7 Awful First Sentences That Are Killing Your Outreach Emails

7 Awful First Sentences That Are Killing Your Outreach Emails

Jul 15, 2022 | Book Writing

Anytime you are introducing yourself to a new person, or you are at a function it is going to be a little bit nerve-wracking. But you never stroll up to a group of people and make an introduction without having a noticeably clear plan of what you are going to say to the group. That is especially important because you are going to make an impression in a tenth of a second or less, and that can make or break a relationship.

Although you may always be very diligent about introducing yourself face to face, if you are creating a marketing email, you may not be as diligent. You need to look at many of the messages that you have sent out and realize that you may have made some common mistakes. 

Here are seven of the worst reach-out techniques that cause people to delete your emails. Here is what you can do now to increase your readability as well as your sales.

“Set an example for others to do better.”
Debasish Mridha

“My name is…”

Names are one of the things that people do not remember. So, when you lead with this, you are going to lose the attention of the reader within the first second. If your reader is trying to find a way to reach out to you, they will be able to find your contact information in your email signature. 

You can really clean it up by ensuring that your name is in the second sentence of your email and then you will be off to the races. You want to get to the point of your email as quickly as you can and respect the time of your reader.

Pro Tip

Always follow up on your pitch.

“I work for…”

When you lead with who you are working for it is even more boring than your name. It is a clue right away to the reader that you are looking to sell them something and that is a big issue. In addition to that, you will see that as you continue to right, the company that you are working with is something that will be naturally revealed because it will help you to show you are an expert in the field and also what your connection is to the person you are reaching out to!

"Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."
Zig Ziglar

“Did you know?”

This is another way to put your prospect to sleep. Many reps will begin with sharing statistic or a rhetorical question. The thing is that they will not get the attention of the potential customer, they are going to run for the hills as they are trying to avoid a sales pitch that might feel like it is coming off an infomercial. 

You need to ensure that you are going to share a fact or a figure that is going to entice the reader and ensure that you are appealing to their position in the market. Have facts that are innovative and that are market and niche specific to share with the audience and you will get the attention of the reader.

Action Item

Use your email subject to sum up. You're probably wondering how to summarize a complicated pitch in one line.

“Congrats on…”

When there is a trigger event, that usually seems that you have a reason to reach out to that contact. However, it shows that you are going to have a lazy sale and you are creating a form letter to the reader.

“I’ve been thinking.”

This is something you would want to share with family and friends and not with your business prospects. The reason for this is that when you come out this way you come out as if you are self-interested. The key to implementing this approach is to invert the technique. 

You would want to share the news of their acquisition of a new asset or a major business announcement to show that you are interested in their needs and solution sell. You should never begin an email by talking about yourself, you should always be drafting an email about your prospect to ensure that you have the right perspective.

“It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.”
Henry Ward Beecher

“I hope you are doing well…”

The reach out seems like a warm sentiment. However, when you are reaching out to a new prospect for the first time, one thing that is clear is that you cannot be bland. When you are bland, this will be the kiss of death. 

You will lose the prospect in your first sentence. You want to dive into your message right away and ensure that you catch their attention. 

Take a risk in your message and write something that will catch their attention like, “I am concerned about your company’s implementation of X since they acquired Y, “then share a similar story if you have one from your sales history. This is a fantastic way to get the attention of the prospect and to establish yourself as an expert.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

Sometimes there are reach outs that happen when there was a lead that came from a piece of content that was downloaded or a video that was watched or a page that was visited. One thing that is important to be aware of is that this is a fun time to reach out to the buyer. In that moment, they are ready to be talked to by sales. 

However, at the same time, asking them if they found what they are looking for is very vague. You need to ensure that you know what the pain point is that you would be able to solve for the customer. Here are some suggestions:

“Do you have all the pricing information you need?”
“Can I answer any questions for you about the product?”

Take your time and wordsmith your emails to your prospects. Look at some of the best reach outs that you have gotten as well in sales and see what sets apart solution selling from someone sending you a form email. 

Form emails feel cold and get deleted as quickly as they show up in someone’s inbox. Tailor your message to the person you are reaching out to and you will drive new profits with happy clients.

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12 Ways to Get on a Board of Directors for Women

12 Ways to Get on a Board of Directors for Women

Jun 20, 2022 | Book Writing

It was not long ago that women on the board of directors was quite rare. Today, over 20% of all directors are women and that number is growing. However, the challenges associated with how to become a board member for women are still quite strong. But there are several methods that can be used in how to get on the board as a woman.

What follows are 12 proven ways to get on a board of directors for women. Of course, not all women are going to succeed, but then again, most men fail as well. By following these methods, you can maximize your chances of becoming a director.

