Attraction Marketing Grows Your Business in Tough Times
John F. Kennedy’s statement “A rising tide lifts all boats” perfectly describes the boom years of the economy. Throughout the ’00s you really didn’t have to do much to have an OK business. But what about in today’s receding tide? Fortunately the recession won’t take all boats down with it — only the leaky ones. Use attraction marketing to build your business, especially in tough times. Start with these three strategies.
#1 – Contact your customers more often.
If you have an email list, contact people at least once a week. Don’t make it just about selling. Your customers also appreciate articles, tips and useful information. Worried that too many emails will cause them to opt out? If your messages are valuable, people appreciate them — except for those who probably were not going to buy anyway. Overall, good email communications strengthen your attraction marketing.
If you have physical addresses, mail a postcard every 4-8 weeks. Promote a customer appreciation sale. Offer a free consultation. Send people to your website for a free special report, an article, a video of you using your product, or a tip sheet.
Set up a regular schedule for Facebook and Twitter. I recommend one Facebook post and 1 Tweet a day to start. Sometimes it’s confusing to begin social networking. Get your bearings by creating accounts and then simply watching for a while. Remember the #1 rule of social networking: it’s not about sales, it’s about relationship. Soon you’ll be comfortable with it.
Perhaps you don’t have a mailing list. Well, start building one now. Without a list you have clipped the wings of attraction marketing. The list is perhaps the greatest asset of any small business. It is irreplaceable. Not sure how to begin? Creating articles – like the one you are reading – is a popular and effective way to start.
#2 – It’s time to shake things up! Look for ways to innovate in all your offerings – and add more value while you do it.
If you’re a coach, add teleseminars or digital products to your offerings. If you sell products, add coaching or training that helps people use what you sell. If you offer a service, such as pet-siting or office cleaning, create a tip sheet or simple newsletter. When you stand out from the crowd you’re attractive to customers – in any economy.
Also look for ways to leverage relationships with other business owners. In the brick-and-mortar world, complementary businesses often team up. For example, your wine shop might offer tastings with cheese and crackers from the gourmet store down the block. My life partner’s art print and poster store sells framing and has the work done by a framer in another part of town.
Online businesses can also use leverage. I created an audio set on Law of Attraction marketing from a series of interviews with other attraction marketing experts. It only took 6 interviews to create a product. Everyone who participated in the interviews promoted the product to our mailing lists. Talk about the power of leverage! Make a list of experts you could interview to create a valuable collection of interviews your customers would want to own.
#3 – Promote with personality! As a small business owner you don’t have to behave like a multinational corporation. What a relief! You can be quirky and still remain business-like. Why not let customers know that the local animal shelter is your top charity or that your favorite hobby is restoring antique furniture. Tell them that you love to take your Honda Gold Wing on weekend trips. Write about your kids, your vacation, your home town, your talking parrot.
In every marketing promotion, express your passion for your business. Tell people why you’re in this business and how much you care about it. You can also develop short, interesting stories – customers appreciate knowing you, and stories create powerful connections. During a down economy, people seek out friends to do business with. Attraction marketing includes expressing who you are.
Tips: 1) Avoid sharing your views on politics, religion or other potentially controversial areas. 2) Be friendly but also be careful about giving our personal details. 3) Think of personality as a side dish – the main course is always your business, and that’s where to keep the attention of your customers.
Here’s how to take the next step in attraction marketing for small business success Get your free copy of Andrea Conway’s special report Secrets of Attracting Prosperity in Hard Times
Tags: attraction marketing, Business, home business, Internet Marketing, Law of Attraction, Marketing, prosperity, small business, small business marketing, small business success