How much of your personality shines through in your marketing materials, including your websites, brochures and articles?
How many of your personal quirks and opinions do you reveal to prospective clients?
Large corporations generally don't feel personable, unless there's a strong, visible head honcho, such as Richard Branson of Virgin, Donald Trump or Martha Stewart.
As home business owners most of us don't have a corporate shield to hide behind... though many of us make the mistake of selling ourselves as if we were Microsoft or Proctor and Gamble - selling our products but not ourselves.
You're a massage therapist, or life coach, or network marketer, or inspirational teacher. You offer healing sessions or phone coaching or nutritional products or workshops. They're probably terrific, too.
But why do people come to you in the first place? Because something about YOU resonated with them. They were either intrigued or comfortable enough to investigate further.
And if you're not filling your daily appointment schedule or attracting a full house at your classes, it may be time to look at the picture of yourself that you're showing to prospective customers.
Are you emphasizing what's really interesting about you? Are you saying what you believe in your articles? Are you allowing yourself to drop your official "public" mask and let folks see the real you?
To make yourself a household name, whether in your specific field or nationally, more of you has to shine out. People need to know what you stand for... and what makes you different from all the others.
You don't have to drop your drawers literally, but you do need to peel away the protective layers so that the core you is more visible. And while you might feel somewhat exposed at first, I think you'll find that presenting yourself from your truest, inner values will generate far more interest and response than a generic-sounding marketing message.
This has been my own experience: Positioning myself as a "niche marketing crusader" and creating a picture (literally - see my photo) that describes my concept of getting noticed from a soapbox is one way that I stopped being a generic marketing coach.
I am a Soul Niche Marketing Coach for Spiritual Entrepreneurs and I have a much stronger message than I used to on the subject of niche marketing. I went with my beliefs and my passions on this, and no longer let clients settle for a business vision that doesn't make their heart sing. And by staying consistent with my heartfelt message, I'm getting better known as a "soul niche coach." See how it works?
Would you rather make a big splash in a small pond... or a tiny ripple in a huge ocean? Go "The Full Monty" when it comes to shining your light in the marketplace.
Copyright 2006 Barbara Casey
