Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter November 2007 No. 23

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Published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies

www.sellingstrategies.com

Copyright 2007 Emily Huling. All rights reserved.

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In this November 2007 issue:

 

  1. Thoughts from the office
  2. New audio program and special offer
  3. Did you know…
  4. 2008 public speaking engagements

 

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1.     Thoughts from the office

 

Laurie Allen, a partner with Artizan Internet Services, the provider of CSR24, wrote to ask me about text messaging protocol. Good question. As text messaging becomes ubiquitous in our personal lives, what is the proper use in business?

 

Text messaging is sending messages using the cell phone key pad. Text speak is its own language with more than 500 word abbreviations listed in the Webopedia dictionary. The language was created for immediacy and compactness. And that’s the problem. If you don’t know the language, you can’t communicate.  Another drawback is that it’s not a reliable communication system. The sender doesn’t know if the receiver is able to take the message or even if the message is delivered. Many times, there are hours or even days of delays before a message appears.

There is good news on the language challenge of texting. T9 stands for text messaging on nine keys. It was created in 2002 by Tegic Communications. It is predictive-text technology to make it easier to type messages in English. The user builds his personal dictionary enabling more words to be recognized with the touch of a key. If you recently upgraded your phone, it’s probably equipped with T9 technology.

Regardless of whether you use text speak or English, here are seven business text messaging etiquette tips:

1.     Do not text a message while you’re in face-to-face conversations. It’s as rude as taking a voice call.

2.     Remember texting is informal and should not be used for serious or strong communication. 

3.     Don’t get upset if you don’t get a reply. It’s not a fail-safe communication system.

4.     It’s important to ask the recipient if he or she wants to communicate via text messages. This is the most common complaint I hear from professionals.

5.     Check the number before you hit send. Make sure your message goes to your intended recipient. You wouldn’t want to send a love note to your boss.

6.     Don’t text while driving. (I’ve seen it!)

7.     At work, leave the slang to the kids. As in any electronic communication, your informal text could be a permanent message.

 

 

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2.     New Audio Seminar with a Special Offer from Newsletter Link

 

Write On! Business Writing for Insurance Professionals

 

Do you spend too much time writing and responding to e-mails?

 

What proposal format closes sales?

 

Is text messaging appropriate for business?

 

How do I write articles that get published?

 

This 4 CD album serves three different educational needs:

 

 

Who would benefit from this program?   Insurance professionals from agencies, companies, and MGAs will all benefit from this program.

 

Write faster, more easily, and get the results you want!

 

Newsletter Readers’ Cost $99 – save $20 – available from this link only.

 

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  1. Did you know…

 

Positive psychology is a relatively young branch of psychology that studies the strengths and characteristics that enable individuals and communities to thrive and be happy.

 

Research and evidence shows that happiness comes through engagement (connecting with others), purpose ((finding satisfaction from daily activities), and meaning (having a sense of something larger than yourself and giving back).

 

The University of Pennsylvania offers a program to earn the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) under the leadership of Dr. Martin Seligman. Dr. Seligman is a noted scholar, author, and has served as past President of the American Psychological Association.

 

Some popular books and resources on positive psychology and happiness are:

 

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. by Dr. Martin Seligman, 2002.

 

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Dr. Martin Seligman, 2006.

 

Happiness Now: Timeless Wisdom for Feeling Good FAST by Robert Holden, 2007

 

Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert Emmons, 2007

 

www.your100things.com   Caroline Adams Miller is a specialist and coach in goal-setting theory and its intersection with well-being. She holds the MAPP degree from the University of Pennsylvania.  After being featured in a New York Times article on August 26, 2007 about having life lists to achieve personal goals, she set up this website for people to publicly post their dreams and goals. Her website is www.carolinemiller.com.

 

Nice to have resources to make your good life happier!

 

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You cannot go back. You can only move forward.   EH

 

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  1. On the road in 2008

 

Here are my currently scheduled public speaking engagements and conferences I’ll be attending.

 

NAPSLO Mid-Year Conference, Scottsdale, AZ  February 20-23, 2008 (attending)

Agency Management CIC, Louisville, KY  March 20-21, 2008

AMS User’s Group, Reno, NV  April 13-16, 2008

NAMIC Management Conference, Asheville, NC June 22-25, 2008 (attending)

Agency Management CIC, Indianapolis, IN July 24, 2008

AASCIF Annual Conference, Park City, UT August 17-20, 2008 (attending)

NAMIC Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA September 28-October 1, 2008

Agency Management CIC, Charleston, WV October 15, 2008

Agency Management CIC, Birmingham, AL November 6, 2008

 

 

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Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter is published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies. For further information contact emily@sellingstrategies.com.

 

© 2007 Emily Huling. All rights reserved. Feel free to share our newsletter if copyright and credit are always included.