Bolder!

Arm's Length Marketing

Did you know that the most successful marketing tool you have is always within arms reach?

No mystery here - it's a warm handshake. Coupled with a smile and an introduction that invites a response there's no better way to be noticed.

 

Consumers these days want to do business with people they know, like and trust. So give them a chance to get past that first step. 

 

I'm not talking about pressing flesh like a politician on the campaign trail. What you're aiming for is authenticity. Just be yourself!

 

I attended a local Toastmaster's meeting the other night and was mightily impressed. Everyone made it a point to shake my hand, smile and offer their name while asking for mine. There was genuine warmth and interest. I liked and trusted these people almost immediately.  

 

If this is a new habit for you remember - anything new feels awkward and forced when we first practice but stay with it. It won't be long before you simply put your hand out automatically and say, "Hi! My name is ------. What's yours?"

The Antidote

I know you've felt it. It's like a low-grade infection. We're all feeling a little off our feed these days with a low-grade depression or a nagging niggle of worry. The strange thing is - we want to feel better but we keep going back to the source of the infection - the pessimistic words we're exposed to or use ourselves.

Help yourself (and the economy) by taking a dose of Vitamin C. As in 'C'onfidence. Take a dose of words like 'opportunity' and 'optimism'. Try a vaccination of hope, faith and anticipation. Innocluate yourself with thoughts of abundance. And how about one of my favorite prescriptions - success?

In fact, I challenge you to turn every negative word you hear on its head and find its positive on the flip side. Say it out loud. We owe it to ourselves and those we come into contact with.

I'm not asking you to swallow a Pollyanna attitude but we need to remember how powerful our words and thoughts are. They create our reality. Our outlook and actions are influenced by the way we express ourselves. If our brain is fed a constant diet of "The sky is falling" then no wonder we're ducking!

I'd love to have you join me in my campaign to clean up our environment. If you've got some great alternate phrases and ideas to replace all the negative messages we're being infected with then share them here by leaving a comment. Or two.

Then get out there and use them! Be the antidote!

Visibility Strategy

Are you commenting on at least three blogs in your field every week?

By reading and commenting on blogs that speak to your target audience you become more visible to the e-community as well as learning what your customers are talking about -both important if you want to grow your own business.  

 

You can find that e-community by visiting Technorati, a search engine for blogs. Spend a little time researching, choose 3-4 blogs that you connect with and then plan to leave a comment at least once a week on each blog. You might even want to set up a reminder in your calendar.

 

Warning - a comment is not a sales pitch! Give value in your comment. It's considered bad taste to promote yourself on someone else's blog and will turn off other readers. Most comments have a feature that will link to your website or your own blog if you provide the url. If readers like what you have to say they will find you. 

Choose Your Focus

We've all heard a lot of talk these past few weeks about the economic storms swirling around us. As you look to your own future, what you see depends on where you choose to put your attention.

For instance, the news media has a vested interest in keeping you scared. Their goal is to keep you tuned in for the latest updates. If you find yourself glued to CNN and worrying about where the economy is headed then declare a moratorium this week. Turn off the TV, the radio and put the newspaper straight in the recycling box.

Next, take the extra time your moratorium provides and list the opportunities you see in the weeks ahead. If you can find a friend or business colleague to brainstorm with all the better!

Don't quit until you have a list of at least one hundred opportunities, no matter how crazy they may seem. There will absolutely be something on that list you can use.

You have the power to choose what messages you let in.Too much negative puts on the brakes while positive action keeps you moving forward.

So -- where is your focus? It's up to you.