Tough love here: No one cares about you, your feelings or what you sell!!

Let me give you a moment to let that all sink in……….feeling any better?

It’s a hard pill to swallow when you enter into the entrepreneurial world and realize off hand that getting persons to know and like you is very difficult. It doesn’t matter if you came from corporate and you’ve worked with top clients under another corporation, once you start on your journey, it seems like all you say fall on deaf ears and it’s as if you have to prove yourself all over again.

It’s hard and can sometimes be disheartening……..but you know me, always the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel and the truth is that no one cares unless YOU MAKE THEM CARE!!! It’s kinda like getting into a long term relationship and I will give you the steps you need to get yourself seen and heard by Mr & Mrs Right for your business (aka your ideal customer).

So hooking your ideal customer catch in business is very much like hooking a great guy or gal. There are steps involved long before you get into major commitments like say…..marriage.

So here we go:

Stage 1: The Introduction

We all have a type, and like in business we would like to be seen as attractive to that type of person. While we may initially be nervous, we walk up, we introduce ourselves and we engage in small talk. Where are they most likely to be? In the mall or at the club?  In business, the same rules apply. You use various forms of media to introduce yourself and tell people who you are and what you are about in an authentic way. Your ideal client will be instantly attracted to you because you are ‘just what they’re looking for’. In addition to social media, why not use direct marketing or traditional media to get yourself noticed. If you know the person you’re trying to attract then you will have an idea of their likes, dislikes where they might be and how is the best way to show up in front of them.

 

Stage 2: Courting

This is when you have gained a bit of trust in the relationship and you ask for their number. After engaging in some conversations over time, the persons trusts you to take them out on a few dates to see if you’re all that you’re cracked up to be. In business, this is where your ‘freemium campaign’ comes into play. You share your stories and drop little freebies here and there in order to show your ideal client that you are THE ONE and you can truly be of service to them. The freebie you give potential customers in exchange for their contact information.

While there are many ways you can offer this freebie for customers to sign up to consume, ask yourself:

  • What juicy information is so irresistible to my ideal customer that they will not hesitate to sign up for?
  • How will my ideal customer prefer to consume this freebie. Would they prefer something to read (a downloadable pdf), something to listen to (a video or audio series) or something to do (a challenge)?
  • Where will they see it in order to take advantage or it? Social media? Emails?

Overtime they begin to know you and realize that maybe…….just maybe you care enough get them to where they want to be.

 

Stage 3: The Commitment aka Engagement

The relationship has been going smoothly, they have seen you at your worst and your best and they’ve not run away screaming…….this is a good sign. This is where trust has been established and they are convinced that they have found the best thing that has ever happened to them. Well its easy to see in business this where the FIRST sale happens. Customers have become so enthralled with you and what you do that opening their wallets is really a no-brainer. You have guided them through the three steps and now there is nothing you can do that can deter them.

 

Stage 4: Seal the deal aka Marriage

At this point you are all they want nothing in the world can change that. In business this the repeat customer phase. You gave them what they wanted and delivered your promise and not only are they going to keep coming back to you, they tell everyone how fantastically awesome you are.

 

While in business, most persons want to jump straight into steps 3 & 4, you can see the natural progression from unknown stranger to ideal customer when compared to meeting the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. Cause let’s face it, you’re going to want to eventually one day settle down and have repeat customers who are indeed satisfied with what you have to offer so, in the grand scheme of things business is a lifelong commitment.

It takes time to really and truly convince persons that you are in fact worth it, so just keep going

Along the way you will meet persons who may not be willing to go the long haul with you, and that’s normal for business and in life. They may not be Mr or Mrs Right, they may just be Mr & Mrs Right Now, the trick is to learn the lesson and get back on track.

So what stage of business are you in? If you’re trying to get to marriage, I have just thing for you.  Head on over to www.crushingitwithcarli.com to get all the details and choose what you need right now to get you going in 2018.
Plus for additional support join my private Facebook group The New SMS: Strategic Marketing Specialists for all the free training and advice that you can handle.