Isn’t it funny? When someone tells you to do something, you inherently don’t want to do it. Perhaps it’s unfinished business from childhood when we protested against our parents not to do the dishes or clear the table, simply because we had no choice in the matter.
It’s a little similar being an adult in a commercial world. We’re exposed to marketing messages around 6,000 times every day, a tsunami of ads demanding attention until they’re little more than irritating and irrelevant ‘noise’. Of the thousands of messages received, ask yourself how many actually register, and why?
How different would the experience feel if the person talking to you was really listening?
Imagine if they were asking the right questions, in the right way? When you’re constantly being told, pushed or asked for something, your default position is likely to be, “Why? I don’t want to.” The average attention span is just eight seconds; there’s so many factors continually vying for headspace that it’s virtually impossible to listen or care. It’s 6,000 nopes from me.
It’s the businesses which are showing authenticity and a real understanding of respect for their audience that can build meaningful relationships. Only then will they break through the noise and speak to the right people who will and more importantly, want to listen.
The core of it? Talk to people, not data – human beings and not statistics. Give them an experience. If people don’t know you; they don’t trust you and they won’t care. In our ever-growing sphere of busy-ness, we’ve built protective brick walls around us to fend off things we don’t care about; aggressive and self-serving tactics, pop-up marketing messages (rage) and meaningless hubbub.
We all know about karma – what happens to a person, happens because they caused it with their actions. Think of it as the spiritual equivalent of Newton’s Law of Motion – “For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.” Display a negative force – be it a word or deed and that negative energy could come back to us. Stick with me on this! When we think about this principle in business, it becomes a powerful tool.
The laws of cause and effect for example, humility, growth, responsibility, connection, focus, giving and hospitality, patience and reward, significance and inspiration. Whether you are or aren’t a believer of karma, there’s some undeniable business-like truths you can’t ignore. Go ahead and do something good for your prospective customers, offer a solution with genuine care and passion. Good things might well happen as a result.
There’s no spin in karma, no whitewashing, false promises or cleverly veiled tactics. When a company quits trying to control their audience and focuses on building a mutually exclusive relationship, taking time to earn trust and gain authority, the real elements of good business can shine through.
Practicing good business etiquette in its most basic form is about being truthful and showing respect and compassion for customers, sowing the seed for a potentially rich and rewarding client-based relationship.
* Share free resources, donate your time, refer a potential client, use your voice to raise awareness for a good cause. It could all come back to you.
* Do what you say you’re going to do, don’t make false claims, stand by your word and deliver honest customer experiences.
* Show patience, don’t overdo it and let customers come to you. They know how marketing works so let them take the action – be it a Facebook share, liking a post or making a purchase.
* The more you give, the more you get. Focus on offering solutions for your customers and the rewards could come. It’s time to look beyond the old thinking of only putting your efforts into something which brings immediate and equal reward.
* By making your customer needs a priority, you build deeper trust and rapport than you would by simply selling your products
* Be nice – your best self! For you, your clients, your colleagues, to everyone around you. If we’re purposely and actively trying to help others, we’ll all start enjoying a more positive reality.
* Let go of “me me me” and put others first. It’s actually the best way at helping yourself. You’re planting little karma seeds of goodwill and shaping the world around you.
Use karma in marketing, build trust with people and ultimately, drive sales. It’s about building relationships and attracting custom from people who choose to engage with you. It’s not intrusively broadcasting, encroaching or interrupting someone’s headspace. Just the word ‘karma’ can make you think of an incense-burning hippy meditating on a rainbow rug, but the logic is something we can all get behind.
Let’s think, act and do good business. Be the energy you want to attract!