In marketing terms the accepted wisdom is that you should always ask your customers and potential customers questions. That way they are more likely to feel loved, wanted and listened to. However, in today’s ramblings I want to ask what are the questions we, as marketers, should be asking ourselves.
The obvious ‘marketing ‘ type questions are:
- how can I make more sales
- where can I find more potential customers
- what can I do to reduce my overheads
- how can I increase my profit margins
- where can I find more products to sell
I don’t really want to touch on those today but here are some more intangible questions?
- how can I become a better father/mother/wife/husband?
- what is my purpose?
- how can I break out of the endless cycle I’m in?
- why can’t I lose some weight
These philosophical questions and many others, that we seem to shy away from or put on the back burner, are really quite valid and just the idea that we can and should think about them from time to time can be quite refreshing.
Tell us what your questions are and lets see what the world is thinking about!!
As we near the end of 2009 and look forward to 2010 I thought it was appropriate to look at how we might form new habits to replace old ones. My inspiration this morning comes from reading a book called the seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey. This book has become a staple reference for me over the years as it contains such wisdom. If this book isn’t in your library yet treat yourself and buy it and read over the Christmas period.
For our purposes, we will define the habit is the intersection of knowledge, skill and desire.
Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do and why. Skill is the how to do. And desire is the motivation, the want to do. In order to make something a habit in our lives, we have to have all three.
For example I may be effective in my interactions with my work Associates, my spouse, or my children to such constantly tell them what I think, I may not even know I need to listen.
Even if I didn’t know that in order to interact effectively others I really need to listen to them, I may not have the skill. I may not know how to really listen deeply to another human being.
But knowing I need to listen and then have to listen is not enough. Unless I want to listen, unless I have the desire, it won’t be the habit in my life. Creating a habit requires work in all three dimensions.
Just the other day I was thinking marketing and my thoughts turned to relationships. In business the overriding emphasis is placed on finding new customers, selling more products, and making more money.
I have a problem with this classical view of business and seem to be swimming like a fish against the tide. My emphasis in business has changed over the last few years and today my focus, and going on record here is dangerous, is on making better relationships rather than just making more relationships. The reason it is dangerous for me to go on record as saying “my focus is on making better relationships” is I lay myself open to criticism.
My preference would be to maintain and improve 10 existing relationships by adding value than trying to add 10 new relationships. It is easier to maintain a relationship than it is to add a new one.
One of the most influential books I’ve read in recent years is The Five Love Languages – It is a Christian book but contains such practical wisdom that it should be standard reading for everyone in a long term relationship. I actually learnt how my wife prefers to be communicated with. My preferences are quite different and just understanding that difference has made the world of difference in our relationship.
Please share what you think and feel.
I’ve been in business for several years now and have the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest minds in business.These are people who have real experience of doing things that lead to success. I remember one lady Louise Fowler, who I worked with for 2 years and who to my knowledge built 2 £1/5 million businesses, who said “the fortune is in the follow-up” and it took me a while to really grasp what she meant. Follow-up is often talked about as part of the marketing process but in reality it is far more about building relationships and enabling people to trust you.
Follow-up can be broken down into two areas Active and Passive:
Active Follow-up might include:
- picking up the phone and calling a prospective customer/client and asking some very un-sales like questions like: “How are you doing”? If they’ve been on holiday ask them how the trip went. If you know that they had a daughter getting married ask how the wedding went. Don’t try to sell them anything – just ask them some open questions. Just find out what they like doing – kite surfing, flower arranging, extreme sports – just find out what they like doing. Continue Reading…
Ok – now I know that to talk about business cards might seem a little like teaching granny to suck eggs but there is far more to having and using a business card than you might at first imagine. So what should your business card have on it:
- your name – not you and your partners – just your name
- your contact details – telephone and e mail are the best
- make sure your e mail is not paul@freeserve.net but use a domain name
- use a freephone number – it improves the response rate by 100%
- what you do – particularly important if your business name doesn’t give a clue – Mclune Associates
- bespoke accounting software
- importer of designer label childrens wear
- business start up advisor
- health coach
- software retailer
- IT Wireless Networks
- A Tag Line or Memory Hook
So take some time and make your card work for you. One last tip never give out your card without getting one first!
Vista Print do some of the best cards you can get and very often all you pay is the postage
Paul Barton
‘helping you create what matters’
1. getting pregnant can be easy
Maintaining a healthy diet and a clean lifestyle would help to improve fertility. You would find out that you have more energy and are more alert when you are eating healthy food particularly those free of pesticides, sugar and other processed ingredients. Treat your body right so that in turn y…
How-To & Education – Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:45:002. overcoming infertility with food naturally
For most people who are struggling with getting pregnant they turn to the doctor for help but i want to show you that there are many things you can do to overcome infertility with food naturally. Are you frustrated… disappointed… or truth be told, even a bit angry that you’re not pregnant ye…
How-To & Education – Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:37:123. Fertility boosting foods
Society sometimes over look mothernature and natural tools we have to help us with our fertility and pregnancy experiencies. Choosing certain foods and drinks as a way to influence your ability to become pregnant soinds more like folktale wisdom than medical advice. Sometimes women do not eat he…
How-To & Education – Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:23:36