Address the Needs of the Board

If you have found the board that you want to serve as director, then you will need to do the research and find out what areas they need to address. This is normally culled from the directors themselves as they may have plans which cannot be initiated because they lack the knowledge or experience that you might bring. Find out what the board needs and work on becoming an expert in those areas.

“The needs of the people around you should your utmost priority.”
Sunday Adelaja

Become an Authority

Sometimes known as a thought leader, this means specializing in a market segment that board of directors are seeking. And while this is self-promotion, it is most effective in showing your experience and knowledge of important subjects.

Educate Yourself

It’s not about getting the most education, but rather the right education that will be attractive to the board of directors. Getting on the board means that you bring something more than simple experience within the company. Obtaining certification from respected centers such as the Harvard Business School or the National Association of Corporate Directors can only help you reach your goal. 

However, this type of certification can be expensive. So, do not proceed unless it is something that will improve your chances of landing on the board.

Pro Tip

Take advantage of the growing number of female directors and find your niche.

Get to Know the Right People

Whoever said it is not what you know, but who you know was on to something. And while being properly educated and having experience are still essential elements to getting on the board of directors, it greatly helps to know the fundraisers and financial experts that will help make your ascendency to the board possible. This means gaining access to trustee or voluntary positions inside charities that you support. 

Charities are an excellent way to help earn a position on the board of directors. This is because such positions offer excellent experience that help fill the gaps in many boards. You will learn how to assess finances and manage larger projects which is what board members are seeking.

"With the right people, culture, and values, you can accomplish great things."
Tricia Griffith

Go for the Right Board

The goal is not just to sit on any board of directors, it is to join a board that reflects your interests and abilities. This is because boards are looking for those who can directly contribute. 

If you have no general interest or specific knowledge that is useful to a board of directors, then they are most likely not going to hire you. Stick to applying to boards where you can contribute your knowledge and expertise.

Action Item

Identify 10 boards of interest to you.

Leadership Experience

A board of directors leads a company. Therefore, getting more leadership experience is crucial to getting on the board. The most obvious method is to lead projects from within the company, but you can do considerable good by working with non-profits, charities, and other organizations in leadership positions.

Learn from Your Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. Those who succeed learn from negative experiences and apply it to their next project. 

After all, everyone on the board of directors has made mistakes from time to time. By learning from your mistakes, you can show both professional and personal growth.

“You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”
Richard Branson

Let People Know

If you do not tell people your goal is to be on the board of directors, then you may not get there. It may seem like bragging or being overly ambitious to tell people what your goals are within the company. 

But the truth is that for many it will not be obvious unless you let people know your ambitions. This doesn’t mean openly campaigning for the position, but by keeping quiet you may get overlooked.

Network

The more people you know, the more likely you can make inroads into the board. Creating a professional network means building up your circle of influence. 

This means expanding your presence not only within the company, but also in the industry. Proper networking can help establish links that will pay benefits as the board considers your qualifications.

Revisit Your Board Bio

A board bio is a highlight reel of your career. What is listed in the bio is what makes you get closer to your goal of getting on the board. This includes your qualifications, experiences, and what makes you different or unique compared to others. 

Your board bio is what makes the first impression, so it needs to be a good one. Plus, you need to write and re-write it frequently to hone its message when sending it to various boards. This will be most helpful in highlighting what they may most appreciate about your attributes.

Search Firms

Understanding how to get on a board as a woman will most likely require contacting executive search firms. There are several highly rated search firms designed to help women reach the board of directors. In addition, you should work through the HR division at your own company and let them know that you are interested in a board position.

Take Advantage of Opportunities

Whatever you can do to gain notice and improve your standing should be part of the plan to get on a board of directors. This may mean volunteering, taking leadership positions, and initiating projects that benefit the company. Keep in mind that its not the work itself that earns you the place on the board, it’s that the board recognizes that you are an asset.

Understanding how to become a board member takes time, effort, patience, and focus. The more you hone your knowledge and experience, the more likely you are to get on a board.

“If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.”
Tom Peters

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How to Write a Bestseller in a Weekend

How to Write a Bestseller in a Weekend

Jun 3, 2021 | Book Writing

When it comes to writing the book of your dreams, a big part of that is making sure that you have a plan. That means that the bestselling book that you have been thinking about writing needs to be planned out. 

There are specific tricks to writing bestsellers and that means that you need to know what it is that your audience wants to see and be able to produce that kind of content in a way that is very meaningful to your audience and assured that you are creating content that is important to your audience. 

How to Write a Bestseller in a Weekend

How do I Decide on Fiction vs. Non Fiction?

You need to realize that there are specific kinds of content that are going to be important to your audience. You need to know that you are making the best choice for your genre and that means that you are able to create great content that will be meaningful to your audience. You need to make sure that you know which topic you are best at and that you have written in it before. 

