Minal Sampat
Technology moves fast, no doubt. Those selling their expertise – agency owners, business coaches, speakers, authors and strategic consultants – need to find time to find new clients.
Fortunately, there are resources like popular author, speaker, and marketing strategist Minal Sampath to help us keep going. (We met when I helped her edit her best-selling book Why Your Marketing Stinks.) Here’s what she had to say about growing your business using today’s technology:
Registered ideas. “An increasingly popular strategy is to record a video of yourself following through on the written ideas you’ve sent,” says Sampath. Here’s how to increase your engagement with your video: Keep the video short and sweet – no more than two minutes. Cover the main points, how it works, and one to two frequently asked questions. Used in conjunction with video discovery calls, this should increase your acceptance rate.
Video Email Marketing. “When you’re recording the proposal, record some quick, useful videos,” says Sampath. “Link these in your emails to create more personal connections with your audience. Keep these videos under 90 seconds and tell your list that the video is short – this makes them more likely to click. ‘This 77-second video will change the way you _____’ is a great format. To maximize results Include an action item at the end.A tip is to use these videos as lead magnets on your website and/or newsletter to engage with cold audiences.
Virtual backgrounds. “Compared to two years ago, you can do a lot more with your virtual background these days,” says Sampath. For example, you can edit your background images to include your content. Use a free graphic design program to add a sidebar to your favorite background image with your main points. It looks smooth and keeps you on the screen for a more engaging interaction. Additionally, it increases engagement with your virtual audience.
Media collections. “Speakers: Create and share media collections!” Sampat orders. “Event planners want and need your information to share with attendees and add excitement to their event. Include blog posts, your social media handles, and recorded videos. This not only builds a good relationship with event planners, but also primes the audience, so they’ll be excited to hear you speak in person.”
Website chat. “If you haven’t already, now is the time to add a messaging option to your website,” says Sampath. “People no longer have time to search for your contact page, try to find and wait for a response. They want information right now. Some social media platforms offer free messenger apps that you can add to your site. They even let you set up automatic responses to common questions. Use these to link to your speaker pack, service page, and other resources.
Bottom line: The number one pain point for three out of five people in the business of selling their skills is finding new clients. One of the number two pain points is finding time to work on business development. These technological devices are pain relievers.
