Business-Building Ideas From Terry Brock
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“Read this! ” “Listen to this podcast!” Watch this cool video! Click on this link! Tweet this. Friend this person (yes,”friend” is now a verb!) Buy this from me!!!
Ugh! It seems to never stop. We are inundated with messages, all trying to get our attention. All of these wonderful marketers (okay, I’m being generous) are vying to get out attention and have us get involved with them and their products and services. Sometimes you just want to turn off the TV, radio, unplug from the Internet (well, at least for a moment) and get away from it all.
Maybe you can relate to this but I’m feeling a big overwhelmed in this age of constant messaging and more. I want to stay on top of what’s happening but no matter how fast I read, how much I listen to podcasts and how many hours I spend on social media, it just seems to be overwhelming.
Welcome to the 21st Century!
Sometimes I think I’d like to just leave it all. However, that belief is quickly dispelled when I realize I need to stay on top of what is happening. And besides that, I really enjoy reading, listening, watching and consuming information.
So, what can you do in your business to get attention in this age when so much is being thrown at us? How can you stand out in the crowd for your message?
Here are some steps that will help as you deal with all the overwhelm and “stuff” around us.
- Accept Fragmentation. By this I mean that the world is big with many interests. Not everyone is going to be interested in what you’ve got to say. Of course we know this intellectually but we need to accept it emotionally when people reject our message. The world is fragmented into different areas of interest today more than ever. Don’t worry about those who reject your message. I find that successful salespeople are those who can quickly shrug off rejection and the endless stream of challenges from prospects and keep going. This mindset is critical to facing whatever you do in your business.
- Think Focus And Specificity. Being general doesn’t cut it. Find a specific product or message that is desired by others and focus on that. You can’t be everything to everyone. I love the way Bill Cosby said it, “I don’t know the secret to success, but the way to failure is to try and be everything to everybody.” How true!
- Be Incredibly Relevant. Your message has to be something that pertains to a strong segment of the market. Don’t market water skis in Northern Alaska in the winter. Sure this sounds obvious but I’m continually amazed at people marketing their “stuff” to people that are nowhere near their target audience. Find where people are hurting and have the “aspirin” to solve that pain.
- Be Consistent. Your message becomes part of your brand. You need a continual presence so it communicates reliability. If a magazine only came out sporadically, it would not be dependable. You communicate reliability on a subconscious level when you are consistent.
- Use Fun And Funny Appropriately. We all love to laugh. Humor is powerful but be careful to not offend and don’t force it. Let it be natural when you communicate.
You can get attention for your work if you follow these steps. Of course, once you’ve got their attention you need to deliver the results they are looking for or they will not pay attention later. Provide value to others and you’ll get the kind of attention that you need in business.
This way you will be able to reach others and keep your business profitable. Having a profitable business is another good way to get attention in this age of overwhelm!
Copyright (c) 2010, Terry Brock and Achievement Systems, Inc. Terry Brock is an international marketing coach and professional speaker who helps businesses generate profitable results. He can be reached by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com. Join the Twitter adventure with Terry through his Twitter address: @TerryBrock. Join Terry’s Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerTerryBrock
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so great! These days you have reluctant to share your business card because most assume you want to be added to their mailing list. Terry has some good advice here to help trim down those list and have clients seek you out directly. He is a great master of less is MORE.
Hey Terry, another great post, my favourite saying comes from Donald Trump….”It’s nothing personal, it’s just business” how true when it comes to people not interested in your product…keep em coming Cheers Donna
Thank you, Dan. Nice to have you stop by and visit. Terry
Thanx for your comment, Bill. And yes, you do a great job with your speech coaching. Keep up the good work!
Terry
You are right on the money with your message.
You’re giving the best advice I could hear to start my Monday, Terry. Thanks for these gems.
As a guy who loves the right word and the right phrase, I applaud your “age of overwhelm.” The year 2010 is far different from the years when we had a mere three TV networks to choose from, no Social Media, no cell phones or pagers, and a job we expected to hold for a lifetime.
Also, bravo to your plea to become specific with our offerings. A few years back I attended the funeral of “To Whom It May Concern.” That fellow had outlived his usefulness, for sure.
And as a Speech Coach, I welcome your advice about humor. One of my most recent You Tube videos advises, “Don’t Start Your Speech by Telling a Joke,” and I give 7 reasons why there are wiser ways to begin your speech.
Your closing advice to “Provide value to others” echoes what you have taught me as my coach. Amen, Coach Terry.