Author Archive
Soft-sell marketing: 5-Step Client Continuum
Posted by: | Comments“In your face marketing” is dying – thank goodness.
A new 5-step soft sell marketing process based on strategic influence is emerging.
Here’s how it works:
They see it…they like it…they want it…they ask for it…they buy it.
So how do you use this in your business?
- They see it…First, a member of your community sees something that you are successfully doing or using in your business.
- They like it…After repeated observation and, hopefully, some research, they decide they really like what you are doing.
- They want it…Because they like what they observe you doing in your own business, they begin to believe that your solution is the right one for them.
- They ask for it…They contact you to discuss what you are using and how it works for you. No sales letter yet.
- They buy it…You discuss the product or service you are using and how it works in your business. It is then, that you can mention that you have the product or service available for your clients. Did you catch how transparent that marketing process was?
How do I know this works? Because I have been on both sides of this situation. And, it always works. This is the process through which I selected Cathy Perkins, the WordPress Wizard, to work on my blog as well as my blog theme from ithemes.
It is one of the easiest ways to strategically influence a purchase without the hard sales pitch. And, everyone walks away happy.
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
Strategic Marketing: The 6 Ps of Marketing
Posted by: | CommentsThe marketing mix, often referred to as the 4 Ps of Marketing, includes product, price place and promotion.
But let’s challenge that model.
I believe there are two more P’s of Marketing that are more important that the original 4…Purpose and Passion.
Why? Because product, price, place and promotion can be duplicated. The only real points of marketing differentiation are Purpose and Passion. Both visceral, intangible and powerful. And, they can not be duplicated.
- Purpose: Answers the question why…it gives meaning to and provides direction for every action. It is one of the first questions you must answer when setting strategic direction for your business. Little hint: When you ask why, your first answer will probably not be the best answer. So, keep brainstorming.
- Passion: This is where the juice is…it is intense, emotional excitement about your business. Passion provides focus and energy to stay on course even when you face challenges. Not sure where your passion lies? What do you do that makes you lose your sense of time? What do you think and talk about all the time?
You may be surprised by your purpose and passion. But I can assure that the easiest way to build a profitable business is to align your purpose and passion with your area of expertise. You will be unstoppable.
Now, before you go, comment and share, OK?
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
TV Publicity Peaks Interest for Not-for-Profit Project – Little Dresses For Africa
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Social media or traditional media – the debate rages on.
Meanwhile, many marketers and public relations professionals are shying away from traditional TV, newspapers and radio. But there is evidence that publicity via traditional media still has the power to create action.
A brief case review: Nancy Zieman, host of Sewing with Nancy, interviewed Rachel O”Neill, the founder of Little Dresses for Africa. Each time the interview airs, sewers throughout the country jump into action making pillow case dresses for orphaned girls in Africa. Blogs throughout the sewing world light up as more sewers become aware of the mission. Further proof – A quick Google search reveals hundreds of comments and a growing web of connected blogs supporting Little Dresses for Africa. Over and over, the Sewing with Nancy TV segment is sited mentioned as the reason for participation. Now, that is a publicist’s dream.
According to Rachel
O’Neill, founder of Little Dress for Africa, “Sewing with Nancy has been an amazing opportunity for Little Dresses for Africa, to get the word out all across the country. We have been amazed with the response. You can tell from my inbox just when and where it airs as the responses are almost immediate. They were wonderful to us and very professional. I have been delighted with not only the response but the high quality of talent of the people responding. It has really been a blessing to our organization and has really moved us to the next level.”
I am no exception. Because sewing is a hobby of mine, the interview inspired me to use my ever-growing fabric stash to make dresses for the project. I am on my seventh dress and counting…
Having spent time in several African countries, I know, first hand, how much these dresses will mean to the girls who receive them. If you would like to support a cause that can truly change lives, consider supporting Little Dresses for Africa. You don’t even have to sew; there are other ways to get involved.
