Brain Vibe

We (my family) recently moved to a new community and needed to settle in.  Interestingly enough the easiest part was the unpacking and organizing.  The hard part, connecting to and building relationships with neighbors and others in the community we seem to have pulled it off, at least according to others.  In fact, people ask how it is that we were able to fit right in in such a short time when they or others had been here longer and didn’t know or become friendly with anyone.

It really came down to a state of BEING.

It may be stating the obvious for marketing.  However, I’ve seen many a client and company fail at marketing efforts and conversion simply because they are not where the customer is.

Building relationships is hard.  Networking is hard.  Step by step guides or top tips aside, the reality is that you have to jump out of your comfort zone and put yourself on the line.  There is the direct rejection and then there is the indirect rejection of avoidance.  I think in some ways it is easier to get over the direct rejection than avoidance.  At least you know what you did.  Silence can feel alienating.

Here is how I think marketing can focus on building relationships with customers and break out of long held patterns.

• Be available for customers when they are ready.
• Be open to customers for dialogue.
• Be there, where the customer is.

If you follow these simple rules and start every marketing effort with BEING, whatever you want to communicate to your customer will get there.  If there is a fit between the value you have to offer and their need, just the fact that you are there will make you successful.

Marketing has shifting from one way company/product centric communications to customers calling the shots on how you need to connect with them.  You want them to attend events, listen to webinars, read your blogs and articles, buy your products.  However, if you are not there in availability, openness, and state, you will not connect.

Filed under: networking, Blog, Business, collaboration, Comfort zone, communication, cusotmer dialogue, customer experience, dialogue, effective networking, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, networking