When you are giving your 30 or 60 second "commercial" do you give a tip as part of what you have to say?

Usually I do offer something that I feel will help other small business owners. Sometimes it is an organization tip, time scheduling tip or a great new (and often free) software application I have found.

I work it into my pitch, for example: I offer bookkeeping and found that Freshbooks.com is a great free alternative for your bookkeeping needs. Ask me how I think this application will work for you.

Some of the smaller businesses don't want to invest in QB so this is a great alternative. They can use it themselves and when their needs grow to having someone take over their books they are likely to remember the person who provided the source they are now using.

Lee, your tip about giving a tip in your elevator speech is a great idea, one I didn't think of.

What about giving a tip in your speech and then in your "handouts" ask some questions (that you can answer for them) and then ask a few more but this time you don't answer them. You say for these answers please contact me and I will give you even more tips on how to get your business going (or something like that).

JoCarole,

Great idea on the handout. Instead of the please contact me - add "for insight into these questions or other tips to get the most out of your business, see me after the meeting or schedule a time where we can have a one on one conversation".

The goal is to get them to have a conversation and your idea will certainly do that. Thanks for sharing your idea.

That is a good idea! I love all of the tips that I get from this site and fellow VA's

Thanks Lee, love reading your tips, great thread!
JoCarole

As part of follow-up from networking events and new contacts I am curious: Do you follow-up with social media invites for new contacts?

No, this is not something I even thought of, Lee. Is this something that you do? I don't think I would feel comfortable doing this, outside my comfort zone. Sounds like a good idea though.
JoCarole

In my commercial I provide a tip on organizing, latest free software that I have found (usually from VAF), or a marketing tip, or what ever may help my networking members. My service for that week is focused on that tip. (ex. it takes 6 times more money to get new customers than it does to maintain your current customers. By keeping in contact with your customers with a card, newsletter, postcard, or announcement you can keep in contact with them. If you do not have time or know of someone that would like help keeping in contact with their current clients, please give me a call.) Every week I have a new tip with a new focus on what service I provide.