I keep bumping into people that I want to connect and continue the conversation with later. These types of encounters are generally 20 seconds long.
I guess focus on creating a good bag of one liners for specific situations and have a polite way on getting their email address or Facebook account? Is this how it’s done?
Also, I want to know this information because I want to continue to grow my network for business, connect with amazing people and develop long-lasting, STRONG relationships, personal AND business!
Edit: I see this is in GQ, so that answer may be considered a little flippant. But that is the way you connect with someone in a very short period of time: exchange business cards. Or electronic business cards, if both of you have sufficient technical ability.
I wonder what business you are in that you feel a “connection” within just 20 seconds?
The best way to get someone else’s business card is to first give them yours.
Another way is to connect with them on LinkedIn, but after you have had that initial introduction. I can’t stand cold connection requests on LinkedIn, where I have no clue as to who you are.
That’s a great answer! I think I’ll slightly add/change your answer though. My business is network marketing, and I know this business is looked at poorly, but I assure you…I’m not a poser or some sleazy salesman. This is why I asked in the first place! I want to connect and develop relationships before I do ANY business at all!
FIRST, ask for THEIR business card. That way, you have the ability to contact them, instead of waiting for a response back.
SECOND, if they don’t have a business card, ask and write down their email address or BEST form of contact on the back of YOUR business card. This way, you STILL get THEIR contact info.
THIRD, if they DO NOT feel comfortable giving you their email(email or their name(to add on Facebook/social media channels), is more comfortable than giving a phone number, has a social barrier or something IDK.) or feel comfortable giving you ANY form of contact for that matter, move on.
However, if you don’t want to give up, then be persistent. Some people just take time…just don’t be creepy about it, that’s all.
ETA: OP’s post just above wasn’t there when I started.
Ask them if they “… have time for an Amway pitch; it’ll change your life! <Big smile>” Most folks will gladly interrupt the rest of their day to listen to you after an elevator pitch like that.
Seriously, you’re not going to accomplish much in 20 seconds. So your initial goal has to be to turn 20 seconds into a minute. That gives you time to hook their interest *and * give them your contact info. Then, and only then, try to solicit theirs in return.
Just to be clear, if you tried that on me I’d rip your card in half right as you handed it to me then drop the trash on the floor. Most people hate salesmen intruding on their life. If you smell like a salesman you’re not building relationships; you’re gathering marks.
I LOVE the way you think! Interest starts FIRST. If you can create interest, you can transform that 20 seconds to 60 seconds, and 60 seconds to 120 seconds, and so on.
Also, sales people are man-made. Been real, genuine, authentic, emphatic is natural to human beings. Do human-to-human selling, NOT man-made robot-to-human selling!
I’m glad you put “seriously” before the next paragraph. If you didn’t, I would of believed that doing pitches like “Amway” was the solution…BOY WAS I WRONG!!!
The OP apologized for the sleaziness … so I’m guessing he’s here to drum up business … my TV doesn’t work so I’m not interested in buying any networks …
So what you’re telling me is you want to learn how to fake being real, genuine, authentic, and emphatic. So that you can better prey on others to achieve your goals irrespective of theirs.
This is not the forum where I can describe my attitude towards your worldview. Suffice it to say you would not survive our first encounter.
My ex-wife is my ex-wife for two reasons. She got into a cult-like religion and she started selling NuSk1n (changed to not appear on any of the search engines), ruining any friendships we had.
She actually got in really early, when that company was just setting up in Japan. I met the people who got in when the field was ripe and they made tons of money. People after them got fleeced.
I can’t think of any of the original group that I’d like to be friends with. They would sell the gold out of their mothers’ teeth if they could.
Typically one shouldn’t need to indicate that they aren’t a “poser or some sleazy salesman”. That should be self evident if they are doing it correctly. Also constantly peppering your speech with words like “AMAZING” and “GREAT” in all caps does make you come across a bit “creepy sales guy”.
