Five Tips for Introducing Yourself

Introducing ourselves… we all have to do it, especially in the business world. But how do we make a good first impression.

It’s so hard to introduce yourself to strangers, it’s even harder when you aren’t looking at them and they could be reading this a year after you wrote it. With that said, it is so important to make the perfect first impression. There are many ways we can do this and I have come up with a few, while also introducing myself to you in the process.

1.       Comedy can be a great way to introduce yourself and break the ice.

Comedy is a fantastic interaction tool, many comedians have said that there comedy skills were built up because growing up they may not have been the most popular, but comedy was a way to get them noticed. This can be similar in the business world, except you have to straddle the line of being appropriate in an adult and business setting. Here is an example of how I would use comedy to introduce myself:

“My name is Sam, and I’m a social media strategist and videographer with dyspraxia. Ask me to come up with a great marketing strategy… fine, but please don’t ask me to carry more than two mugs.”

2.       Highlight something interesting about yourself

Every single person in this world is different, and that uniqueness is what makes you interesting. We all love to hear what sets the person they are talking to apart from each other, it is a great talking point and can make for a much more interesting first impression. Of course, with business keep it PG, and if it is something that sets you apart from others in your industry, that is even better but really it could be anything.

“I have worked for three professional football clubs and have contacts within the game throughout the North West and beyond. I am originally from Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, but support Burnley FC through my dad.”

3.       Use a pop culture reference

Nothing can quite catch our eye than a good pop culture reference, play to your audience and you are sure to make a lasting impression. I was once in a conversation at a football league media meet-up and one of the people I was talking to mentioned the buffet having donuts so I said “donuts? Hmmm donuts” while pretending to drool. They soon remembered me as that person who used a quote from the Simpsons. It doesn’t have to be as ridiculous, but trust me the more silly or funny, the more likely people will remember it. Another way you can use pop culture references is to find something you have in common, which starts a conversation.

“I grew up ready to join the black parade, I ended up being a social media strategist and videographer. But it’s not a phase!”

4.       Help them out

Listen to what they are saying, are they facing a problem at work or struggling to find someone to help them with a specific problem. Can you help them solve their problem? If you can, there is no better way to make a great first impression and it could even result in a new client or customer.

“If you ever need a photographer, whether its commercial or personal, my wife is a fantastic photographer. With 8 years of experience, she has a strong eye for detail and is very bright and bubbly, which I believe is a great asset for a photographer. Visit her page: Meg Thornton Photography for more information and to see her prices.”

5.       Use the elevator pitch technique

An elevator pitch is the term used for a 60 second speech used to introduce yourself, the concept is that you meet someone in an elevator (or lift in the UK) and they ask you what you do. You then have around 60 seconds to tell them before you go your separate ways.

Elevator pitches are somewhat divisive in the business world, some see them as a great tool for introducing and selling yourself. Others see them as a useless academic tool that has no real use in the real world. I have been on both sides of this, but a recent prince’s trust course showed me that it can be a very useful, especially to make sure everything you want to say, is said and in the right way. Think of it as a script, that introduces yourself and your business. So if someone asks about what you do, you can remember the script and be more confident in what you are saying. Here is what I would write for my elevator pitch:

“Hey, I am Sam, I have 9 years experience in marketing and media based in the Greater Manchester area. I offer affordable business services, to predominantly small to medium businesses, in my local area.

I currently offer social media strategy services and videography for all events and commercial needs. My specialty is sports businesses and events, but I currently run a mattress manufacturers social media and have filmed lots of events including conferences and weddings, so I am very flexible.

My main aim is to help as many local businesses as I can and I’m really passionate about that. Seeing my advice and help, growing a companies profit and exposure, is the best feeling.”

Have you ever used any of these tips or have any others you would add?

If you are looking for any of the services i mention in here, contact me now. sam@samttmedia.co.uk