Blog

How did you get your start in business? Did you “fall” into your line of work? Perhaps there was an interesting anecdote, epiphany or event that caused the birth of your business. If so, this is called Your Story. Now, it’s not your Elevator Speech or your 30 Second Commercial. It’s your story. And it’s a fundamental tool for helping people and potential customers get to know you. Here’s…

Helping customers “get to know you” isn’t just about names, it’s about information. In other words, it’s about self-disclosure, which is the process of revealing your personal information to another. This process starts with a small piece of information, i.e., your name. Then, as the relationship develops, it progresses into more intimate territory with the sharing of opinions, preferences and experiences. What’s more, because of its reciprocal nature, self-disclosure…

Welcome to Project Hello! In an effort to give homeless individuals names and put the growing homeless issue in the face of the public and politicians, more than 5,000 Hello My Name Is… signs are being distributed around the world to those living on the streets. LET ME ASK YA THIS… How do nametags affect your identity? * * * * Scott Ginsberg Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag www.hellomynameisscott.com

Great article called The Friendly Factor, which discusses various techniques used by businesses to create a friendly work environment. My favorite tips: 1) Bring your pet and keep it in the store. Customers love this! Neil from Signs and Banners Today uses his dog, Angel. Pets are perfect front porches, they make people feel comfortable and encourage customers to come back. (Note: Avoid pet cobras; they are supposedly “poisonous.”)…

My friend Jules, from a company called Michigan Works, told me about her best conversation starter: “What is the best dish you cook?” According to Jules, this question started out as a fun, simple ice breaker.But over time it actually turned into an annual Chili Cookoff! Now, every year in Bay City, MI, people bring vats of their prized chili for judging by other participants. The prize is a…

1) Reference your other phone numbers on your voicemail greetings: not enough people do this, but it makes it easier for people to get in touch with you. 2) Use email signatures: ever received an email from someone without any other contact information? 3) List ALL of the ways people can contact you on your website: give people options for commuication that best fit their technological needs. LET ME…

When I receive an email from an organization or business who has a question, wants to work together or just wants to chat, I do something called “Mixing the Medium™.” Here’s how it works: 1) The exact moment I finish reading the email, I get their phone number. If there’s no email signature, I look at their email address or go to their website. If all I know is…

In the Online Business Network Blog, Scott Allen posted a great article about the stigma related to networking. LET ME ASK YA THIS… What’s your definition of networking? * * * * Scott Ginsberg Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag www.hellomynameisscott.com

Are men raised/taught/expected to be unapproachable? Barbara DeAngelis PH.D. on Blog City discusses the emotional challenge faced by men today. LET ME ASK YA THIS… Compared to women, are men more or less likely to be unapproachable? * * * * Scott Ginsberg Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag www.hellomynameisscott.com

During a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I observed some interesting reactions to my new (temporary) tattoo. Well, actually…just one. The locals would look at me, laugh, nod their head and say, “Escott!!” (Apparently, “Scott” doesn’t translate into Spanish very well.) I hope to soon muster up the courage to get the REAL nametag tattoo like my buddy Steve. LET ME ASK YA THIS… What’s the best/worst tattoo…