When the 2020-21 school year started in person…I knew there was going to be a huge shortage of teachers. So, with a background in education, I put my business on hold for a few months and made my way back to the classroom.
What an interesting experience that was.
But in every class, I had 2-3 students who won’t shut up. In the middle of my teaching, when they were supposed to be working, and even during tests, I heard:
“Mrs. Fleming, did you know I used to live in Hawaii?”
“Mrs. Fleming, why are we still learning about rocks? I hate rocks.”
“My pencil broke and I don’t want to get another one.”
“Dude, after school today we have practice and…”
I admit, I may have snapped once or twice (in my 12 weeks of teaching) and said what I very frequently say to business owners and marketers:
It’s Not About YOU!!!
What these kids don’t understand is that the world doesn’t revolve around them. If they stopped interrupting for one minute, they would have realized the rest of the class hated their disruptions as much as I did. The rest of the class wanted to get work done and call it a day.
Unfortunately, as entrepreneurs, we get so caught up in our businesses, that our marketing becomes more about us and less about our target market.
Sure, to build solid relationships you need to share personal stories and details. But the bulk of your message should keep your target market front and center.
When you send an email, it’s not about you. It’s about how you can make the recipient’s life better, easier, more enjoyable, etc.
When you post on social media, sure…you want “likes”. But social media is not about you. You get “likes” when you speak truths to your target market that resonate with their current situation.
Heck, even your business is not about you. It’s about how you can serve and support your target market.
I love the Zig Ziglar quote that says:
You can have everything in life you want, if you will just
help enough other people get what they want.
When you keep the focus on what your community wants and needs…your marketing gets about a zillion times better. So every time you sit down to write, ask yourself, “What do my people need/want to know?” Then go from there.
You got this. (And if you don’t got this, remember, we got you.) Let us know if you have any questions.
