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Don't Fake it until you make it

by .
10 replies
It seems many offline marketers want to fake it until they make it... and many times you just need to opposite.

Don't try to be a Marketing Company.. instead be You.

Small businesses like to hire PEOPLE.

We all hate banks.
We all hate big corporations.
We all hate the big companies.

That's why we love the Warrior Forum... because we buy, learn and engage with people.

So don't worry about the "sales pitch" or try to make your website as a "corporate site"... instead remember that YOU are what they are buying.

People want to hire YOU as their marketing consultant, web designer or SEO expert.

So be you.
Be proud of who you are.
Show people what you like and what you believe in.
In that way YOU become a brand and then sales will come easier and easier with time.

Just my 2 cents...

Gabriel
#fake #make
  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I love my bank, they are my financial partner! just say'n and I am a regular business owner.
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  • Profile picture of the author redcell1
    I agree that most small businesses would rather hire a person but for large clients they want to know tha they business is being done by a company.
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    Just here to see the shenanigans.

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    • Profile picture of the author joshril
      Originally Posted by redcell1 View Post

      I agree that most small businesses would rather hire a person but for large clients they want to know tha they business is being done by a company.
      I would say that businesses big or small are looking for one thing... results. If you can provide the results they need, regardless of your size, you can be successful.

      --Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    I agree with Mr. Hayes.
    Businesses are interested in what you can do for them.
    To each their own. I don't think you can generalize.
    Some big companies like dealing with people, and some small companies like dealing with large companies. Large companies become big for a reason, and small companies stay small for a reason.
    I would rather deal with large companies. My brother (also a business owner) would rather deal with people.
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    Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone
    - Neale Donald Wilson -
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  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    All in all... it has been a proven marketing principle that PEOPLE... like to do business with other people. Who owns the business you are targeting... a person. He is singular... people.

    Why do you think insurance agents, and realtors all have thier face on their marketing material.

    When I signed up with AOL 15 years ago.... I was doing business with Bill Gates. Not AOL. When I sold furniture I would put my face on my business cards because of this old marketing principle that works. So when people came in and they forgot my name... they would ask for.... "This Guy" and point to the card.

    When I owned a window cleaning company that focused on high end residential. People would tell me of the instant rapport it created. How impressed they were. How they felt like they already knew me before I even got there. Why?

    My picture is on every marketing piece no matter what.

    No... I am not an ego maniac. No... I am not that good looking. It just works. It really does.

    I can't explain it. Nor do I care too. But... my experience is that if you put your face on everything, and just be real. You will succeed.

    Don't fake it till you make it...

    Act as if.

    I called my first client and said... Hi, I am a new web designer and marketing guy here in Tucson. I just opened for business and I'm just calling around to introduce myself and see if I can drum up some interest. Do you have a website? Do you want one?

    Bingo... My third phone call was a deal.

    You can talk till your blue in the face about positioning.... I know that if you just be real and take action... You will not fail.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Barrs
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    • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
      Originally Posted by Paul Barrs View Post

      Gabriel,

      Great words -

      Unfortunately her at WF you're probably talking to the biggest collection of fakers in one place.

      Sad to say it, and I now it's very broad generalization, but I would figure from the types of comments i see people post, and then when something seems hinky, I look into their sigs, banners, links etc and see too often the reverse - esp in the WSO forum.

      Of course I cannot place a firm nor proven number on it, but I'd say at 50% fakers - at least! Perhaps more.


      Paul Barrs
      BIGTIME!!! I'd put the number at 90% +.

      Esp. in the "offline" racket.

      Here's one way that any business client can tell if you're "faking it"... you can't wait 30-60 days to get paid on an accounts receivable for business services, which is normal and customary in the B2B world.

      Overheard in a client's office just today when someone said something about paying an invoice right away for a very expensive SAN (storage area network)

      "Where'd we buy it from? Susie's Computer Boutique?"

      Yeah, some people might say that this is condescending, but guess what?

      I don't care. It's reality. If you're using Paypal, desperate to get paid on a contract, don't send invoices or statements, etc... you are automatically branded a smalltime player and put into a certain category.

      These are the glaring, Las Vegas strip neon sign dead giveaways.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Barrs
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        • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
          Originally Posted by Paul Barrs View Post

          Lol. Right on.

          But what does that say for me... ? I always ask 50% upfront!!

          Cut avatar btw.. you! (Teddy Bear)

          P.
          I try to get 50% on the front as well, but I am not going to make any payment terms a deal breaker.

          This was just in response to seeing people complaining in the past because they didn't get a check for $100,000,000,000 on the first meeting like the WSO said they would.
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  • Profile picture of the author earvin.anderson
    I agree "Faking it" is one way to seriously hurt your chances of "making it" in the real world.
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  • Profile picture of the author ShawnPeter
    Hi Josh,

    Thanks for bringing this up. Reminded me of my 2nd client in September'10, who told me to not sound & look so corporate. He said he saw my passion for what i was doing and felt my passion for his products. He was very happy with the feedbacks I gave him, which the Ad agencies were not sharing with him. Now, he has a more clearer 'picture' of where his mthly Ad budget goes to, & even gets better ROI to interact with his targetted customers.

    Shawn
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    • Profile picture of the author .
      Originally Posted by ShawnPeter View Post

      Hi Josh,

      Thanks for bringing this up. Reminded me of my 2nd client in September'10, who told me to not sound & look so corporate. He said he saw my passion for what i was doing and felt my passion for his products. He was very happy with the feedbacks I gave him, which the Ad agencies were not sharing with him. Now, he has a more clearer 'picture' of where his mthly Ad budget goes to, & even gets better ROI to interact with his targetted customers.

      Shawn
      I just closed a client today, because ...'I can clearly see that you love what you do and I love your passion...."

      So yep. I guess being me rocks.

      I'm my biggest fan.
      (well, my 5 year old think I'm stronger than batman...)
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