10 Effective Ice Breaking Questions

Whether you go to a Chamber of Commerce event, a PTA meeting, the racquetball court, the local health club, or practically anywhere else, opportunities to network present themselves constantly. But there are fears which present themselves as well. For example, we ask ourselves if we are in a situation where talking business might be considered tacky. Will I be considered a 'hard sell' type of salesperson for talking about my business at a social gathering?

Here's how to overcome that fear- ask questions! NOT sales questions- questions that someone you are meeting for the first time would be happy to answer. Questions about themselves and their business. Questions that allow you to begin a follow-up program which will be appreciated by your new contact, and will hopefully turn that person into a client with lots of referrals.

You'll notice that the following ten questions are friendly and will tell you something about the way the person thinks. You don't need to ask all ten every time, but you should know them and be able to ask the ones you deem are appropriate for the particular conversation. They are as follows:

1. How did you get your start in your business? Let them tell you their story.

2. What do you enjoy most about your profession? This question will elicit a positive response.

3. What separates your company from the competition? You have offered this person a chance to tell all.

4. What advice would you give someone just starting in this field? Here's a chance to be a mentor.

5. What one thing would you do with your business if you knew you couldn't fail?

6. What significant changes have you seen take place in your profession through the years?

7. What do you see as the coming trends in this field?

8. What was the strangest or funniest incident you've experienced in your business?

9. What ways have you found to be the most effective when promoting your business?

10. How would you like people to describe how you do business?

Nancy Roebke, is the Executive Director of Profnet Inc, a professional business leads generation corporation. We bring business professionals together in a non-competitive environment to help each other make more money.

mailto:execdirector@profnet.org http://www.profnet.org

Copyright c Nancy Roebke

Adapting Blog Technologies To Corporate E-Newsletters

Every January, trade publications put out a list... Read More

Flesh Eating Spiders And Other Marketing Horrors

After a friend was bitten by a spider, I decided... Read More

10 Awesome Ways To Attract More Orders

1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topic... Read More

10 Beer Budget Event Marketing Tips

Are you planning an event or participating in a trade... Read More

10 Effective Ice Breaking Questions

Whether you go to a Chamber of Commerce event, a... Read More

10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have

Don't want your direct mail to end up in the... Read More

10 Essential Criteria For Choosing Your Target Market

A specific group of people you will focus on selling... Read More

10 Important Marketing Tips

Each of the following Ten Marketing Tips is based on... Read More

10 Important Steps to Mail Order Success

There are a number of difficulties a beginning entrepreneur may... Read More

10 Packaging Tips That Will Make Consumers Buy Your Product

The customer is king/queen. We have all heard this mantra.... Read More

10 Powerful Marketing Tips

1. Print your best small ad on a postcard and... Read More

10 Proven Ways To Accelerate Your Profits

1. Make copies of your web site in many different... Read More

10 Reasons Why Businesses Fail at Marketing.

1) They don't fully understand it.Perception: Marketing is advertising. Reality:... Read More

10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Sales IMMIDIATELY!

Alright you've got yourself a nice website with a great... Read More

10 Start Up Marketing Tips

This list has been compiled as a result of years... Read More

10 Steps to a Great Newsletter

A newsletter can be a wonderful, economical way to communicate... Read More

10 Steps To Getting Paid For Your Marketing Materials

How many times have you heard the same sound bites... Read More

10 steps to promote your business

1) Word of mouth is the most cost-effective, powerful form... Read More

10 Surefire Ways to Add Sizzle to Your Brochures

Businesses rely on brochures as their front line in communicating... Read More

10 Tips For Packaging That Sells Products To Boomers

Boomers are a prime and growing target audience. Does your... Read More

10 Tips to Grow Your Business Plain & Simple

"Try not to become a man of success but rather... Read More

10 Ways to Get Your Flyers Noticed

An inexpensive way to promote your services is to createvarious... Read More

11 Powerful Marketing Tips

Each of these 11 marketing tips is based on a... Read More

11 Rock Solid Techniques For Generating Product Ideas Anytime Anywhere!

Whatever business you are in, either online or offline, you've... Read More

11 Ways to Turnaround a Cash-Strapped Business or Practice

This past weekend I received a disturbing message from a... Read More

12 Lessons I Picked Up from Attending Seminars

So you just dropped a tidy sum to attend a... Read More

13 Lessons in Marketing, Super Bowl Style

Each year, the Super Bowl provides marketers opportunity to study... Read More

15 Commandments Of Creating A Wealth Pulling Niche

Niches are like bathrooms; you never notice them until you... Read More

15 Ways to Promote eLearning Programs

Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to... Read More

15-Minute Marketing: Lots of Results in Little Time

Do you think you don't have enough time to market?... Read More

19 Ways To Attract Higher Paying Clients

Some people have little difficulty attracting and maintaining clients who... Read More

2 Great, Free Techniques to Get Customers to Come to You, Not the Other Way Around

Here is a powerful tip on how to substantially increase... Read More

2 Little Words That Work Marketing Magic

In his classic best-seller, "How To Win Friends And Influence... Read More