Are Women Better at Marketing Themselves Than Men?

Are women better at marketing themselves than men?

I have found that women are MUCH MORE WILLING to “put their money where their mouth is” when it comes to marketing themselves or their services. Is it possible they feel a greater NEED?  Why is there such a difference?

Okay, guys, don’t take this the wrong way, but I think it comes down to how boys and girls are raised and the male ego. We all know the differences between men and women are ENDLESS! (Thank goodness, for the most part.) But I have found that women accept that they often have to work harder and pony-up for greater marketing exposure than the average man. Men are raised to be naturally self-promoting. They learn early in life to stand up for themselves and to be more aggressive. Their egos carry them through battles unlike anything women have to deal with.

Is it natural for women to become better at marketing themselves?

Women, as little girls, are often raised to be gentle and delicate. When those women grow up and enter the workforce, they find that they must speak up and tell the world that they count, that they are smart, and that they can do the job (whatever that job may be). These qualities are expected from men. But, if a woman doesn’t take control of the necessary marketing for herself, who will? Women often feel the need to tell the world about their strengths.

Women have also been found to be better at NETWORK marketing because they are better at building relationships.

Women take business more personally, which may not always be a good thing, but it does result in deeper, more personalized business connections.

A study by Copernicus Marketing said that women are better listeners, more collaborative, they understand the importance of developing an emotional connection with a brand (or themselves), and that they have been socialized as “influencers,” whereas “men tend to demonstrate managerial qualities that reflect a more military-like command and control.” It’s just natural for men to EXPECT to ascend to leadership (or managerial) positions. Do men become leaders because of their expectations?

I offer motivational speakers many marketing opportunities. The women who sign up outnumber the men by as much as 3-to-1 most of the time. Are there other explanations? Perhaps men prefer to handle their marketing by working with other men, instead of working with women. Do you find that you are more comfortable working with the same sex when marketing your business?

A “Special Secret” for Building Your Business

Do you know the “Special Secret” for building your business?

In the past 24 hours, were you made to feel special in any way? Did someone send you a handwritten “thank you” note? Did you receive a gift basket? Maybe someone called to invite you to lunch as their guest. My guess is that your answer is “no.” Now think back to the last time you were on the receiving end of ANY of these gestures. I’ll bet it’s been a WHILE … hasn’t it? And I’ll guarantee that your clients would say it’s been some time since anyone made THEM feel special, either.

My friend, Phil, a marketing consultant, went out of his way earlier this week to introduce two professionals who work in the same industry, believing that they could take mutually benefit from a business relationship. He took the time to send an e-mail to the two people, stating what each of them did and how they might be able to build their business as a result of working with one another. That was a few days ago, and he still hasn’t heard from either one. Phil’s act of kindness was not even acknowledged!

 Are you doing all you can when it comes to building your business, including following up on leads?

 How about thanking people for making introductions that could ultimately put money in your pocket? Taking the time to make other people feel special is one of the best, most fulfilling ways to build your business. Whenever someone connects with you on Linked In or Facebook, do you just accept or confirm? It only takes a minute to respond with a cheerful, “Thanks for connecting; please let me know how I can help you.” You’ll be surprised at the results you’ll achieve. In fact, I recently accepted a friend request on Facebook from a woman near the city where I grew up. I asked her if we went to school together. Her reply? “No, but you went to school with my sister.” That was just a few months ago. Today, that woman is a client of mine; she’s hired me as her mentor AND she is going to appear in a personal development movie I am producing. I benefitted and have ALL THIS as the result of responding PERSONALLY to a Facebook friend request! Talk about building your business!

Professional decency seems all but lost, lately.  And with today’s technology, it has never been easier to reach out to someone or send a quick “thank you” note. You don’t even have to buy a card and put a stamp on it. A quick acknowledgement or “thank you” with an e-mail is all you need to do to make someone feel important and appreciated. If you know any personal facts about the people you are working with, be sure to inquire about those, such as the status of their family, children, dog, new home, or even a new hair style.

When building your business, make notes on any information your clients share.

I would always do this. Then, weeks later, when I would ask, “How is your son doing in school, now that you’ve hired a tutor?” my clients would respond enthusiastically. I could tell they were impressed that I remembered our conversation and what they were dealing with at the time. I made them feel special!

When it comes to building your business, there is nothing you can do that will net bigger results for you than making the people you work with feel special.

Go out of your way to put others first and see what you can do for THEM, and they will want to do for you, too.  In fact, I call it the “special secret for sales success.” It’s just the act of making others feel special.

