How Acting Like a Child Can Make Your Business Unique and Precious!
We are in the “Attention Age” make no mistake. The most coveted asset everyone is
vying for is:
“Your Attention”
It seems ironic that at a time where everyone wants to influence everyone else, the Attention Deficit Disorder Index is through the roof!
But that got me thinking …!
How do kids get our perennial attention?
Not a difficult question to answer since they must be paid attention to constantly. But in their normal and never ending struggle to get it … What do THEY do?
- They scream and cry.
- They put up an elaborate show of creativity and cuteness or
- Attention grabbing and heart stopping pirouettes …
Most importantly they get our attention because of what they mean to us!
There is nothing more relevant and precious than our children! Sure they can drive us to drink more often than not... I got 3 boys under 9 and every day I have to establish alpha male dominance, its exhausting!
But nothing that says more about you!
What if …
In our day to day business dealings we were looked upon as children?
I don’t mean the part where we don’t share, throw tantrums when we don’t get our way, or catapult food at those “close talkers” …!
I mean what if you found a way to become ultra-relevant and precious to those we mean to help and do business with!
Relevant, in a way that they are constantly thinking about you and what you mean to their lives and business!
I know you are probably thinking:
Claudio, I run a restaurant! How can I get people to think about me all the time?
Well you know this … they may not think about you "all the time", but they think about your product three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner!
You know what? … That’s an average of 90 times per month that each local person thinks about what you have to sell in the context of food, fun and social!
What are you doing to associate their needs with your product?
You read this blog often, so you know that relevant and valuable content marketing is the answer ;-)
When you provide content marketing in the right context you are basically aligning needs with wants and solutions, in addition to estalishing yourself as a respected authority they like, know and trust!
If you sell wealth management and financial products for example:
You know people think about your product every time they open a bank statement, or when looking at their paystubs and seeing how much went to their 401k’s or SEPs.
They think about your product every time they turn to watch SQUAW BOX on CNBC, or they hear that the DOW was up or down!
They think about you and your solutions regarding their mortality and realize they are underinsured and it’s been 10 years since addressing their estate planning needs… I can go on and on!
How are you associating their needs OR interest with your product or service?
When you provide highly relevant content on a continuous basis at the time they need it the most, that's when you become unique and precious in their lives... Like Children are!
If you sell Real Estate or you are an Attorney, is the same story!
Yelling and Interrupting doesn't work anymore!
Become a valued resource first, have a conversation about their needs and concerns and then create a utility platform where they can get information, confidence and support from.
If you feel you can help them, move in for the sale … if you can’t help them, refer someone who can. But don’t walk away without contributing something to that encounter!
So there you have it! ... and like a good friend and mentor of mine told me once:
“…at the end of the day I’m convinced we learn as much from our children as what we teach them.”
Rock on my friends!
