Being Prepared For The Client Isn’t the Only Pre-Meeting Ritual Anymore – You Have To Ask Yourself – Is Your Personal Brand Prepared?

I saw an article once that stated the main rule of sales for the guy who wrote it was learned when he was a Boy Scout.  “Be Prepared!”  He spoke from the angle of making sure you did the prep work heading into a client’s office for an appointment in order to garner sales.  However, I am not sure simply preparing on the salesman side – as in preparing for the client by learning more about them, is enough anymore.

What do I mean?  Do I mean you can get away with not doing research on the company you are about to go visit?  Heck no!  Do I mean you can walk into the appointment without shaving, showering or getting a good night’s sleep – not likely!  However, I do think the game has changed – and you need to be more prepared than ever before.  Now, you have to prepare for the research they will inevitably do ON YOU!

Imagine this…you’re due for a presentation this Thursday at a large company – this is a deal that could make your year – maybe your career.  You sold the gate opener and the CEO on the fact that you’re a successful, hard working, creative and smart person with a solution they need to a problem they have.  Matter of fact, you did so well, there will be a decision made and to show balance, one of your competitors is also being invited in to compare.  Still, right now, you’re the emotional favorite and are leading the way. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Sydney, the CEO, asks his assistant to find out more about you, and Jennie Craig, the sales woman from your competition.  When the assistant Googles each of you to substantiate both your claims of being “king/queen of the hill” – they find Jennie at the top of Google, despite having the same name as a famous dietician.  Her profile is shown in an ad-free space, with excellent representation of all she’s done.  The assistant sees they were in the same sorority and both like to cook.

And you?  Well, there is no mention of you on the first 2 pages despite all your awards, sales credentials or amazingly great client base.  You even own the web url of your name, but only have a small site up, because it takes too much time to update – and you sell well, but don’t understand much about website coding.  Sadly, the only thing that comes up about you on page 3 is the comment you made a few weeks back on a sales blog, taking issue with the writer’s suggestions, but not offering any real solution.  The assistant sees a way to win the sale for her new favorite and plays this up with the CEO.  Needless to say, you have lost some of the positioning you had established.  Why?  Simply because your net-cred wasn’t all that, after all.  These days, being prepared for being searched is almost as important as being prepared to present in front of the new potential client.

So, how do you take a top ranking and be found online the way you want to be, the way that represents the best you – allowing you the best first e-impression?  We recommend being prodigious with your postings, being on key social or business networks for your field – and using QAlias to take top slot priority for your name. 

How does this help? – you’ll gain top line listing in Google and Yahoo – and gain the elevator to bring the other stuff you’ve posted and want people to see up to the top as well.  After a little time, you’ll be seen as an expert by anyone who searches for you.  You’ll give good Google.  And, you get to be easier than anyone else to find – just tell your clients to “Google me.””

Life’s short, make the most of it by being prepared for both sides of the next presentation you deliver, and economizing the words you need to say when someone wants to find you.

Andy “Google Me” Greider is a marketing consultant and new business director with Carroll/White and radio show host of business growth solutions show, Uniqueness is Power. Andy is also Brand Manager with qAlias, plus he is a Self Promotion maven, serial entrepreneur, author, blogger, and inventor of the Gorelephant, first eImpressions and networthing.