Discussing/ Promoting Hypnosis at Networking Groups

[Andrea Crouch, CHt.]

Hi Fellow Hypnothoughters!
I have recently begun going to free networking groups in my local area and have procured a couple clients so far from them. am really enjoying the process but since networking at these groups is new for me I am curious if anyone else out there has come up with a way to clearly and efficiently discuss hypnosis in groups such as these. There is a time in the beginning where everyone in attendance goes around and says a 1 minute or less blurb. Any interesting suggestions?

[Kathleen Hanover]

Hi Andrea,

I have written several of these "elevator speeches" for clients and then trained them on how to use them in networking. Obviously, I can't do that in this forum, but I'll give you my elevator speech as a model and see if you can reverse-engineer it for your use. I use this elevator speech in one-on-one settings, but I'm sure it could be just as effective in a presentation.

"My name is Kathleen, and I work with entrepreneurs who are frustrated by how hard it is to generate a consistent stream of high-quality leads for their business. Sometimes business owners are attracted to me because they're upset that they've spent so much money on advertising and have zero to show for it. And other clients are attracted to me because although they're experts in their own field, they're losing sleep over the fact that their ideal customers don't know who they are or what they can do. And sometimes clients seek me out because they're genuinely worried that they're going to go out of business if they can't get a better return on investment on their marketing and public relations spend. But...that's probably not something you worry about in your line of work."

These elevator speeches can be really effective once you know how they work and how to use them under "combat conditions." I've been thinking of doing a session on them if I'm lucky enough to land a slot at the next HypnoSummit. That could be a lot of fun.

Hope that helps!

Kathleen
Client, HypnoFan, Hypnotic Marketer
New signature, courtesy the Pretty Goodest Hypnotist on the Planet (thanks, Hugh!):
The Pretty Goodest Public Relations, Copy Writing, Marketing Lady on the Planet
@KathleenHanover on Twitter

[Sharon Stiles]

I have done a lot of networking and use different strategies in different groups. If people don't know me well then I usually focus on one aspect of what I do such as anxiety, smoking, confidence and then give a short case study. So it would go something like...

A few weeks ago a trainee solicitor came to see me because she was worried about an exam where she has to do a mockup of representing a client in court. She said she felt really stupid about it because she is quite a confident person but she just felt really nervous about being in that situation. She emailed me yesterday to say the exam had gone really well and she doesn't know why she was so worried about it. If you know anyone who's got some exams coming up and they're nervous about them then please give them my card.

I don't aim my talks at the people in the room, it's always about helping people they know - but I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who I've met at networking events over the years who have come to see me. Quite a few of them have said that they wouldn't have considered hypnotherapy apart from the fact that they knew me.

Best Wishes
Sharon

[Sharon Stiles]

I have done a lot of networking and use different strategies in different groups. If people don't know me well then I usually focus on one aspect of what I do such as anxiety, smoking, confidence and then give a short case study. So it would go something like...

A few weeks ago a trainee solicitor came to see me because she was worried about an exam where she has to do a mockup of representing a client in court. She said she felt really stupid about it because she is quite a confident person but she just felt really nervous about being in that situation. She emailed me yesterday to say the exam had gone really well and she doesn't know why she was so worried about it. If you know anyone who's got some exams coming up and they're nervous about them then please give them my card.

I don't aim my talks at the people in the room, it's always about helping people they know - but I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who I've met at networking events over the years who have come to see me. Quite a few of them have said that they wouldn't have considered hypnotherapy apart from the fact that they knew me.

Best Wishes
Sharon

[James Hazlerig]

I go to a networking group in the small city where I live. My biggest worry approaching that group is that I'm dealing with a small-town Texas mentality that groups hypnosis in with stories of alien abduction. Add to that the fact that I have long hair and a beard, and you'll realize that building rapport with my fellow networkers is especially important.

So I use humor. Sure, some weeks, I give a straight-up elevator speech akin to Kathleen's excellent example. Other weeks, I work to get everyone laughing before mentioning some aspect of my business. See, most of the people there say exactly the same thing every week. There are regular attendees who can recite each other's blurbs by heart. So waking everyone up is vital.

Yes, it's important to explain what you do. But it's also important that they decide you're a good person.

[Kathleen Hanover]

James--thanks for the thumbs-up. :)

This is utterly off-topic, but I just figured out that we've met!

<<fangirlvoice>>OMG! Squeeee! I met you at DragonCon in 2004 or 2005 outside the Hyatt. I think you and Hawke were serenading everyone while we waited in line for the Browncoat panel. That's when I heard the Ballad of Joss the first time. Of course, by then I wouldn't have slept for a couple of days, so the memory is somewhat foggy... I think it was the same Con where I was interviewed for Done The Impossible (yes, I made the cut, and yes, in the movie I look like a crazy woman thanks to the sleep deprivation.) I wore a Kaylee costume that year for part of the day, and a Companion ensemble for the Shindig.

