Photo Credit: Steve Snodgrass
Recently, I published a post about when blog content is less memorable to most readers. While on the Entrepreneur.com site, I found a link to the article 4 Ways to Make Yourself Memorable and Leave Great Impressions.
Finding What’s Memorable
Being curious about what makes something memorable, I clicked. One of the points that caught my attention is a real game changer. Before I explain, I need to give you some background.
Being more cognizant of spending too much time in front of my computer, I decided to take a break with a friend to check out the local animal shelter. She’s thinking about getting a dog, and we’ve just lost our latest shelter dog. I left her to check out the shelter, and I wandered into the shelter thrift store, as not to resort to tears.
As you know, you never know what you are going to find in a thrift store.
Well, I confess I did make a purchase. More importantly, I witnessed a real life example of making something memorable.
Two ladies had their dogs with them as they shopped. Naturally, their sweet pooches found a way to sniff me out.
As I’m in the middle of a rack, I hear one of the volunteers approach one of the women with a small decorative handbag with a dog motif. Now, I’m no longer looking in the rack but have become a fascinated voyeur.
The volunteer goes on to say she thought this was a perfect bag for her. Now, as any good shopper knows, you either appreciate a helpful sales clerk or you go into “I’m just looking” mode immediately. The woman oooh’s and aaah’s over the bag. The moment the volunteer leaves, her friend appears.
The moment the volunteer leaves, her friend appears.
Friend: “But would you seriously use that? It’s so small and silly?”
Woman with bag: “Why not, I think it’s cute. I would wear that out in public. Why not?”
What Makes Something Memorable?
One of the 4 points mentioned in the Entrepreneur article comes from the well respected, young entrepreneur, Billy Dec. Dec makes the distinction between networking and being a connector.
A networker is looking for contacts and opportunities that are personally beneficial.
A connector, with no personal motive, brings people together who can benefit from knowing one another.
What makes you memorable, according to Dec, is being the connector and “… creating experiences that people want to talk about …”
The volunteer is acting as a “connector” between a lady shopper and a small handbag. What she creates, whether she knows it or not, is a memorable experience. The handbag now becomes a story linked to a thrift store where both shoppers are likely to return.
Some entrepreneurs may find it offensive to offer their time, energy, or knowledge for free. Rather, they believe that networking is a smarter investment.
Yet, being a connector is one of the greatest business success principles of all.
People buy for the experience. Click To TweetThere’s been a lot of psychological research into why people buy. One significant factor is the experience.
People like to buy memorable experiences from memorable people.
Are you a connector in your business world?
What is that you do, or can do, in your business to be more memorable?
Resources: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242215
Image: Image: Flickr CC BY 2.0 Steve Snodgrass https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/8187375018
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Enjoyed your article Joyce and can relate on so many levels, including your comment about why you left the shelter. I thought about your question and realized that I used to be a connector when I worked in the face-to-face world, and really enjoyed it. But once I began working at home and spending so much time online that’s changed a lot. It’s funny because just yesterday I received an invitation to consider joining the local Rotary and I’m thinking that it’s time to get back out into the face-to-face world again. Thanks for the great story and inspiration. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it. It must be a message from the universe to try the Rotary experience. It might be for you; it might not. But, it gives you a reason to shut down your computer for a while.
Love this idea. Never dawn on me that you can use that analysis of a thrift store since most of the time, I think of a thrift store as a place with someone else’s junk but wealth of another. But, that is true, most of the time, whatever you got from a thrift store is memorable. It is less expensive but quite valuable.
I think the attitude about thrift stores has changed dramatically, Lorii. It’s a way of saving parts of our past and allowing someone else to enjoy the beauty and the value. I love that we can capture some of that before it winds up in the dump.
I’m a connector. People buy from me so they don’t have to experience tears with tech overload. I think the only thing I have for the experience is a retreat. I do go out to eat for the experience…not the food. I buy clothes for the experience after. This is good to reflect on. Thanks.
That’s a good observation, Cathy to reflect on being a connector. Also, how important having an experience can be so that you can create a great experience for your clients.
Joyce, I am definitely more of a connector for sure. I appreciate connecting people together for a common purpose. I believe that the more value I freely give and the more I connect others, the more I’m building strong relationships.
Since getting involved in a direct sales company, I find myself shifting a big to the networking role. However, I still see myself as a connector!
That’s great Tandy, to be a connector and still see yourself as a connector in your new networking role. You’ll definitely have the advantage over other networkers.
For most of my life, I was a connector; people to jobs, people to people, people to ideas, people to stores, hand-me-downs to people & so on. These connections were & are in person & as I think about it, I haven’t really done any of it in social media or online world. It was natural selling jewelry at live shows & we could connect in many ways with our shoppers. We hope our copy provides a memorable connection.
It’s interesting how in your professional life you were a connector and continue to do so now in selling the jewelry that you and Beth create. I think all of us in the blogging groups are connectors as well. We share the blogs, tweets, and FB posts of others across the social media platforms.
I prefer being a connector Joyce than a networker because it helps me build a genuine network! I’m always willing to help but make sure that there are boundaries that protect me from being taken advantage of – that is one of the less memorable experiences I can think of.
Did you also acquire a new furry friend?
Beautifully said, Vatsala. Yes, boundaries are an important element. Thanks for adding that insight. No furry friend (meaning dog) as yet, but the cats are keeping me busy.
Yes I am a connector, and funny that was one os my strengths when I took the strength finder test. I really feel and see the difference.too Thanks for sharing. I also believe the more we share our experiences through story the stronger our connection is. rather than writing to a formula 🙂
Good observation, Suzie. Much of my writing is educational and I’m beginning to add more story elements. I too have been more of a connector. And, that makes sense since I’m not as comfortable being a networker.
I love the distinction between a networker and a connector, Joyce. I’ve experienced the difference and, though I hadn’t thought of it before, I realise I go into the ‘just browsing’ mode whenever a networker tries to sell me something. Yet, when a connector speaks to me, an experience is created rather than just a sale.
It’s certainly a powerful difference in how you approach your business. Not to put networking down, but being a connector is a quick way to establish your authority and expertise.