How to Make Your Online Self Introduction Awesome

In this post, we’re talking about how to make your self introduction awesome. By awesome we mean specific, interesting, and memorable to your ideal customers, clients, and students. We’ll focus on your online self introduction and share examples you can try. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?

What is your self introduction?

Your self introduction is normally how you share a quick snapshot of who you are, what your business does, and a tidbit to make yourself memorable. Typically, you’re introducing yourself at an in-person business networking group, Meetup, or industry event.

Yes, it’s usually in person when you can rely on your smile and making eye contact to help you connect with the new person you’re meeting.

Today, we’re talking about how to add zing to the way you introduce yourself online, because growing your online visibility has always been important. Now, with the global stay-at-home crisis—connecting online to grow your audience, customers, and business is more crucial than ever. In other words, the making-connections and doing-business-online genie isn’t ever going back in the bottle.

Bottom line: the online world is going to be the place to grow businesses going forward. The examples we share with you will apply for growing your online business, even after the pandemic subsides.

So let’s redefine your self introduction for the digital world. 

“Your digital self introduction is how you connect with the right customers, students, clients and partners online.”

Where do you use your online self-introduction?

As we’ve said, until recently many entrepreneurs building online businesses would also attend live events. They’d say, “My self-intro is how I connect during live, in-person networking groups, conferences, and Meetups.”

While they gained new popularity because of the pandemic, virtual, online networking events have so many advantages, they’re here to stay. To make sure you can sail smoothly into making connections, growing relationships, and enrolling clients in the online world, you want to polish your “virtual” self-introduction.

You’ll use your virtual, online self introduction in a variety of places, including when: 

• Joining a new Facebook Group
• Participating in online video meetings via Zoom, Skype, or other app 
• Making initial phone calls with potential customers or partners 

And more!

Decide What You Want to Accomplish with Your Online Self Introduction 

Your goal with a self-intro, whether it’s in an online community or during a live video conference, is to make a connection with right-fit people for your business. It’s one that inspires them to ask you for more information. Right-fit people are your dream clients, customers, or students. 

Additionally you may choose to develop two different introductions: 1) for creating relationships with ideal customers or students and 2) for connecting with potential partners. 

Keep in mind, you want to use your online self introduction to start relationships with folks who don’t know you yet, but can benefit from your programs. 

You Want to Connect on a Personal Level with Your Self-intro

As in the real world, when you’re introducing yourself you want to be relatable and make a personal connection. I love a good set of examples, don’t you? So, here are 4 creative options you can make your own, both in online interactions and during initial phone calls with potential customers:

1) Tell a 2-3 sentence story about why you chose to start your business in the first place and why you’re so passionate about it.

Example, “Back in my corporate days, when my husband and I needed a financial advisor who related to our needs raising a young family, I couldn’t find anyone who understood us. I knew there had to be a better way. I left cubicle life and started my own financial advisory firm. Now, I provide the kind of service to families that was missing in the industry.”  

2) Be courageous, skip your title, and share a bit of your business startup story.

Example, If you say, “Hi, my name’s Wonder Woman and I’m a life coach,” you may find people not resonating. ‘Life coach’ is a broad title, because there are tons of different types of life coaches. Are you a weight-loss coach, a dating and relationship coach, a wellness coach, or personal style coach?

Instead, you can say, “Hi, my name’s Wonder Woman and I help women empty nesters navigate the learning stages and find their new life’s meaning after the last child leaves for college. My own journey took me three long years, and my program teaches women how to shorten the search for their next chapter.”

3) Start with a question that highlights how you help clients. Then, emphasize your credibility and expertise with a benefit snippet at the end.

“You know how small business owners really hate tracking expenses for their taxes? I help entrepreneurs overcome tracking-resistance by setting up easy to follow, foolproof, and fun systems to stay on top of collecting receipts. My clients love having time to attend their kids’ soccer games during tax season because of their new systems!”

4) Explore making yourself memorable. One way is to clearly describe how you help customers. Think about your profession and what you hope to accomplish through it, then craft a much deeper and more compelling introduction.

This is an excellent recommendation and example from a journalist Kara Cutruzzula.

“Diabetes can be overwhelming, so I help people figure out real life strategies to get to their best health a step at a time.” 

Excerpted from a July 26, 2018 IDEAS.TED.COM by Kara Cutruzzula

You Make the Rules!

The beauty of your self-intro, is that it’s uniquely yours. You make the rules. You can change it up so it best serves your relationship building and revenue growth goals.

You can gauge how potential clients react to your revised self intro, and adjust. 

The type of response you’re going for is a reply that shows they want to continue the conversation:

“Really, tell me more!”

“How do you do that?”

“What kinds of moms take your courses?”

“What results do your students usually get?”

“Can I private message you?” (inside online groups)

What If Your Self Introduction Gets Crickets?

First, don’t be concerned, this happens to all of us. If the person, or group, you’re introducing yourself to doesn’t make a comment or ask a follow-up question, no worries. It could be one of 4 reasons:

1) You may need to tweak your self-intro to make it more memorable, catchy, or to better reveal your personality.

2) You may want to stand out more by sharing what’s unique about your business and add in exactly how you help customers. 

3) Historically, it takes many people 7 to 10 marketing touches before they reach out to learn more about your products and services.  

4) Lastly, they’re simply not ‘your people’. Think of the time you’re saving by not talking to folks who aren’t a fit for your business, right?

Craft Your Self-Introduction for Facebook Groups

Since the online space is getting more crowded by the minute, be sure to maximize each opportunity to make your business visible to your audience.

Influencer and blogger, Christina Bernard, explains how to standout with your introduction, when joining a new Facebook Group. She infuses a ton of personality into hers!

The tips Christina shares in her blog post on this topic include: 

• Choose a cheery greeting 
• Give yourself a memorable name; Christina nicknames herself, “Crazy Chicken Lady”
• Tell a 3-4 sentence story about your entrepreneurial journey and how you help people 
• End with a big thank you to the Group’s host
• Sprinkle emojis generously to help your introduction pop

Quick Tips for Video Virtual Self Introductions

In addition to polishing your self introduction, here are a few tips for making a great impression during group video calls. 

• If you’re on a live video conference like Zoom, look directly at your computer camera. It’s tempting, but don’t look at yourself on the screen—the person or group can see you’re not looking directly at them. 
• Don’t multi-task by checking your phone while others are speaking. Remember, all participants can see you!
• Crucial tip, for video conferencing, always smile big! The camera will carry through your enthusiasm.
• When you’re live, it’s not as important which style of self-introduction you choose, what matters is that you’re open, enthusiastic, and happy to connect with everyone in the group. 

Final thoughts

Going forward, polishing your self introduction for connecting via social media groups, digital communities, and in live video events, is going to be even more important for growing your online business. 

Set your intentions to refine and test your online self intro and continue to tweak it until you hear your ideal customers say, “Tell me more!”.

Do share your self intros in the comments. We can’t wait to see how you develop your online self introduction so you can start even more customer relationships!