Anyway, I still listen to the Ballad of Joss and laugh, laugh, laugh. And I still hope Serenity flies again. (Did you see that Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyk are in V? And did you see the Mal moment at the beginning of Castle's Halloween episode?) <</fangirlvoice>>

Sorry for hijacking the thread, everybody. :)

Kathleen
The Pretty Goodest Public Relations, Copywriting & Marketing Lady on the Planet™
And lifelong, diehard Browncoat
Click @KathleenHanover to follow me on Twitter

[Michael Ellner]

This is a discussion for Mr. Networking himself--

Paging Alan Barsky -- Paging Alan Barsky --

[James Hazlerig]

*We now interrupt this thread for a faneurism!*

*Big Hug* It's always great to run into a fellow Browncoat! I'll have to rewatch Done the Impossible to see if I can spot you. And yes, I did enjoy Alan Tudyk and Morena Baccarin on V. Did you see that Rekha Sharma is going to be on it? (I hypnotized her at BabelCon this summer!) And yeah, I had to watch that scene from Castle repeatedly. Something must have gotten in my eye, because I started tearing up . . . Have you seen the trailers for Browncoats: Redemption yet?

Okay, since we're on a hypnosis board, I should mention that I did a group hypnosis session for a bunch of Browncoats at a con once, in which I took them onboard Serenity and had them receive the best traits of their favorite characters. I've also set some private sessions onboard our favorite boat: I had a fan who loves making gizmos build a pain control device in the cargo bay, and I had one who has trouble sleeping receive a massage in Inara's shuttle. (Really, it was just a massage! It wasn't that kind of session . . . )

Hypnosis for scifi/fantasy fans is easy because there's so much imagery to call on. (Not to mention the instant rapport.) One client of mine who needed help with study skills went to a wizard's tower and got a potion that activated her "inner Hermione." :-)

Okay, enough geeking out . . . We now return you to your regularly scheduled serious networking thread.

James

Kathleen Hanover said:

James--thanks for the thumbs-up. :)

This is utterly off-topic, but I just figured out that we've met!

<<fangirlvoice>>OMG! Squeeee! I met you at DragonCon in 2004 or 2005 outside the Hyatt. I think you and Hawke were serenading everyone while we waited in line for the Browncoat panel. That's when I heard the Ballad of Joss the first time. Of course, by then I wouldn't have slept for a couple of days, so the memory is somewhat foggy... I think it was the same Con where I was interviewed for Done The Impossible (yes, I made the cut, and yes, in the movie I look like a crazy woman thanks to the sleep deprivation.) I wore a Kaylee costume that year for part of the day, and a Companion ensemble for the Shindig.

Anyway, I still listen to the Ballad of Joss and laugh, laugh, laugh. And I still hope Serenity flies again. (Did you see that Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyk are in V? And did you see the Mal moment at the beginning of Castle's Halloween episode?) <</fangirlvoice>>

Sorry for hijacking the thread, everybody. :)

Kathleen
The Pretty Goodest Public Relations, Copywriting & Marketing Lady on the Planet™
And lifelong, diehard Browncoat
Click @KathleenHanover to follow me on Twitter

[James Klingensmith]

What is your field?
Every pitch is different for every one.

One of my favorite is I start to sing 10 sec. of an aria for the attention or play play the blues on my harmonica. this is a great way to be remembered all week long.

I attached a fun worksheet that should help you find your own pitch

[Beverly Lieb, C.Ht.]

Andrea, where did you find free networking group? There don't seem to be any in my area.

[Kathleen Hanover]

Hi James,

I think we need to start a Browncoats group on Hypnothoughts... :)

I'd love to get some Serenity hypnopowers! In my dreams, I'd have Inara's wardrobe & body, Zoe's calm under pressure and Jayne's gun collection. But that's just me. ;)

Ahem...networking...yeah...

James Klingensmith, thanks for sharing that worksheet.

Kathleen
The Pretty Goodest Public Relations, Copywriting & Marketing Lady on the Planet™
And lifelong, diehard Browncoat
Click @KathleenHanover to follow me on Twitter

[James Hazlerig]

Kathleen,

Don't forget Wash's quick wit, Kaylee's eternal optimism, Simon's compassion, Book's moral compass, River's grace, and Mal's ability to be naked in public without any shame . . .

I've considered making a CD based on that session to sell to my fellow BCs. Do you think the Fox lawyers would really suspect something called "Serenity Hypnosis?"

Oh, yeah, um, networking, right.

Beverly--I didn't realize most networking groups charged much. The one I'm in asks for a two-dollar donation per meeting, but only if you haven't made a referral that week. I guess there are some advantages to being in a small town.

Keep flyin',

James

[Chris Witherspoon]

Check to see if BNI has a chapter in your area. You do not have to be a member to attend but you do have to get an initial invite, after that you can attend by donating a fee at each meeting. Check it out they a good organization.

Beverly Lieb, C.Ht. said:

Andrea, where did you find free networking group? There don't seem to be any in my area.