ASK CHERI S HILL

I have to thank one of my bestfriends, Leslie for this fabulous statement.  So simple and so true.  The more I learn about effective communication the more profound it becomes.  I find myself impatient with people who cannot get to the point or worse, don’t have one.  This is not to say that I don’t enjoy conversation or the development of a topic as the conversation evolves.  

Effective communication is a skill that everyone should spend time developing and the best way to do it, in my opinion, is by joining Toastmasters.  It’s not everyday that someone will stand up in front of an audience and give a speech.  Yet, every single day you will talk to someone - spouse, business associate, kid, vendor, friend, potential customer, exisiting client, or a complete stranger.  

The question to ask is, “How did you feel after your last interaction with another person?”  Did you feel more positive or more negative? Every single interaction no matter how brief affects everything in your life: your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity.   So if that is truly the case, then maybe you need to think about how you really come across to other people.  Are you getting the results you want?  If not, remember this: “The Quality of My Communication is the Quality of the Response I Get”.

That means its totally up to you to be clear and precise.  Is it easy?  No.  Can it get easier?. Absolutely. And that means working on it today, tomorrow, always.  Everyone is different.  How we learn, listen, share and speak.  If you’re struggling, and have the desire to do something about it, Just know the tools are there to help you.

Stand at my desk, want to sell me something, or explain a process, then my expectation is that you will Be Brief. Be Brilliant. Be Gone!   

¼/p>

Participating in Trade Shows, Expos, Festivals, Seminars, Exhibitions, Conventions, Conferences, Fairs and Swap Meets is one of the best ways to expose your business. I call it a “golden” marketing opportunity. Any event that allows you to have the opportunity to display and showcase your products and services face-to-face with potential new customers in your target market gives you numerous benefits and advantages. This year, more than 13,000 trade shows in the United States will be attended by more than 59 million people.

Being involved with these types of events has always been a part of my working history.  I spent seven years on the road. First doing tradeshows for a major French pharmaceutical company along the Eastern Seaboard and then representing my own chocolate manufacturing business at hundreds of events up and down the West Coast.  Tired? Absolutely! However, I am not suggesting that you need to do hundreds of events but at least two a year which is what I continue to do.  Why?

Because within a few short days, your company can gather leads, build your brand image, interact with new and current customers, launch new products or feature existing services. Unlike many other marketing media, tradeshows allow you to control your environment and the image of your company, so you can make a big impression on current and prospective buyers.

The costs of exhibiting at a trade show can be a stretch for a small firm, of course, yet doing so could prove to be a solid investment for growth. The high energy and good vibes generated on the exhibit floor contributes to your motivation and success, plus they’re lots of fun!  Join me to learn how to maximize this fantastic marketing technique and to make sure that all of your investment in an event actually pays off.

______________________________

BizFlash - Tips to Tradeshow Success

May 7, 2009

7:30 am - 9 am

Sparks Holiday Inn, 55 E Nugget Ave - First Floor

Cost: Free

Register online through the Sparks Chamber of Commerce (sparkschamber.org) or NSBDC (http://www.nsbdc.org/education/calendar/).

________________________________

See you there!