jim Blasingame, and I'm a Vice President you can rent". Not only did this make sense to the people I said it to, it also gave them a little chuckle. And as you know, humor is a great memory hook in itself.
Do you have a Memory Hook? You need one. Develop a couple and try them out on your close friends, family, advisors. Then use it when you are networking, which should be anytime you meet someone new and they ask, "What do you do?"
Write this on a rock... If you want to get more out of your networking efforts, develop an effective Memory Hook. It really works.
