It all started with an email from a friend.
"I will like to chat with you to [know] how to stay more connected and get people to grow my network on the up way. How can I bring my gift to others that don't know and struggle and still don't know. Let me know lets talk. Can use some insight to make this world a Better place. Thanks Bro Talk soon."
As a business relationships and communications coach, I hear questions like this all the time. While I'm not the guy to call if you want to be a hard core sales master or a copywriter, I'm pretty good at connecting and reading people to gain a following. Therefore, my approach to attracting more fans is to be more self-expressed.
Talk about what you're passionate FOR; what you know so well, you don't need notes. It will surprise you how fast you'll build a fresh following of people that trust you, realize you're credible and will naturally do business with you IF you passionately stand for what you believe in.
You've worked to get your business to this place. You've achieved a certain level of success. You want to take your business to the "next level". I've heard it said, the same things that got you to "here" aren't necessarily going to take you "there". If they did, they would have already.
It's so easy to keep looking for something outside of ourselves as that next great technique to evolve our business, when you have one inside of you. The deeper you go, the higher you grow.
What does THAT mean, you ask? Essentially you're simply sharing what you believe in and what you KNOW to be true.
In my friend Rasta's case as a musical experience creator for professional trainers & speakers (well that's my description), I suggested, talk about the power of music to transform, solve problems, transcend...whatever your take on music is. Allow people to "raise their hand" and say "yes, I'm with you Rasta". Not only does this give you a forum to express yourself, you're getting valuable feedback. If more messages, followers and fans come your way, then you know something is right.
Remember this: When you've built trust, credibility, likability AND you're relevant, you will be asked to solve their problem (AKA...a sale is made).
By-the-way, you can build the first three, however, relevance happens at different times. You may not be relevant to me right now (AKA: I may not need what you offer), however if I like you and you've built trust and credibility ahead of time, when I DO need you (relevant), I will think of YOU! See how that works?
How do you build trust and credibility? One way is to consider what you'd like to be known for (your PERSONAL brand....which is simply who you are as a person...not your label or brand identity). Speak on that via blog posts, video blog posts, telecalls, facebook status, Twitter microblogging, articles, where ever your target market may congregate.
The bottom line here is, with the tools today, it will blow your metrics away by going just a bit "deeper".
The question comes back around to you--where it really matters anyway--What are you doing to be more self-expressed so you're attracting vs. looking for fans?
Share your successes and your questions. I want to know.