Here are a few things you need to think about. If you are writing fiction you need to make sure that you have a plot line and a good idea of who your characters are that will mean that you are able to have a really great idea of what to expect in terms of the way that the story will unfold. In order to craft a bestseller you need to have characters that are relatable as well as events that are very clear. 

You need to make sure that there is a defined sequence in your book as well. In addition you need to realize that what will connect your story in a way that is truly powerful are the traits of your characters, your plot and the way you tell the story. 

If You Choose to Write in Nonfiction

You need to make sure that you have a topic that many people love as well as you are able to do your homework and know what people have written about. If something happens that someone has written about the topic you may need to change your approach to be something completely unique. 

Make sure as well that you do your homework and your research on the topic. Remember that a nonfiction book does not need to be a particular category; you can mix it up and be assured of good results. You can have your book be a combination of many different styles, that means you will be assured of having a style that is uniquely your own. 

Pro Tip

Try to come up with a unique or catchy title for your book.

When You Are Selecting a Topic

Make sure that you are truly passionate about the topic. You need to know that you will not get tired of writing about this matter. If you are writing about something that is very popular, you need to make sure that you are writing in a completely new and different angle to be sure that no one has covered it in any other way.

If you have decided to write fiction, here are a few other things you need to consider. Make sure that you are writing about your characters in a way that is as if they are your best friends. That will mean that you know their addictions thoughts, their fascinations and all of those little details that make them very believable. 

Writing Your Book in a Weekend

If you have information as well that is complex as well as little problems that you can throw into their lives you will be assured to have a fascinated audience. If you are crafting a nonfiction book make sure you are writing about something that you are an expert in that means that you will be able to speak about the topic comfortably. 

Also it is better for your credentials as well if you have a degree in the topic as it will allow you to have a great sense of credibility and proof with your audience. In addition to that you want to make sure you are ready to do as much research as is required on a topic. You will not run out of enthusiasm, nor will you run out of content to love. 

Writing Your Book in a Weekend

Some authors are very prolific and depending on the passion that he or she has about the topic they can easily cover a draft in a weekend. What that means though is that you need to find something you are passionate about, have completed your character development or your research, and have an outline. When you want to create a great book you need to have an outline. 

That will mean that you are able to develop your content of your book and plan the way that your story will unfold. You may not know all of the directions and the twists and turns that your story will go, or the way that you may want to make some of the changes to your research. But you need to create an outline that will show the way that your book is going to unfold from the beginning. 

When you have an outline, you are assured to have a structure that will ensure that you are successful as well in the planning and the development of your plot or story. You also want to make sure that when you are ready to write you find a place that is quiet, free of distractions, and a place that you can really focus on the task at hand. When you have found this location, you should sit down and focus on the task at hand.

When you are good at removing all of the distractions, you will find that you are able to take down the words and craft an amazing work without the noise and issues around you. When you are writing you also want to make sure that you are able to let yourself go so that you do not have to worry about all of the process pieces. When you are being creative, do not shut yourself down and judge your work in the moment. 

By instead focusing on the task at hand, you will be assured of creating something that is meaningful and unfiltered. Many of the best authors in the world allow themselves to be completely unfiltered when they are writing so that they are able to create something truly unique. Realize that during the weekend you are trying to simply get all of your ideas down and that means that you are going to be coming back and making changes as well so that you will not have to worry about everything being perfect now. 

Your goal is simply to create a first draft that will allow you to have something that really means the world to your audience. At the end of the day, you need to understand that it is your audience that is going to bring your success or failure in your enterprise, for that reason you want to make sure that you are producing something that is tailored to your audience. 

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
Benjamin Franklin

You need to make sure as well that you have a firm deadline in place for the content that you are creating; the deadline will ensure that you have tough milestones for all of the content that you are creating as well as the content that you are seeking to create. When you have the ability to work on content that is meaningful, you will lose track of the time and not realize how much time you have spent writing. 

What this translates to is success in your project as well as meaningful content for your work. When you want to write a best seller your passion to the project is the key to your success as well as the work that you have put in that will ensure that you are ready to really create something that is very important to your audience. 

Quality as well as passion is the keys to the best content that you will ever create and it is in those two things that you need to focus when you are putting yourself to work to create a draft. Your work is quite simple, plan on what you want to craft, find a quiet location and write until you cannot write anymore.

You will have a first draft of a book that you may have been meaning to write your entire life very soon. That also means that you are going to be ready to create the content that will transform your life as well as the lives of all of your readers. Incredible content is something that you already have within you. 

The key to getting that book you have been working on crafted is simply sitting down and doing the work. You will be surprised at how much you can get done when you simply sit down and write.  

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