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
Branding by Association…Build a Stand-Out Personal Brand by Associating with Experts
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Branding is simply making a name for yourself. As such, branding is at the core of every successful entrepreneur who has strategic influence in the marketplace.
However, many entrepreneurs and small business owners do not know how to build a stand-out, influential personal brand. While there are many different strategies that can be implemented, perhaps, the easiest and least discussed is branding by association.
“What is branding by association?”
It is the process of positioning yourself by developing supportive relationships with well-known, highly successful experts and brands. The really good news is that you do not have to personally know the expert to begin using this strategy. But you do have to have the “add value and give first” mentality to make this work.
Following are five steps you can take to begin implementing your own branding by association strategy:
- Select 5 to 7 branded experts who are selling to your ideal community.
- Choose 3 to 5 of those experts with which you would like to be closely associated.
- Identify opportunities where you can routinely provide helpful information to their community. This can be as simple as commenting on their blog with insightful information.
- Identify ways to promote them and their products to your community. For example, re-tweet their comments, link to their blog from your blog, review their products and become one of their affiliates.
- Last, set up a system to make these interactions part of your daily activities.
Once, you put these steps into action and begin to see results, you will find it easier to approach the expert to begin developing a personal relationship.
Be…Do…Have Mindset versus Have…Do…Be…Mindset
Posted by: | CommentsWhich comes first - Be or Have? It is a matter of your success mindset…
Many entrepreneurs believe that when they are successful, they will be able to have what ever they want, do whatever they want and be whatever they want.
Well, let’s turn that upside down.
- BE…Starting today, be whatever or whoever you want to be. But first, you must know who or what you want to be. Your vision must be clear and should encompass your personal and professional life. Spend some time brainstorming. Then just be who you are meant to be.
- DO…Next, what would you do if your already were who or what you want to be? How would you act? What would you do? Who would you connect with? Begin doing that, today!
- HAVE…Last, once you start being who you want to be and doing what you want to do, the things you most want to have will become part of your life.
I can hear you thinking…this is way too simple. It is simple but it is also complex. Focusing first on being will shift your mindset so that your greatest expectations can be met without resistance.
Comment and share, OK?
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
Strategic Blueprinting: Three Questions You Must Answer
Posted by: | CommentsStrategically blueprinting your business requires you to answer three questions clearly and concisely:
- What business are you in? To answer this question, you must know what you are going to do and what you are going to sell.
- To whom are you going to sell? In answering this question, you must identify your ideal consumer and market niche. Be as specific as possible.
- How do you beat, avoid or crush the competition? Now, this one will get your juices flowing.
While these questions seem very simple, the first answer you come up with will rarely be the best answer.
It may take hours, days or even weeks to really answer these questions. And, as your business grows, you must ask these questions again and again to keep you business on track.
This exercise is the underpinning for your entire business blueprint process.
Strategic Blueprinting Tip: Do not try to do this process alone. Engage a team to brainstorm with you.
Now before you go, I invite you to subscribe to this blog through the RSS in the box on the right side of this screen.
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
Strategic Blueprinting: The New Strategic Planning
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Strategic blueprinting vs strategic planning.
Do your eyes glaze over when you hear strategic planning? Do you envision a 190 page document sitting on a shelf collecting dust?
This is the vision many people have of the strategic planning process.
However, we all need to plan – remember the saying “If you do no plan, you plan to fail,” – who said that? If you know, leave a comment below so I can give proper credit.
Meanwhile, strategy is simply setting direction. And, there is no reason for you to create a huge document just to say you did it. A better way to go is to create a strategic blueprint for your business that can be a short, visual document designed as a snapshot of how and where you want your business to grow. The more visual and concise, the better. A free tool you may want to download to use during your strategic blueprinting process is the brain.
Hey, strategic blueprinting is not just for business. It can be for a project, a program or anything else that you want to build, implement or accomplish.
Before you go, comment and share your thoughts about strategic blueprinting.
Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.
