Advertisement Ideas: Make The Ask!!!
In 1991 I was member of The Jaycees, also know as The Junior Chamber Of Commerce and I was asked to be President of the newly formed Tamarac Jaycees. The chapter would be chartered with 22 members and we would end the year with 67 members. Through out the year I kept telling everyone that if you want to be successful you must make the ask. I explained that this meant to ask for what you wanted. Our chapter hosted many projects that year and garnered many awards including me being named a outstanding local chapter president. I was asked what made our projects successful and my answer is we simply knew what we desired and we went out and asked for it. In that same year I implemented a fundraising project, silent auctions, which I hosted at The Florida Jaycees Quarterly Conferences. The auctions were successful and I secured many items that helped to raise over $6,000 that year for charities. Again I was asked how did I get everything donated and my response was I asked. The key was I knew what I wanted, I researched who had what I wanted, and I asked for it. In all my business dealing and non-profit volunteer work I have stressed the fact that all you have to do is ask. I have taught courses on making the ask where I state the only sure no comes from the people not asked.
Many of us have heard of the 3 foot rule, which is simple. It states if someone is with in 3 feet of you talk to them. I use this in many situations as you never know where the interaction may lead. As the TV Show Host of The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EDT I am always seeking guests so I have my business cards with me at the ready as I often hear people speaking about topics that I want to cover on my TV Show. I go over to them with my business card and introduce myself and then allow them to respond. This has been quite effective and has landed me a few guests. When I am out promoting and collecting donations for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life I use the same idea I carry my brochures and my collection canister and I go to businesses and ask for donations and if someone is with in 3 feet of me I tell them who I am and what I am doing and most of the time they donate. Again the key is remembering to make the ask. By the way the donation page for Relay For Life is http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg4.
One of the key factors I have learned when making the ask comes from Amonda Rose Igoe who taught me that it is important to pick a lane when you are out networking. This is important because if you throw to mush at someone when making the ask they will get overwhelmed and confused and a s a result you have lost them and will not get the desired outcome you seek. You can have many talents and be involved in many ventures but you must choose which one to focus on each time you are out networking.
In this book Debbie Silverman and Trish Carr help the reader to understand the importance of knowing what direction to take a conversation to reach a desired outcome. When you are making the ask know what your final objective is and have a plan to achieve that objective.
The key in making the ask is to tap into the other person so what you say will resonate with them and deliver to you your desired result.
When making the ask it is important to have goals. I suggest using the smart formula so that you can exceed the goals. For example I wrote I will raise $2500 for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Boca Raton by April 1, 2016 by asking as many people as I can to make a donation. I will attend events and go business to business to secure donations. I will use my 3 foot rule to collect donations. In doing this I have secured $331.50 in donations. To track my progress or to donate you can visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg4. In having a strategy and simply committing to making the ask I am confident that I will reach my goal.
As you continue to grow personally and professionally remember to make the ask. Sometimes it is just as simple as introducing yourself to get a conversation that leads to business or a donation being made for your charitable endeavors.
