How to Tell Your Story…After the

Elevator Speech

(Strategic Networking & One-on-Ones)

Rebekah L. PierceAuthor, Speaker & Entrepreneur

www.ThePierceAgencyLLC.com

www.RebekahlPierce.com

Rebekah@thepierceagencyllc.com

(804) 549-2884

Inspirational Quote

“History will be kind to me because

I intend to write it.”

~ Unknown

Definition 1: the exchange of ideas

and information in such a way that it

builds personal relationships

(www.law.emory.edu)

Definition 2: a complex system

of…people…that interconnect or

communicate (Oxford Dictionary)

What is Networking?

Key word is COMMUNICATION

(building relationships)

A connection between you and the listener

Clear, identifiable elements of the story (what

you want people to know about you and/or

your company)

Business, Social or Professional

Networking

Preparation (research/planning)

*Networking objective

*Networking goal

*Networking outcome

Participation (network/mingle)

Practice (30 second commercial)

Objectives for Telling Your Story

Sales

Clients/Contract

Exposure/Opportunity

Financing (i.e., business and marketing

plan, investors/bank loans)

Identify yourself as an expert in your field

(express this also in marketing materials)

Follow up meetings with lunch or

breakfast or tea just to chatSix (6) Key Components of Telling

Your Story

Who you are

What you do

Where you are from

When you started your business

Why you started the business

How you can be of service to them

Follow up Meeting continued

Share your story here if asked –

don’t go into a diatribe – keep

it short, sweet, simple and

too the point

Discuss your products/services

(don’t second guess their

response) – you are building

connections

3 Ways to Communicate Your Story

Verbal: public speaking, events/vendoring, interviews, 30 second commercials

Written: clear and concise mission statement and philosophy, press releases, flyers, media kits, CDs, websites, letters of inquiry, e-newsletters, blogs, writing a book, business plan & resume/CV

Non-verbal: marketing items such as business cards, promotional materials, body language

Follow up this

meeting with

frequent

communication via

email or phone

Note: you are

confirming

connections

Forging Business and

Community Alliances

Work with people who are doing what

you are doing but perhaps with a

different angle

Research these companies first before

preparing to establish an alliance

Make an appointment to speak with

key persons/decision makers

Services to offer may include: free

products, time, space, PR, etc.

Forging Alliances continued

Prepare an informal plan of action –

chance to tell your story here (have

a resume/CV ready)

Establish how you can be of service

to them and visa versa (ask

questions to establish this further)

Whatever you offer, do not let it

severely impact your bottom line

Forging Alliances continued

Host an event to introduce your company and your goals for the community (free PR)

Sponsor an event for a potential alliance to introduce their company, etc... – Ex. I used to host a tea party every Dec for Average Girl, but I always donated proceeds from the silent auction to a local woman’s charity or non-profit. I announced this on all flyers and marketing materials – message: not everything is about just my business

Once people know who you are and what

you are about, they will remember you

when they hear things “in the wind.”

One-on-ones are about building

relationships and establishing a legacy.

Networking and One-on-Ones

Require:

Work

Perseverance

Time

Patience AND

Having a sense of HUMOR

Resume Tips

• Functional or Chronological

• Your objective must be clear, clean

& concise

• Use action verbs in proper tense

(past or present)

• Make sure it has been

edited/proofread

• Keep it at 1-2 pages (excludes

Federal resumes)

• Use your network/social media

Five Tools You Need to Become

a Networking Guru

Belief in yourself & products/services you

offer

A Vision

A support team (i.e., Crying Angel

Network)

Tenacity (e.g., your will outweighs your

doubt)

A measure of Faith

Homework Assignment

During the last 15 minutes of your next networking event, find someone to whom you gave your business card to (must be someone you don’t know). Spend that time getting to know 3 key business needs of the person who has your card. At the end of 5 minutes, have a meeting or phone conference scheduled for the next month. Email me the outcome(s) of that meeting and receive a special 25% discount on editing/proofreading services from The Pierce Agency.

Want More Tips?

For more tips on how to make the most of your

networking one-on-ones or resume

consultation/coaching, register for a one (1) hour

private teleconference at a special rate $75. Email

me at Rebekah@thepierceagencyllc.com for

details.