Marketing. What's Love got to do with it?

What is love in business? Love is a matter of sharing
your knowledge, network of relationships, and your
compassion - or any combination of the three

- Tim Sanders, Author

People-Centric Expert!

Scott Reese and I were talking recently and the conversation came around to how to work with difficult people. Here's how the conversation went from there...

Dig it, and Dung It! - by guest blogger Scott Carely

How healthy is your referral landscaping?

When we built our home in Lubbock back in 98, landscaping wasn't in the bid….so I got to do that!  Flowerbeds, a hedge, monkey grass trimming the driveway, moguls and a grassy front lawn.  Part of my dream house included a lawn without stickers.  Weeds brought stickers.  Weeds had to go.

I went back to the nursery and told the owner I needed "weed killer".  Instead…he suggested fertilizer.  I clarified the issue: WEEDS.  He clarified the solution: FERTILIZER.  He taught me something really powerful.  "Fertilize your grass.  Water it.  Aerate it.  Strong, healthy grass will choke out all your weeds."  He was soooooo right!

Interesting story in Luke 13:6-9  Read it.  It's good business advice.  I'm just saying…..

Luke 13:6  And He began telling this parable. "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7  Then said he unto the vineyard keeper. 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?' 8   And he answered and said unto him, 'Lord, let it alone this year, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer (dung); 9  and if it bear fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'" (NASB)

 Here is what we learned:

1. Three years into this project, the owner isn't happy with the crop return.

How long have you been into some projects and you're not seeing the return you want?

2. The dresser wants time to execute a strategy

Time isn't always the answer….unless it is accompanied by a plan or strategy.

3. He is going to Dig and Dung it (fertilize).

Digging simply means that you need to work your prospect and referral connections.  Sort out your contact base. Make some calls.

Dunging means…. you need tofertilize the referral connection with things that are a value add!  Give them something.  Recognize their efforts. Invite them to an event.  Offer something complementary.

If you want fruit (results)… Dig it and Dung it!

My clients use a 7-7-28 plan.

• 7 New connections to their data base per week
• 7 Personal notes or cards out to their A and B client list per week
• 28 Personal phone calls to A and B clients or Prospects.

Last week….one of my clients closed a $5600 proposal…..Digging and Dunging.  Contact me and I'll get you a shovel and some Miracle Grow!

Scott Carley, Coach512-470-0570

Coach@GrowthDynamic.com

Click HERE to test your Networking Proficiency

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A BIG THANKS for this excellent post to Scott!

A new generation being "formed"

At 58, I'm a digital immigrant and not a native, 

but I feel like a commuter. 

Thanks to Hurdie Burke for sharing this Google publication

Google's THINK group have declared a new generation: Gen C. 

Educating your client. Is it an acceptable marketing technique?

Is it? Is educating a necessary and/or required marketing technique?

Read more

What is marketing?

Read What is Marketing? at Market-Smarter-Not-Harder

Good doesn't get you business

Good doesn't get you business. You have to be
clear - concise - compelling. You have to engage.
- Ed DeCosta

Ed goes on to say that engaging people is the key to business growth and 96% of your growth comes from engaging people in ongoing conversations.

I love stats when they come from such a high level and respected professional sales professional as Ed.

You have to start a dialog as if someone is listening

- Ed DeCosta

This is another blog post that is as much about marketing as leadership. So, how does this apply to helping leaders lead leaders?

Here it is -

- You're around people everyday, engage.
- You're leading and following other people - every day, engage.
- Start talking like a leaders, engage.
- Start a blog and writing like a leader, engage.
- Tweet, like a leader, engage.
- Post to Facebook and LinkedIn, like a leader, engage.

While you're doing all this, you're talking to yourself. You're engaging with yourself. You're leading yourself and as you learn to lead yourself better, you'll lead others better.

You'll help others lead better.

To that end...

 

#MarketSmarter's 9 Essential Behaviors

You can't talk yourself out of a problem you've

behaved yourself into. - Stephen R. Covey

 

No, but you can behave yourself out of a problem

you've behaved yourself into...and often faster

than you think. -Stephen M.R. Covey

In our Guerrilla Marketing / Market-Smarter-Not-Harder workshops we focus on Behaviors. Behaviors, as explained by Covey (2), are what flows out of our agenda. Agenda flows from our intent.