Do you know how long you have to return a phone call or e-mail? It is 24 hours. We are all guilty of not meeting that deadline on rare occasions, but if you consistently fail to return calls or emails, you run the risk of offending people. Even if you would take a moment to dash off a quick note to let someone know you are at deadline, you are overwhelmed at the time, or whatever the reason is that you can’t give a proper reply, people will appreciate it. Otherwise, those people will likely feel neglected or ignored. 

Yesterday, I shared a tremendous source for leads with a colleague. She immediately e-mailed me some information I can use. When you do favors for others – out of the goodness of your heart – others will want to return the favor to you. And if they don’t? You’ll still feel good about doing all you can to grow your business! For more on the “Special Secret for Sales Success,” or to share any stories from your own experience that stand out, please visit my site at www.RobinJay.com or send a quick email to me at Robin@RobinJay.com. Following these tips will have you building your business beyond your wildest dreams!

Find Your Purpose! It’s as Easy as 1, 2, 3

Are you struggling to find your purpose?

Do you go to work at a job that leaves you yearning for something more? Is your least favorite day of the week Monday? If so, you are not alone What’s the cure? Find Purpose!

Many people dream of the life they will live once they find their purpose - or their passion – a true calling - that one driving force that will make them pop up out of bed each morning, eager to start their day. They fantasize about living a life filled with deep spiritual rewards and unlimited abundance. They want to find their purpose and believe doing so will make every aspect of their life passionate and amazing.

Unfortunately, most people waste time hoping that their purpose will find them. They want it to appear to them in a dream or knock on their door with a big sign that reads “Here is Your Purpose!”

The truth is that most people who are living their dreams and who are engaged in a life filled with purpose and passion came to realize their calling while they were busy doing something else. Others, still, had the courage to follow a dream they have harbored since childhood. Whether you feel drawn to something new and exciting or even if you’re absolutely lost, these three steps will help you find your purpose and passion  in life.

Why find Purpuse? Here are 3 great reasons:

1. Finding Your Purpose May Be a Lonely Proposition (at least until you achieve success).

The well-intentioned words of family and friends may often discourage you from pursuing your dream. Those closest to us tend to pigeon-hole us in the roles we’ve always played. Trying to break out of these roles seems to make everyone uncomfortable. Some of your peers may even feel a spark of jealousy over what you are doing. The first step to finding your purpose is deciding that you are going to do whatever it takes, regardless of what others think.

I walked away from a six-figure sales job to pursue my love of writing and speaking. You can imagine what my family and friends thought; they were ready to call the men in the little white coats to come and lock me up! But the truth is that I was miserable after nearly 20 years in sales. My health was suffering and I was starting to look haggard and worn out.

After I resigned, people who hated their jobs started telling me how courageous I was for walking away to pursue my passion. I certainly didn’t FEEL brave! To me, bravery is courage under fire, doing well in life and death situations. But I soon realized that, in a small way, changing careers for me WAS a life and death situation. When we are unhappy, our bodies break down. We have an OBLIGATION to ourselves to pursue our purpose and put passion into our lives. But be responsible and be prepared. I had stashed more than two years cost of living in the bank before walking away from my sales job.

Just don’t expect MOST of the people in your life to understand what you are doing. Once you have succeeded, they will sing a different tune. You’re bound to hear, “I KNEW you could do it all along!”

2. When you find your purpose, Time Flies

The French call it “engagé” – the act of being so wrapped up in what you are doing that time just seems to fly. If you’ve ever been engaged in your true purpose, you know exactly how this feels.

When I started writing for a living, I would be surprised when I felt hungry. I could have sworn I had just eaten an hour ago. In reality, it had been four or five hours since I’d taken a break. I could not believe that hours had passed; I was completely “in the moment” while my fingers flew across my keyboard. The same thing happens whenever I’m baking, singing, creating PowerPoint presentations, or engaged in other creative tasks where my spirit can soar. Your purpose has a way of finding you … usually when you are too busy to take time to look for it.

Think about what you are doing when time seems to get away from you. What activity gets you so engaged that you feel you are a million miles away? Now, do the research to see how you might be able to do that for a living. Whether you feel your purpose may lie in the field or sports, beauty, science, food, or even shopping, the odds are there is a way to monetize it so you can make a living doing it.

3. Find Your Purpose and You’ll Discover Greater Energy

You will “vibrate at a higher frequency” once you find your purpose. Imagine yourself doing a tedious task, such as paying bills or cleaning house. Your friend calls you and invites you to lunch, shopping, or maybe a round of golf. Suddenly, you feel your energy rise. This is actually the cells in your body vibrating at a higher frequency. You find yourself eager to change gears and switch to this other, energizing, exciting activity. Could this activity be an indication that you may have found your purpose? Absolutely!

