Have you thought of using key messages in your networking activity?

Fiona Powell and I presented a Public Relations and Social Media Workshop in Auckland and Hamilton yesterday to a combined audience of about 140 people… It was during that presentation, when I was talking about ‘key messages, that I realised key messages may be a useful tool for your BNI activity.

A key message is public relations tool defined as: “A short, concise and memorable sentence used to convey an important message during an interview”.

I get to hear, on average, about 70+ sixty second presentations every week, and it always amazes me how we all – myself included – see the need to say something different week in and week out.

Sure, variety is important; and perhaps we feel uncomfortable repeating the same presentation on a regular basis.

However, repetition is important if you want your message to be remembered – so changing every week does nothing for making you memorable.

One way to kill both birds with one stone is to develop three or four key messages. Just one sentence long, each message says something compelling, memorable and important about your business.

For example: “John Green Landscapes are the premier sustainable garden creators in Auckland”.

Develop three or four of these key messages; then use them liberally throughout your sixty second presentation to make sure the important messages and benefits are getting through, without making yourself appear to be repeating yourself Ad nauseam.

Colin Kennedy is a public relations consultant, copywriter and speaker. He is also the outsource Marketing Director for BNI New Zealand and assistant director for the South Central region of BNI.

Photos by Rosemary Meyer. See www.prmeyer.com. Thank you Rosemary. Top: Fiona Powell and Colin Kennedy. Below: The Howick seminar.