It’s been a while since we’ve discussed one of the very foundational ideals here at MJTVgirl….your Ideal Client.
I have recently had the difficult experience of dealing with several people who are very knowledgeable in their business or trade with one small problem: they don’t know who they are. Why is that important, you say? Well, other than feeling completely lost, I imagine, that means they don’t truly know why they do what they do. That’s a big problem.
So – how does that connect to understanding who your “Ideal Client” is? It goes a little something like this: when you know who you are, you find it easier to see and understand what you have to give — and what you want to give. You also know what will work for you and what won’t work for you. Those important things get nailed down and all of a sudden its MUCH easier to see what you will DO and who you will do it for.
For example, our marketing firm Client Cycle Marketing offers marketing consultation. We have a program, we teach. We’ve built that program on a combination of who we are, why we do what we do and who we best serve with that information. There are certain kinds of clients who are generally successful — and certain kinds who are not. This is not a judgement in anyway — it’s just a truism. Some people respond better to certain types of stimuli — I work best with trainers who are engaged, supportive and generally curious about my goals. I do not work well with bullies. See? I know myself — and it works the same with you.
Who is your ideal client? Who is engaged and inspired by what you have to say or do? Who is not? Understanding these subtleties will help you build a practice full of clients who re-hire you again and again, rather than a bunch of clients who may work with you once and then you never hear from again. Which do you want?
the Key to Success: Marketing Automation (infographic)
March 22, 2013
I know, I know…”automation”. It has such an ugly connotation of dirty factories and children forced into jobs before their 10th birthday. However, this is ANOTHER kind of automation — the kind that will give you back your most precious commodity: TIME. Check it out (source: Marketo).
Brought to you by Marketing Automation Software from Marketo
This is what happens…
November 23, 2012
…When you get too much video, too many courses, and too much….STUFF happening all at one time. You STOP. At least I do. When it gets too overwhelming, I just….go fishing.
Now – a few extra days are graciously bestowed upon me by the Thanksgiving weekend (you see, I don’t buy into the whole Black Friday thing…good Lord…why???? AND I’m spending a ton of time watching football…which I can do with one eye, while editing, so that is exactly what I will do).
So – this is my time to move forward AGAIN.
Now — your turn — what are YOU going to do to get yourself out of your rut and back into gear – moving forward – again? hmm???
Networking: Your Key to Filling Your Practice With Clients
September 27, 2012
OK – so I’ve been a bit absent from these pages the past few weeks. True.
But…by now…you should know that I have been working on something. Something BIG to share.
Stay tuned here next week: what’s coming will change the way you look at your marketing plan FOREVER. And that is not a tease…it’s a promise.
Have a nice weekend all and dream happy dreams of your fabulous life.
oxo
The ROI Case for Video Marketing vs. “Doing Video”
August 27, 2012
I was talking with a potential client last week and when we started talking about video as a possible option to help him market his business, he slumped and said, “oh man….spend a ton of money on a video? why????”
That’s when it hit me….and I finally understood. My clients think a few things that I need to clear up:
1. video = tons of money (for no real return, they silently believe)
2. it’s HARD
3. it’s really really expensive.
You’ll notice that I put the money part down TWICE. The reason? Not enough marketers who recommend video truly understand HOW to use it EFFECTIVELY as a marketing tool (meaning: the return on investment is not explained well – or even at all).
Why is this? I am guessing at the number of ad and marketing agencies who regularly farm out video have only used it to make :30 spots and not TRUE CONTENT. OR…they are just video production houses who just want to make video content and have no true understanding on how to market the video content and show true ROI to their clients.
Eureka!!
A fabulous idea is born…. when you understand what good content and video content truly is AND how to promote it, it will become clear that as we progress in on-line marketing, video is one of the only true tactics that will effectively do a few things for your business:
1. Builds credibility and scalability. Your face and your message connect to the viewer — your clients get to know you and using video to do this is effectively like adding hours and hours of SELLING time to your week. It’s really hard to fake stuff on video — like a human lie detector, people intuitively know when you’re scamming them. In this case, don’t use video. For all of the rest of you legit folks, read on.
2. We learn better by watching than reading a bunch of dense text. It’s a proven fact that Americans now would rather watch than read. Over and over again, the numbers on video view instructions for a complicated process or product far outpace any written materials on websites of thousands of businesses. We just like it. That’s all.
3. Video can do a number of things well and why not take advantage of 1 and 2 when you’ve got no time and need to generate more sales? Video can:
- attract new clients and customers – utilized correctly in a variety of sites and campaigns, video content done for this purpose is like offering honeysuckle to bees.
- once you get the audience, you’ll need to engage them. Video is also #1 on the hit parade of all marketing tactics in doing this – create the right video for the target audience you’ve worked so hard to attract and they will begin to engage with you and even SHARE the videos with their networks — that’s the exponential effect that video sharing through social media can have on your business.
- nurturing your target clients and customers to up-sell and bring them more VALUE.
- and the Grand Prize of all the work of bringing in the new clients — CONVERTING them. Whether it’s sales or up-sells or referrals – video is unsurpassed at helping you connect on your CALL TO ACTION.
If you’ve made it this far in the post: here’s a freebie. WHERE DO I START??
#1 place? What part of my business is MOST CONFUSING and takes the most time for me to explain. Start here with your video thinking cap firmly in place. This topic should generate at least 5-10 videos, even for the most straight-forward businesses.
Tally-ho!!
[New Video] The Key to Saving Money on Marketing (hint: Always Be Ideal-Client Focused)
August 13, 2012
Strategy. It’s kind of a buzzword when we discuss effective marketing. That’s because the only TRUE way to be effective and efficient (i.e. save money) is to be laser-focused on your Ideal Client.
Don’t know who that is? Watch today’s video and think about this checklist:
1. Who needs what you have so much they will pay anything to get it?
2. AND who loves what you do?
3. AND who do you enjoy working with?
If they pass all three tests, you have yourself an IDEAL CLIENT.
[New Video] How to Create Valuable Video Content, Part 3 of Video Marketing and YouTube Series
August 8, 2012
It’s no secret that content that grabs your potential customer and attracts him or her to your business is the way to go. But – how do you get there?
The key to knowing what valuable content is….and then creating it is inside the question, “who is my ideal client and what do they most want from me?” Watch and tomorrow, we’ll have even MORE ideas for content…enjoy.
mary jo cranmore
