Time to boost your image and presence!

Ever wondered why famous people are almost ALWAYS considered to be stylish and hold a presence within a room?

Is it because they always wear the right thing? Is it because they are good looking? Is it because they always say the right thing at the right time?

These are certainly the case some of the time, but by no means all the time.

The simple reason is that the majority of people know them, it elevates their status in the room, which means the remainder of people want to get to know them… or Social Proof.

Social Proof

Social Proof is a concept that is usually used a lot in marketing and sales industries, however, I think it is a powerful concept, which can help the average man out incredibly.

If you would like to read more about it see go here .

I will only be talking about one specific aspect of it and how it can help you, so let me begin with an example:

If you’re at a party, and there is someone powerful, famous, or important (call them person A). Isn’t it usually the case that most people know his/her name and who they are? Hence making an effort to go and talk to them?

Now let’s say there is someone that no one knows (call them person B), that has been hanging out with person A all night.

Isn’t person B’s social status and importance elevated by everyone in room just through the mere fact that person A knows person B? – Power through association.

Basically:

“It’s not who you know, It is who knows you”

A phrase that is very popular in networking circles, books and references also.

So, how do we get more people to know us?

There is not a quick formula that I have discovered yet (short of getting yourself famous overnight although I am still working on it J), but there is something you can start now, so as soon as possible more and more people will know who you are.

Simply:

introduce yourself and talk to everyone and anyone that you deal with or want to deal with on a regular basis.

It’s that simple, but I can’t get over how many people run through their lives doing their usual things without even acknowledging other human beings in the process.

An example might put this in perspective:

If you have a coffee shop or restaurant that you do or plan to frequently visit. The first visit you just make friendly chat.

After say 2 or 3 visits introduce yourself.

I.e. [following general chat] “my name is Schmidty anyway”, and either 1. Offer to shake hand (they will then introduce themselves)or 2. Say “what’s yours?”

Now every subsequent time you visit, make sure you use their name. If they remember yours they will use it. If not, they will be a bit embarrassed, but you can just slip your name in to the general conversation however you see fit. Remember it’s important for them to know you.

You have now built up a relationship. And besides from you getting free stuff (which is another fringe benefit) from them from time to time, can you imagine how impressed your friends, boss or business clients will be when you take them in there and you are on a first name basis with the manager/owner?

Really powerful. Just imagine how powerful it will be the more and more places it happens at, and eventually every place you visit frequently.

The snowball effect

The beauty about this, is the more and more you do this the more your network and the people that know you will snowball. Soon you will be out at a bar on a Saturday night and be sure to bump into 1 or 2 or even more people that you met at the coffee shop, restaurant or that other party you went to last week.

Imagine how impressed that girl your trying to pick up will be when you know (and have a chat to) so many people from different groups in the bar. She is certain to think that you are important because everyone knows you.

Social proof working completely in your favour.

Take Action

Next time you visit any place you plan on visiting regularly follow the script above and:

1.      Be nice

2.      Make general chat

3.      Introduce yourself as soon as you feel comfortable, but never longer than the 3^rd visit otherwise it becomes too late and a bit awkward.

4.      Remember the more people that know you – the more powerful you are.

What do you think? Once you have taken the action above, please let me know of any success’s, failures or results you have.