Pull Marketing. Kennedy Gone. Feeling Human.
Posted by dan ronken
It's true that helping small business owners create pull marketing strategies consumes a majority of my time here at PullnotPush.com. However, there are certainly times when a push marketing strategy needs to be included as well. This is not one of those times.
Today, I awoke to the radio informing me that Senator Ted Kennedy past away last night. I booted my computer only to find an email from one of my most respected teachers (a.k.a. mentor, adviser, 'go to guy' - all of these could fit) that his wife (she has been equally influential) is having some unexpected medical problems that landed her in the hospital. I'm sending all of the energy I can muster out to my dear friends and Senator Kennedy's family as well.
One thing I've learned in my blogging days, is the need to have some consistency in my writing and the necessity to have a 'general theme.' That being said, underlying themes can be totally subjective.
Last week I wrote a post on how all of the masks we wear were valueless. This post is an expansion on that topic and offers a couple of practical ideas on how to soften up that mask a little bit, as you find your online (and possibly offline) identity.
Who Am I?
I began that post posing this question made famous by the late Indian Sage Ramana Maharshi. In order for you to establish an authentic presence on social media marketing for business, you'll need to look a little deeper than basic labels such as "I am a Realtor" or "I am a shop-owner." In order for you to connect on a more human level with your prospective customers, try thinking a little deeper when trying to communicate your business message. Maybe coming from the emotional space of "I am a mother/father" or "I am a voice in the community." Liz Strauss wrote some beautiful prose this morning on how do you decide who is trustworthy? I would certainly take the thirty seconds to check it out. Please remember friends, it's always about people, and not about the damn products. Put yourself in your customers shoes. Don't pitch. Make sure you can identify with what they may be going through. You might be thinking. Ok, it sounds good but how the heck is this addressing the question of "Who Am I?"
The answer is, it's a paradox. It may appear that you would lose your 'sense of self' and maybe even feel like you're behaving like a chameleon. However, the truth is, that you are recognizing the humanness in the other person, and that is precisely who you are at this moment; just another human being.
What Do I Want?
Of course you need to set practical business goals and make sure you know how to measure the success of your internet marketing. But don't forget to be absolutely clear on what kind of impression want to leave with your website visitors and what action you want them to take:
Is it to call me?
Contact a Sales Rep?
Fill out a form?
Whatever it is, be very clear and make it easy for them.
What is Preventing Me from Getting What I Want?
Back to my friend. For many years, he was a fantastic attorney. Then for one reason or another, he began to realize that he no longer enjoyed working in that profession; so he quit. Since he only required three to four hours of sleep each night, he decided he would like to deliver newspapers in the early mornings (did it for 30 years). During that time, he and his lovely wife made a decision to open up their beautiful Victorian home and provide adult foster care for people who need it most.
Now I understand this last story may not sound like good business advice. It's simply a reinforcement of the idea that it is only you that can get in your way from getting what you really want. Whether it's business or personal; or both. Wishing you the best journey as you figure it out.
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Photo Credit: Xanetia