The Talking Logo - Moving Beyond the Elevator Speech

We have all been there...at a party or a groupis targeted, informative, interesting, and sets you apart
gathering when you meet someone new. Whether in afrom your competition. It tells the listener more than just
business or social setting, this question is bound towhat you do...it tells them how you are relevant. It also
come up: "So, what do you do?"invites a two-way conversation with your newly found
When this question is asked, you have but a shortacquaintance. It encourages them to ask more about
window of opportunity to grab the asker's attentionyou. The Talking Logo is flexible. If you have more than
and really make an impression. Unfortunately, weone product, you can adapt the Talking Logo to fit the
usually answer in one of two ways. The first is a wayoccasion.
that causes us to fade into the background. "I fixThe 2-Step Process for Creating your Talking Logo
computers." "I'm a lawyer." "I'm in real estate." "I sellStep 1: Explain your target client market and their pain
insurance." In just a few words we've told the askerpoints. Use the following syntax when formulating the
that we are just another "fill in the blank." In a flash, thefirst part of your response: ACTION VERB (I help, I
opportunity is gone.teach, I show, etc) THE TARGET CLIENT MARKET
The second common way that we respond to this(young married couples, retirees, CFOs, IT companies,
question is our Elevator Speech. We rehearse this inetc) HOW TO (solve or fix a specific problem or
the mirror, polish it down to the word, and memorize itneed).
like a school play script. When someone asks the- Example: A mortgage broker might say, "I help first
question: "So, what do you do?" we reactively springtime home buyers save tens of thousands of dollars
the well-prepared speech on them. The active hearingon the biggest purchase they have ever made up to
turns off and a few moments later, the listener's eyesthis point."
have glazed over and they are looking for a way toIf your Talking Logo has hit its mark, you should get
move away from you. They respond, "Oh...that's nice"some raised eyebrows indicating interest as your
and move on. Not the most memorable encounter, atlistener asks, "Oh? How do you do that?"
least not in the way that you want to be remembered.Step 2: Part 2 of the Talking Logo explains how you
Let's Try Something New - The Talking Logofix your customer's pain points. You should focus on
If you really want to connect with the other person, tryan answer that distinguishes how your exceptional
this useful engaging approach - the Talking Logo. Thisproduct, process, or skill solves the client's problem. It is
powerful, two-step process captures your listener'svery important to be ready with this answer because
attention and gives you the chance to truly let themyou actually have the listener's attention thanks to Step
know what you do - without turning on the autopilot. It1. No missed opportunity here!