Once you become aware of those things that make you vibrate at a higher frequency, you are well on your way to discovering your true purpose and passion. The next time you are engaged in such an activity, notice if the time spent at it seems to fly. The real test will come when you share your thoughts with those closest to you. If they don’t understand why you’re so excited about this, you are probably well on your way to finding your purpose.

The best part will come later. Once you have found your purpose, you will want to spend more time working on it. You will attract and be attracted to others who share that purpose with you. When you find yourself surrounded by others who share your feelings, dreams, and desires, you will know you have arrived, and that the search to discover your purpose will have been worth it.

The 10 Biggest Networking Mistakes

Networking events can be nerve-wracking … even for the most savvy socializers

Learn the 10 biggest networking mistakes and how to avoid them

Most of us have made mistakes, and end up wishing we had a time machine to travel back to a networking event so we could take back those horrible things we said or did. Have you ever engaged in a conversation with someone before you knew who you’re talking to, only to find out that you’ve been saying the WRONG things to the WRONG person? Maybe you’re simply challenged by trying to eat, hold your drink, shake hands, and pass out business cards all at the same time. Well, you’re not alone.

Networking events can be challenging IF you’re not prepared! Being prepared can help anyone to come across like the talented professional they really are. Here are the BIGGEST mistakes to avoid when networking:

1. “Surely one little drink won’t hurt!” Think again. Getting drunk or even a little sloppy in front of new acquaintances can ruin your chances of ever winning them over. Drinking clouds your judgment, so take it easy!  Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or plain soda.
2. Make sure you eat something first. If you’re attending a cocktail mixer, grab a bite to eat on your way or as soon as you get there. I assure you it is IMPOSSIBLE to juggle a plate of food, a napkin, a cocktail, business cards (giving and receiving) AND shake hands. Remember that lunch was hours ago and any alcohol will be hitting an empty stomach!
3. NEVER talk with food in your mouth. When I was writing my book, “The Art of the Business Lunch”, absolutely everyone told me to include this advice. Apparently there are many business professionals who still don’t know not to talk with their mouths full! Always take small bites so that if called upon to speak, you can swallow quickly before speaking.
4. Always be kind and courteous to everyone, no matter what! Being rude to anyone, even if they’ve just spilled a drink on you, only makes you look bad. Remember that any networking event is an opportunity for people to get to know you. How we react to challenges reveals our character. This is easier to remember when things are going well. Having a great reaction when things are bad is an opportunity to impress those around you.
5. NEVER bad-mouth your competition. People aren’t stupid; they will figure out that if you are saying bad things about your competition, you may say bad things about them, too, when they aren’t looking. You can build better business relationships by out-servicing and out-performing your competition.
6. AVOID awkward silence by being prepared for casual conversation. Become well informed on a LOT of different topics. Try to watch 20 minutes of a national morning news show, read a variety of magazines – particularly industry-specific publications, and be up on the latest in pop culture. This should give you a wide platform of knowledge so that you can participate in nearly any conversation. And avoid any controversial subjects – especially in a political year!
7. Always tip generously! Whether the networking event you’re attending has a cash bar or a hosted bar, always tip your bartender or server generously. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s important to take care of the people who are taking care of you. If a new client or prospect perceives you as cheap, they may be put off.
8. Don’t sit with your friends. One of the hardest things for us to do is to mingle with strangers. We naturally gravitate toward our comfort zone, seeking out people we know. While a networking event offers the opportunity to see old friends and associates, the main purpose is to meet new people so you can expand your circle. Dread talking to strangers? Try playing host or hostess; offer to bring food or drinks over to your table and make a positive impression.
9. Don’t criticize ANYTHING! We’ve all been served terrible fare at networking events. Making a big deal about a lousy buffet or fishy-smelling sushi appetizers could make others associate the bad food with YOU! Everything – from the room to the turnout to the food should be referred to as “exceptional” or “outstanding.” People prefer to be around positive people, so always try to be positive about everything.
10. Take your business cards or stay home! I have been handed phone numbers scribbled on cocktail napkins; I typically throw them away the next day. A networking event is for business and business cards are essential. They provide your name, your position or title, your company name and website, and ways to contact you – including e-mail, direct number, and cell. Keep a stash of cards in your car so that if you run out or forget, you will have some handy.

Enjoying a social setting with new friends and colleagues is the best way to develop relationships. Between breakfasts, lunches and networking mixers, the average professional has more than 400 opportunities each year to meet new people and expand their network. Being prepared for these opportunities and knowing what behavior to avoid is the first step toward assuring networking success.