Show Them You're an Expert by Cheryl Cage

Cheryl Cage of MyCore is a contributor to our newsletter and blog.  She is an expert about the benefits world, an educator, and loves who people are.

Do people see you as an expert in your field? Does everyone who knows you know who you are, why you exist and what your business does? Can everyone who works with you speak like an expert about your company? These things are super important! I’d love to share what I have recently learned. 

Over the quarantine I took so many classes to develop my perfect practice. 

Sarah Gretzinger of The Savvy Networker Global shared with me this amazing piece of advice: The Expert Positioning Statement. If you can remember these simple phrases you can always sound professional in your delivery. 

I am............

I help..........

So that.......

By...............

If I was to share mine it would sound like this: 

I am Cheryl Cage with the Business Development team at MyCORE. 

I help businesses with 1-100 employees.

So that the employer can spend less time running their business and have the time and security to build their business. 

By offering an All-In Subscription of Payroll, Benefits, HR, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Taxes.

Use this in networking, marketing and all social media.

Having an Expert Positioning Statement and professional pictures provided by Megan Martineau and Honey Bee Photography is a perfect way to showcase your position in the community. The combination of both are sure to keep you memorable. 

At MyCORE we aim to serve the backbone of this country, small businesses. This month I want to feature Veteran-Owned companies. We thank you for your service and want to serve you now. We offer a nice monthly reduction in our subscription to Veterans when you Shield Up your company with the MyCORE All-In and All-In Plus Subscriptions. 

Thank you for your service! 

Best Regards,

Cheryl

Cheryl.cage@leadwithmycore.com!

3 Huge Secrets On How To Prepare For Your Head and Shoulders Photography Session.

Are You Out There In Social Media Land?

There are a lot of people out there in Social Media Land.  I heard once, that with social media, you have about 3 seconds or less in which to capture someone's attention.  If they aren't impressed, they will keep right on clicking.  This means that they are actually looking at profile pictures to quickly make the decision as to whether or not to stay there.

If you are a business owner or a professional, you already know that social media is a great tool with which to network and create relationships.  The image that you should have for your profile picture should match the level of professionalism you are creating.

Many professionals dislike being in front of a camera.  Memories of going to a busy, packed studio as a child often makes folks stiff and nervous.  They don't want to look stiff or unnatural, they want to look friendly, approachable, professional.  Oftentimes, they just don't know how to start the process of preparing for a Head and Shoulders Photography Session.

My approach to this is to help my clients feel as comfortable as possible, and this starts at the very beginning when they call me.  We'll discuss many things during that call, including what you want to wear and what image you are desiring to show.  I'll ask you questions, such as, do you want to wear a uniform of some sort, or do you want to wear business casual clothing?  What is the message you are wishing to convey through your image?  Do you want to appear friendly, yet assertive? These are the things that I do to help my clients overcome their stagefright.

The goal, then, is to provide the client with images that make them look their best, on their very best day.  This includes the amount of time, afterwards, to retouch the images that have been selected in such a way that reflects that.  A client's appearance in the images is not changed, it is simply enhanced.

Here are 3 tips on how to prepare for your Head and Shoulders Photography Session.

1. Get a haircut, color or permanent at least a week in advance. If you have anything done to it the day you are photographed, it will be either a little short, or the color too intense, or the perm too curly. Let your hair relax into its style and you will look great the day of your headshot session.
2. Color and style are so important in your outfit. Most Head and Shoulder portraits are at least waist up, so don’t worry about what to wear waist down, you could wear shorts if you would like. If you are a lawyer, you should wear a shirt, tie and jacket that fits you well. If you are the owner of a cleaning company, it’s a good idea to wear a crisp polo shirt with your logo embroidered on it. If you are a stylist, and you want to show your creative side, a great top that fits you well and shows your personality would work great. It’s suggested to avoid clothing that might cause some kind of wardrobe malfunction. You can bring a couple of outfit choices to your session to see what will work best.
3. Be relaxed. Your expression will show your feelings, so if you are nervous about being photographed, it will show. Many people get anxious about having their photograph done, because they are self-conscious or they don’t know what to wear. Remember to breathe and have fun. Practicing your smile and saying cheese should be avoided. Your photographer should be able to help you laugh and smile before you step in front of the lens.

These simple, but important, tips will help you to prepare or your headshot photo session. If you have any questions about having your Head and Shoulder portraits done, please feel free to call me, Megan, at 240-245-0416.