Why do so many people make themselves and their businesses so hard to reach? Maybe it’s because we dream of running a virtual business where we can set up automated systems and then go drink umbrella beverages on a secluded beach and magically everything will run smoothly. Well, keep dreaming! People want to be able to talk to people. You do not have to answer the phone but somebody does.

One of my brand attributes is accessibility. I talk to my clients. I talk to my potential clients. I talk to pretty much everyone who wants to talk to me. I say it like it is a novel idea because too many people do whatever they can to not to talk to people under the illusion that they can have a 100% online only business.

While this can work for a few product only folks, for service-based businesses it has your potential clients move on to someone else.

Three Super Huge Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Around Connectability

1. Not putting your phone number on your website.

Whatever Internet gurus people are listening to that say do not put your phone number on your website are wrong— especially today when people are more cautious about their spending. They want to know there is a real person behind that slick site. They will call someone else if you make it too hard to connect with you.

2. Making someone write in ten information fields before they can send you an email.
When I see all those boxes to fill out on a contact page I go to Facebook and look someone up and send them an email there rather then fill in all those boxes. Most people move on to another site that does not make them work so hard. The more boxes there are to fill out the less likely potential clients will do it. Be easy to connect with everyone at every opportunity.

3. Not putting your email address on your website.
This I think is the most stupid thing you can do. I know your webmaster told you not to put your email address on your site because the spam spiders will grab it. Recognize that your webmaster is not your marketing master, nor your VP of business development. While he or she is worried about spam, what you want to think about is being easy to connect with. Besides, there are ways around that. By writing at instead of @ or using a graphic representation of your email.

The truth is spam is a fact of life and can be managed—that is what your spam filter is for. When someone who is your potential client cannot send you quick email you are making it too hard to connect with you, and that is not smart.

Be the businessperson that people can easily connect with in a world where everyone is trying to hide behind their website and you will watch your business grow. Make it easy for people to connect with you and more people will reach out to hire you and invite you to participate in cool opportunities that otherwise would have passed you by.

Use these skills discussed here with your employees, clients, vendors and anyone else you find yourself working with skills and begin to increase your success.

Make powerful requests

Sometimes we think we have made a request when really we have only had a discussion. A request looks like: “Will you do that before our next appointment?” or “I request that you fax me your bid by Wednesday.” Not a request: “If you get a chance send me your updated information.” or “Let me know when you can help me with this project.” When you make a request there are one of three responses. Accept the request with a “yes” response. Decline the request with a “no” response or negotiate the request by making a counteroffer.

Use positive language

Eliminate judgment from your communication, take out the word “should” from your vocabulary. Replacement words and phrases might be – would, could, have you considered, it would serve you. When conversing with someone, never start a sentence with “But.” This word invalidates whatever came before it. Instead of “but” use the word “and.”

Brainstorm

When you do not have the answer to a challenge at hand, generate ideas to create a possible solution through brainstorming. When doing this with yourself or with someone else, remember to not comment, evaluate, judge or edit any thoughts or suggestions. Continue to write them all down until there are no more. Then begin a dialogue using the ones that seem the most appealing. Eventually you may have a solution.

Be acknowledging

Talk about the good things you are hearing, make sure the people you interact with know that you are aware of their, risks, wins, expertise, etc.

Acknowledging someone is very different than complimenting them.

An acknowledgment refers to WHO the person is being. An example would be, ” I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, it shows me that my project is important to you.” “I want you to know that in working with you, it is clear to me that you know your industry and you really care about your clients.” A compliment refers to something the person did or is wearing. ” That was a delicious batch of cookies you made.” “I really like your lapel pin.”

Coming up in Part 3 – Develop a culture of celebrating success, use your intuition, and use themes.

Smart Leadership for Entrepreneurs – Part 1

A leader steps up, they provide direction, and sometimes even motivation to get things moving. In today’s world accomplishment is achieved largely through collaboration and making sure people feel seen, heard and a part of the process. Entrepreneurs are good at many things: being innovative, risk-taking and moving quickly. One of the skills many can use l more of is leadership. Having the skills of a leader helps you get everything done with more support and engagement from everyone involved.

Use these skills discussed here with your employees, clients, vendors and anyone else you find yourself working with skills and begin to increase your success.

Create accountability

In your professional interactions make sure decisions and actions are not only talked about. Always get a clear, definite agreement. Always have both parties write down any agreements. Each agreement must be specific and measurable and accompanied by a timeline for completion. For example, if someone says to you, ” I will see if I can get to your proposal this week,” create accountability with them by asking, “Are you agreeing to call me back with your decision by Friday?” Take it one step further and make a phone date for Friday to ensure you will get your answer.

Practice power listening

In business you want to show your interest and enthusiasm through both your verbal and nonverbal communication. You will learn a lot more from listening. To be a power listener put your full attention on being fully present with the other person. This includes maintaining open body language; do not cross your arms or legs. Remember to have a relaxed face. Sometimes people are concentrating so hard they look like they are frowning. This intimidates the speaker.  Always maintain constant eye contact when listening.  Allow no interruptions, do not answer the phone do not begin to talk with anyone else, give the speaker your full attention. Use “ I am listening” words and phrases i.e.. “aha,” “yes,”  “I see,” “really,” “interesting,” “I hear you.”

Coming up in Part 2 – Make powerful requests, use positive language, brainstorm, and acknowledge. Be sure to subscribe!

Who you have met does not matter. What matters is who trusts you, respects you, remembers you, has a deep understanding of what you do, and wants to help you. When you have been able to create all this with one of your contacts, you now have influence. Influence equals ease in creating what you want in business and in life.

Follow these steps to create more influence with everyone you already know and everyone you will meet in the future.

Connecting
This is the networking part. In addition to meeting people at business events and in professional situations, you will also meet people socially at parties, at family gatherings and online. Make sure you are doing something everyday online and every week offline that helps you to meet more people.

Creating Rapport
Once you have met someone, you then have to begin to get to know them and build trust. Some easy ways to do this are to remember people’s names, follow up on any action you agreed to take, and invite people to go where you are going to increase your exposure to them. Also of course invite them to join your online network within 24 hours of meeting them. Additionally because so few people send notes anymore a “nice to meet you” note will go a long way to begin to build up your influence.

Communicating Your Needs
Only once you have a strong rapport with people, this is the time to make requests of them for business or contacts. If you ask people to hire you as soon as they meet you, you will probably see hesitation on their part and sometimes even resentment. It is naive to expect people to use your services or refer others to you until you have created influence.

Take a look now at the people in your network. Do you have a strong rapport with them? Do you stay in regular contact so they remember you? If you have, then it is time to make a request that people work with you or refer others to work with you. If not, go back to step one. Remember, the more influence you have, the more of what you want will come to you with ease.

Leave a comment below to let me know what your experience or challenges have been!

Guess what. You do not know who has been knocking on your clients’ doors, who they are friending on Facebook or who they are running into at a networking or social event.

The more we do business with our clients the way they like to do business, the better they will like-or even love-us and the more loyal they will be to us and send us more referrals.

To find out what your clients prefer with communications, service, billing and delivery, all you have to do is ask.