8/31/2023-Social Selling

Clients love to be wined and dined, but they also know it comes with a price. Don’t tippy toe around their obligation; pick your time wisely and talk business.

Last night did you wish you were home wearing PJs instead of watching your client drain gin-n-tonics ’til midnight? (Gets old, huh?)

But if that’s what ya gotta do to get some face time…that’s what ya do.

Socializing with customers can be great fun, but whether you’re at the bar, game, or spa, you’re still on the clock. You’re working.

The key to feeling good about spending personal time at work is getting something from the buyer in return. A meeting, information, a commitment to an intro…..whatever! Your manager expects it, but your time demands it.

Commit to receiving something of value from your customer on your next social outing.

It doesn’t matter if you’re at a concert, a game, or a corn-hole tournament…take time at the start of your event and announce that you have some business you need to conduct.

Ask your question or favor and be committed. You can be as aggressive with your ask as you want because….well, ya know why? …because you can. The customer is your guest, there’s nowhere for them to hide!

Of course, there are rules to social selling, and while it’s pretty okay to conduct a little business before the concert starts or while you’re getting set up at the yoga studio, be wise about your timing.

But understand that client entertainment includes an acknowledged quid pro quo. The buyer may not expect a 30-slide PowerPoint presentation, and it might be tricky if you’re on the golf course, but the customer does expect some sort of an ask from you.

So….fire away. What is it you need help with? An introduction? Help resolving a sticky issue on the latest transaction? Whatever it is, don’t for one second think you can’t ask just because you’re in a social setting.

One of the comments regrading this YT video says it all, "Never been this excited for professional bean bag tossing before."

HA.

This minute-and-a-half clip of the greatest corn hole shot EVER is truly breathtaking. (Alright, it’s rather silly, to be honest. But fun too.)

If you look very closely in row 3, there’s a guy in the audience pitching his seatmate pretty hard…no doubt he was going for the close, and, who knows, maybe he got it.

Again…HA!