The Nine Essential Behaviors to Marketing-Smarter are:

1. Learner
2. Takes Action
3. Creative
4. Evaluates and Corrects
5. Sensitive
6. Strong Ego
7. Generous
8. Aggressive
9. Patient

These behaviors are a combination of character and competence. As we remember that marketing is everything we do before and after getting the check, we want to practice these essential behaviors.

A recommended read on behaviors is Stephen M.R. Covey's The Speed of Trust.

To that end.....market-smarter-not-harder.

Danny

ps..for more marketing info and tips, go to the Market-Smarter blog

pss..pay attention to my social media feed for dates and times on free Webinars

Proven Behavioral Characteristics of a Good Salesperson

Selling in today’s market requires more than good hair and a firm handshake. It requires an ability to market, sell, and consult all at the same time. The Internet has created droves of highly educated consumers who need direction in choosing the most appropriate products or services, but who do not want to be “sold.”

Do you have empathy? How well do you recover from rejection? Do you communicate well? And how is your confidence?

Experts say that to succeed in sales and marketing, you need to have the right balance of the following characteristics; Empathy, Integrity, Creativeness, Time Management, Self-Esteem, Math/Logic and Dependability.

If you're struggling with your sales and marketing efforts you are likely hampered by being too high or too low in at least one of these areas.

Be sure and sign-up for our newsletter and/or watch our LinkedIn and Twitter postings to receive notice of FREE webinars to learn more about these important behaviors.  

Accountability and Marketing: Part 2

"Why is this happening to me?" is a "bad" question

- John G. Miller on accountability

author of QBQ, @QBQGuy

photo courtesy of BlairBallPhotography

 

Struggling with stress I went to a Bible study in 1990 on "Your Work Matters to God." Doug Sherman, in the video we were watching, talked about how stress can be good for me and I would have walked out if I hadn't been at the the far end of a packed-out room.

 

Philosophers since Socrates have argued about what man is really seeking. Most have settled with "joy." Me, it's "not-to-be-stressed." I guess Joy comes from not being stressed.

 

A few years ago John G. Miller, in QBQ, brought to my attention this question: "Why is this happening to me?" Not just the question, but the impact of asking, even feeling, the question - Victim Thinking.

 

My original read of QBQ didn't give me the full perspective of this particular question but the book did influence me enough that I had the QBQ principles taught to 80+ employees in our company. I participated in many of those QBQ sessions 5 years ago and have continued to practice the principles. Learning to practice Ownership Thinking is huge.

Accountability and Marketing: Part 1

What can I do to make a difference?

- John G. Miller on accountability

author of QBQ (@QBQGuy)

 

Meeting people is a large marketing piece for most readers of this blog. Shaking hands and asking the right questions can be such a good start to a relationship that's profitable on so many levels for everyone. But we have to be aware of the RIGHT questions, and we have to make the right choices. In his book on accountability Miller says "make better choices in the moment by asking better questions."

What can you do to make a difference..in your business, your life, your bank account? What can I do today to make tomorrow or next month more impactful. What marketing choices, in the moment, can you make by asking better questions?

I like questions. I like to ask and be asked questions. Last week I wrote 4 posts on Handshakes; how we tend to waste them and my experience on making them count. And questions are a big part of the handshake. Try to shake-hands without asking a question. It's hard! In QBQ Miller tells stories about asking Incorrect Questions (IQs) vs the right questions (QBQs) to gain the upper-hand in conflict, stress and doubt. 

Cold Calling vs "Inbound Marketing"...

While there are undoubtedly some points of this video to argue against, including the language, the point it makes needs to be considered. 

And remember, things are a changing. We old guys need to be sure we know what we are up against!



 

Marketing's Three Building Blocks of Execution

Is Educating My Client Good For My Business?

My initial is Yes....if, if, they want to be educated. @RonaldSkelton posted on Twitter recently "Work with clients that appreciate your product or service."

So, I start thinking up ways to find out if someone wants to be educated, or do they just not know they want to be educated. How do I know if they will appreciate my coaching if I don't try and educate them a bit first?

That sends me down my mental flow chart to what questions do I ask to see if they are interested? Is this a good approach at all?

Did I mention something yesterday about not liking selling?

This cold Northern wind that blew in around 2am this morning is about to blow my house down the hill and into the Pedernales.....I hate selling and my warm bed is calling me back.

I hate selling. But I love educating.

Still going back to bed.

To that end...

Danny

Right People
-   Right Place