Tag Lines Tell A Tale of One's Occupations

"What do you do?"

In our society this is the first question we’re asked, after "What is your name?" The real question is: “How do you answer this question?”

Do you tell people your title: clerk, programmer, driver, teacher, sales rep or receptionist — or do you answer more descriptively?

Too many people respond to this question with a bland, unimaginative job title or standard industry classification (SIC) code. B-O-R-I-N-G! To set yourself apart from the crowd, cast your profession in its most ennobling light and focus on the benefits of your work as they accrue to others!

Consider Ruth Blumert Walker, longtime receptionist for the Oakland, California law firm of DONAHUE, GALLAGHER, WOODS AND WOOD. When asked her occupation, Blumert proudly proclaims “I’m the Director of First Impressions." Indeed she is!

Walker knows that people dread going to a law firm. They're usually there because of a problem and their visit is costly to boot. Walker understands the key role she plays in their experience, and her moniker showcases the power she possesses to make a difference.

Why not replace your official title or occupation with a more descriptive tag line? An effective "tag line" casts your skills in an ennobling light, sharing pride in your chosen profession. People respond affirmatively when you tantalize and enthrall them with an interesting or compelling tag line. Furthermore, you’re sending a message you have a strong sense of who you are and what you do and are thus deemed more employable.

Consider the following:

• The residential realtor who describes herself as "putting people into their dream home." What a powerful statement she is making.

• The commercial credit specialist who smiles and tells strangers who ask that he is "giving credit where credit is due."

• A commercial airline pilot informs people who ask that she is “shrinking the globe to reunite families and loved ones.”

• A midwife proudly proclaims that she is “bringing new life into this world.”

In each case these professionals are sharing some of the magic of their profession with their listeners. And listeners respond accordingly. It’s a powerful conversation opener, whether in a networking event, a job interview or just during casual conversation

Whatever your profession, you can create a "tag" line to showcase the results of your work and cast it in an ennobling light.

Here are some more examples to stimulate your creative juices:

• The Internal Revenue Service agent who tells people who ask that he's a "government fundraiser.”

• The Gardener tells people "I Turn the World Green. . .one garden at a time."

• The Dietitian says "I Teach People How to Behave in Front of Food."

• The Voice Coach who proclaims she "Gives Voice to the Timid."

• The Telephone Customer Service Representative (CSR) who tells people she "has a special calling.”

• The Plantronics headset saleswoman who says she helps people "Use their head… not their hands. "

• The photographer who “Gets paid to shoot people for a living.”

• The executive assistant who calls herself the “Presidential Gatekeeper”

• And even the motivational speaker, Craig Harrison, who tells people he's "a motivational magician who turns aspirations into achievements."

It's your turn! Look anew at your occupation or profession and identify its outcome or the effect its commission has on people. Now create a descriptive tag line to excite others about what you do, and what it can do for them!

Use the power of language to create a compelling tag line that gives you pride and infuses others with excitement too. Tag, you're IT!

San Francisco Bay Area-based Professional speaker Craig Harrison's EXPRESSIONS OF EXCELLENCE!™ provides sales and service solutions through speaking. For information on keynotes, training, coaching, curriculum for licensing and more, call (888) 450-0664, visit http://www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com or E-mail excellence@craigspeaks.com for inquiries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Harrison

Consumer Confidence Cubed...

There's nothing more annoying, more vexing or more upsetting than making a purchase and not knowing if the merchant will stand behind it with a money-back guarantee. Most online and offline retail merchants offer a full refund, or some sort of return, or exchange policy as long as the item is in resalable condition. But many hide their policies as if they didn't want the word to get out, fearing an avalanche of returns.

What a huge miscalculation...

The guarantee reverses the risk from the consumer back to the merchant. It shows the consumer she's buying from a solid, established and well-trusted company. It allows her to buy with confidence. And it alleviates doubts and fears of purchasing an inferior, mismatching or unsatisfactory product.

But what's important for your business is your guarantee actually increases sales. It gives the customer an added reason to come back to shop again. Without any special incentives the customer returns to shop for more stuff when he or she knows there's a hassle-free guarantee.

When I started working on cars I bought Craftsman tools exclusively from Sears. They carried a lifetime guarantee. If a tool breaks, all I had to do was return it for an exchange. I didn't even need a receipt. Is it any wonder why most of my tools, my toolbox and my rollaway tool chest are all made by Craftsman and bought from Sears?

Another great incentive for the consumer to do more shopping and to spend more for each item is the attraction of gift receipts. They allow the recipient of the gift to exchange for another item (from the same store) without disclosing the actual price paid. This is an ideal way to keep your customers returning to your store.

But don't assume every product or service automatically comes with a guarantee. Check with the merchant before making the purchase. If you're shopping online there's usually a page dedicated to return policies.

Please do your due diligence. It can save you lots of hassles in the end. Read the fine print and get it in writing. There are lots of unscrupulous operators out there who want to take your money without giving you what you ordered. And if they don't deliver on their guarantee, call the Better Business Bureau for assistance.

A recent trend for certain merchants is not offering any guarantees at all. A lot of online information marketers are stating no guarantees for digital, downloadable products because they can easily be pirated. Of course if you're in the restaurant business, or you're selling a coaching/mentoring program, or you're the local witch doctor—a guarantee may make you appear inferior in the minds of consumers.

If that's the case—then give the reason(s) why you're not offering a guarantee. Some consumers will stay away from you. Others will buy into your confidence. Either way, they'll know ahead of time and this reduces the chance of petty lawsuits.

Now let's not forget extended warranties. If you can offer that to your customers, great. It's extra insurance some consumers look forward to getting. Especially for electronics and automobiles because of high repair costs.

Here's something that may be news to you...

The more expensive and exclusive the product, the less shouting about your return policy. If you offer high-end products, all you might need to say is, "Yes, there is a guarantee." And leave it at that.

You don't have to yell, "This item carries a one-year, iron-clad, tight-as-a-drum, double risk reversal, total satisfaction or your money back guarantee!" It's quite unnecessary. Unless you were selling to the Girls Gone Wild crowd. Stressing a guarantee when it's unnecessary may cause a prospect to suspect the product is either inferior, it's a slow-mover or maybe it was a returned item.

I hope you're absolutely convinced that stating your guarantee or non-guarantee will attract more business, reduce buyer's remorse and gives the customer an added incentive to buy from you—for life.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com

Get a FREE 5-week Secrets to Web Mastery e-course. If your websites aren't making sales or capturing leads, you can't afford to let it idle in Cyberspace. Read more...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Yan