I’m not a salesman, but as a senior manager in a strategy consulting firm (think McKinsey or Accenture, but smaller) developing new business is a big part of my job. So I tend to spend a lot of time at various industry conferences, trade shows, networking events, Meetups, school alumni functions and other activities where I might connect with people. I’ve also worked a bit in “industry” where I’ve been on the receiving end of salespeople and vendors trying to sell their wares.
A couple of thoughts on the matter:
-I (purchaser) am not really interested in hanging out with you (salesman) socially. That’s great that you have box seats at MSG or want to take me to expensive restaurants and all. But really these are just expensive forums for us to talk business.
-Try talking to someone for more than 20 seconds. Making one deeper connection is better than 50 superficial ones. I met some VP at an industry event last week and we spent about 30 minutes just shooting the shit. We talked about business of course, but we also talked about random innocuous personal stuff (new baby, interesting restaurants, whatever). Over the course of our conversation, we determined there MIGHT be a potential business opportunity.
-Try to offer something (besides the opportunity to purchase your product or service). The problem with most “networking” events is that most of the people there are looking to sell, not buy. Jobless people looking for jobs. Salespeople looking to make a sale. Headhunters trolling for heads to hunt. Very few purchasers go to these events looking to purchase something.
-Understand how a services or products are actually purchased at your client. Or to put it another way, what is the probability of some random person you meet a) works for a company that needs your product or service, b) needs it now, or in the near future, c) has decision making authority to actually purchase your product or service, d) has an approved budget for it e) needs or wants it from some person they just met?
-You are probably better off coming from a position of “I would like the opportunity to try and sell you my product or service” rather than “I would like to craft a fake friendship to leverage an artificial emotional connection in order to sell you my product or service”.
It’s kind of like the “pick up artist” movement that seemed to be popular a few years back. Yes, there are certain behaviors and habits that will make you more effective at networking or sales, just as there are ones that will make you a more tolerable date. But people who spend so much time crafting a particular image aren’t looking to build “relationships”. They are basically self-programming a robot whose purpose is to project an image that will attract a certain type of person who is susceptible to that image.
It’s probably why people with certain narcissistic or sociopathic tendencies are so good at sales. Because they can keep up this act without regard to any distractions such as self-doubt, modesty or even basic morality. They only have to focus on whether it is effective at converting leads into sales.
Interestingly, I have a friend in pharma sales who I’m pretty sure is totally nuts. Well, I suppose she technically is, based off of the medication she’s supposed to be taking. But without boring you all with the details, it’s a fascinating study watching her and her circle of colleagues when every few years their façade of “Everything is Awesome!” sanity slips.
Goodness! I didn’t think the words, “Network marketing” and “Multi-level marketing”, had such horrible stigmas. I have to admit, I was pretty shocked seeing the other responses here…
To be fair, I didn’t come here to “strum up business” at all. I came here to find answers to a question I had. That’s all. I only mentioned what business I have because scudsucker wondered what it is.
In regards to this, thanks for everyone who took the time to give me valuable insight and answers to my original question. Thank you so much for been respectful.
@msmith537
I just like to say “great” and “amazing”. It’s not even about business, or sales, or anything! That’s just how I express myself naturally. I find there’s no emotion in text. so when I feel emotional about something, I write it in CAPS to express those emotions. Thanks for the detailed answer though, LOVE it!
@LSLGuy
Usually I just ignore such comments, but I think your misunderstanding takes the cake. I’m surrounded by amazing people that bring me up everyday. Then there are times where I notice a person doing or saying something that’s just so ridiculous, that it pops me out of that reality for a moment. Well done sir! Today, YOU are that person for me today! That’s all I wanted to say. I appreciate your answer before, but I will not speak or mention you again because I don’t want to waste my energy on a pointless argument on the internet. Have a wonderful rest of the day!
Yes, MLMs have this stigma because they are often very similar to, if not outright pyramid schemes. At the very least, people tend to get turned off when school friends they haven’t seen in ten years suddenly call them up out of the blue to try and get them to buy a bunch of fitness supplements, cutlery, makeup, water filters and other crap.
Well, it sounds a bit affected and disingenuous, IMHO.
