Productivity with Purpose
Posts tagged Marketing
Create Your Own Network
Jul 29th
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or what you need! Chances are good that you will get it and you might just help someone else out in the process.
My quick story: My regular readers know that my husband is deployed to the Middle East; that’s just background information. Last week I received an email from our local family services coordinator at the base that went out to all of the spouses/partners of the deployed service members. It’s great that we have communication from the base, but what was lacking was a community of support for the wives. No support network existed, so I suggested to the base that we start one, offered my assistance and they agreed. Now we have our own network; a private Facebook group where we can share thoughts, concerns and ask for help from one another. We are growing quickly and are slowly developing a broader reach and a valuable connection. Who knows what may come of this; parenting help, career assistance, sharing of skills, mentoring and of course friendship.
Another result of this project was that I decided that more sharing of information and support was needed by military spouses as a whole and knew that I could fill that need. So, out of this experience came not only a new support network, but a new website – GuardWife.com – and a book on deployment from the family’s perspective is in progress.
Lessons learned:
- Speak up and ask for what you want!
- Chances are good that someone else needs the same resource that you are looking for.
- If the network doesn’t exist; create it yourself.
- If you find a need out there that is not being met; FILL IT!
You may be able to make money from your innovations and ideas or maybe not. You never know where they will lead you. The important thing is that your need will be filled and you will most likely have added to your network and helped others along the way.
If you want to read more on stepping outside your comfort zone, read Key Questions: What Are Your Limitations?
Productivity Wisdom From the Bear
Jun 17th
Quick tip:
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” – Winnie The Pooh
I have to admit it; Pooh got it right! If you wait for others to come to you it may never happen. Step out of your comfort zone and go find them; mentors, clients, readers, investors, employers. Whoever it is that you seek; you need to go to where they are!
It’s About the Experience
Mar 16th
Focus your marketing efforts on creating an experience. This does two things.
First, it creates a buzz around your brand for your customers to share. We all know that word of mouth is the most powerful marketing method available, but how often do you actually give people something to talk about?
Creating an experience or feeling also helps build a sense of relationship with your brand and gives customers a reason to keep coming back. People want to feel a certain way and if you associate your brand with what they’re looking for, they’ll respond to that.
How do you go about creating experiences?
- Appeal to a customer’s emotions.
- Make interactions as personal as possible.
- Cultivate and promote the values that YOU stand for.
- Be interesting, thought-provoking or noteworthy in some manner.
- Identify what’s important to your customer and find a way to connect that to your brand.
- Find techniques to become part of your customer’s daily life.
- Give customers a take-away, even if it’s just a smile.
You recognize you want your customers to talk about you, but…what do you want them to say? What steps have you taken to build experience-making into your marketing approach? Is it reflected in the way you conduct business?
