Communication Skills for Entrepreneurs

Communication: Skills Worth Improving

A memorable line from the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke was “What we have here is a failure to communicate”. It’s now a popular phrase that has been used dozens of times, and the root meaning still rings true; communication is of utmost importance in both personal and professional relationships. As an online entrepreneur, your communication skills are a crucial part of your business. Communicate in a way that conveys your message to prospects and clients and your business has the potential to grow exponentially. Communicate poorly and these same people will not understand what it is that you want them to do. Let’s discuss the various types of communication skills and how they can work to your advantage.

Many people believe that working online as an entrepreneur means that you do not have to interact with others. Nothing could be further from the truth, even though you will most likely not spend much of your time in face to face situations. Instead, your communication will be through your writing, speaking, and persuading others to take action on what you are sharing. I recommend that you spend time each time in communicating in all of these ways for best results. I’ll share what that looks like in my business to give you some real life examples.

Communication Skills Through Writing

Each morning I begin my day by writing an article on one of the many topics that are a part of my business. These tend to be approximately five hundred words in length and are first posted to one of my blogs so that my readers will see them right away. These articles also attract other readers, many of them first time visitors who will become prospects and clients. My goal is to communicate my topic to them in such a way as to allow them to get to know, like, and trust me more than they would if they had not come across my article turned blog post.

This means that I have less than five minutes of their attention in order to show them who I am, what I know, and how I can be of service to them.

Later in the morning I am writing a two to three hundred word email message to the people on my list. The goal here is to communicate what I am involved with that day, what I am teaching and recommending, and to persuade readers to get involved by responding directly to my email, by watching a video or listening to an audio recording, or to purchase one of my courses or products or one that I am recommending. This requires an even deeper level of trust because I am asking them to spend their money, in addition to giving me some of their precious time.

Communication Skills Through Social Media

Finally, I am communicating with others through my social media posts, updates, and responses. This type of communication can be tricky because so much of what is shared via these outlets can be misconstrued by those reading, watching, and listening to the conversation.

Communication skills for entrepreneurs can be profitable and lead to lifelong relationships. It must never be taken for granted. Improve your communication skills and your life and business will be more satisfying and rewarding.

I’m online marketing strategist and bestselling author Connie Ragen Green. I work with entrepreneurs to create multiple streams of online income and would love to connect with you. Pick up my Online Entrepreneur’s Blueprint and get started right away.