How to Market [Just About] Anything

How to Market [Just About] Anything

Recently an acquaintance in the Nashville area asked me for some advice on marketing his business. Now, not having any 9-5 experience in marketing, I was totally flattered by his request. It turns out that there is a lot you can learn just by watching others succeed and fail. Some of those stories are what I shared with him.

The secret to marketing is simple: always tell a story.

Humans are sentimental creatures. We like to have our emotions evoked and feel things. When you present your brand, product or idea with a story, people have a way to connect to it to feel a certain way about it.

Whether your product (like Gray’s in Franklin, TN) has a lot of history, or a story that is just about to unfold, there is always an opportunity to connect your customers with your brand and to use their emotions to your advantage.

Think about the last Coca-Cola commercial you watched. Did it tell you about the lower percentage of caramel color in favor of a more natural formula, or did it show you people that were happy after they consumed the product?

More often than not, we get hung up on the details of the things we are selling, and we forget about the experience, which is what our customers are really after.

If you sell consulting services or administrative assistance, don’t sell me on your WPM’s or your years of experience with PWC. Tell me a story about how I will feel after I use your product. Tell me where you came from, where you’re going and why I need to be in business with you.

Being a good storyteller also means being a good listener. If you’re losing your audience, it might be time to change your tone or your approach. Find a way to let your customers connect with your brand. Once you have that connection you can keep them with you for as long as you want.

#Marketing