BizBuzz -

Archive for July, 2009

As we pound our foreheads trying to coming up with the best way to reach customers, to truly connect with them, an easy, yet oft overlooked way is right at hand. You see, in the old days of doing business, you showed up in your crisp suit, pushed out your business card with authority, puffing your chest a bit over your title (well, wasn’t that what we were all working towards, a great title?) Wouldn’t that then translate into a new client, you know, because we were in a power position and they should be impressed, right? So back to the easy fix and why you should take notice: people are less trusting of suits these days, so they’re even less impressed with titles. Why you ask? Let’s explore.

Anyone Can Make Up Any Title – So What!

Yes, I’ve said it. Business has changed and entrepreneurs have changed the way the “title” game is played.  I own my company, I’m free to emblazon any title I please on my business card. I can be “Queen of the Universe” or “Empress Kolaras”, but really, what does it matter? Will it help my potential client or colleague feel any closer to what it is I do? No, and in fact it does nothing to show how I can help them in their business. What a waste.

Most Titles Are Borrrrring – Make Yours Memorable

Even mine isn’t fun (Small Business Coach and Copywriter), but it conveys exactly what I do. Sure I’m the owner and CEO of my company, but my client will find that out soon enough if they want to; what they need to know at the time of meeting me or receiving my card is what I do, not what my title is with the IRS or Secretary of State. My job is not to impress them with some title, it’s to say in a nutshell what I do professionally. Getting to the heart of your work removes a little of the pretense and gets people closer to you as a person. Once you allow that space to open up, truly wonderful relationship-building can begin, and that is the basis for the best business connections you can ever make.

Do you have some favorite “anti-titles” you’ve run across? Share them here, I’m sure we’d all like hear them!