Today is the 20th anniversary of my writing this column, and folks regularly ask how I come up with new material every week.
Simply put, I pay attention. Because everything’s about marketing if observed correctly.
My mom said everyone wants to be associated with a winner. If you meet someone whose shoes are worn and hair is unkempt, I’m guessing he wouldn’t qualify.
Now consider these everyday experiences through a marketing filter:
- The student wanting a better grade persuades her professor, citing extenuating circumstances that worked against her
- The teenager pleading to pierce her ears demonstrates she’s an adult
- The single looking for a Saturday night date showers, dresses up, and smiles more
We all observe and judge those around us to determine with whom we want to spend time.
And we package ourselves differently for each audience, hoping they’ll “buy” us and our message.
Here’s the bottom line: marketing ourselves isn’t just for job interviews anymore. We’re all “selling” ourselves every day. We talk with six different groups and arguably become six different people.
And me? I just observe marketing successes and failures surrounding us and report on them. Hotel rooms that smell funny. Road signs with peculiar names. Speakers who do (or don’t) present themselves well.
I’ve realized the list is truly endless if you keep your eyes open and appreciate what you’re experiencing.
Knowing that, I’D LIKE TO BUY YOU BREAKFAST… and here’s how it works.
- Keep your eyes open during the next seven days and observe every marketing situation in your immediate world.
- Pay attention to people, names, signs, clothing…everything. Try to understand the message being sent, the audience being targeted, and whether the effort is successful.
- Send me the most interesting story at [email protected].
My plan is to select the best one and buy the respondent breakfast. I’ll even toss in an autographed copy of my latest book.
Fair warning, though: I’m not a fancy guy. I’m thinking we’ll meet at Naked Café or something similar.
However, I can guarantee you’ll be well fed, experience a few laughs, and all your friends will be envious.
Well, maybe not.
Regardless, you’ll learn something about how to market yourself and your business. And THAT is worth WAY more than the price of a fancy meal.
With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing. Read more useful stories at www.askmrmarketing.com.
