Authenticity Builds Remarkable Relationships
For the longest time in running my business, I thought there was some secret to being a super salesperson. With enough training and reading the right books, I just knew a day would dawn when I would eventually figure out how to be that slick businesswoman who was perfectly at ease with being schmoozy and charming and salesy. I can still picture her image in my head. Ewwww…
Well, guess what? That day hasn’t dawned yet. Instead, something even better occurred. I had a big aha! moment when I realized I could never, ever be that woman in my head. I can’t pretend to be someone else whether I was with my friends, family, or clients. I can only ever be myself. Anything else would come across as a facade.
When it comes right down to it, marketing is about forming relationships with other people. And, authenticity is a great sales tool. What I found is that the more I settle into being me, the easier it gets to do business, make sales, and interact with other people. So, I encourage you to let your personality shine through – with all of its quirks and idiosyncrasies.
This applies to everything that you put out in your writing and in your speaking. I get a lot of ezines in my Inbox and I visit many blogs and websites. The ones that really get my attention are the ones where the author isn’t afraid to let his or her personality show. I am much more likely to buy from that person because I feel like I know them.
Your customers and prospects want to get to know YOU. They want to know who you are, what hobbies you enjoy, where you go on vacation, your pets’ names, and how your kids are doing. People will be more engaged and your customers will be more responsive.
ACTION ITEM: Take a look at your current mode of operating. Are you truly yourself when you interact with your customers? Or are you trying to play someone else? I encourage you to put more of YOU into your website, articles, blog, mailings, and so on.Let your guard down a bit. Let your true self show to others. It may feel scary at first, but over the long haul, you will feel better and your customers will respond.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE? You are welcome to publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, blog, or website, as long as you include the following:
Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly marketing ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you’re ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have more fun, subscribe at www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine.com
![[Post to Twitter]](http://wendy.kinesisinc.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-big4.png){kind=icon}
- Contact Past Clients for New Work
- Authentic Marketing: Be Yourself
- Small Business Marketing Ideas and Strategies to Accelerate Your Success!
- Build Online Relationships with an Ezine
- How to Make More Money in Your Business: The Answer is Sales!
on July 24th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
I also wanted to be this woman… For my first year or so in business, any opportunity to ‘network’ gave me the shakes, I felt completely out of place. Until, like you, I realised I don’t have to be this super business woman, I can just be myself. I’m good at being myself, I’m terrible at being ’super sales woman’
I have also been to/heard of enough events where people go along, complaining about the stuffy atmosphere and boring events. I firmly believe most people feel this way about situations where you have to pretend you’re something that you’re not and enjoy situations where they can just be themselves. I certainly do
on July 26th, 2006 at 8:20 am
I agree with this post and there was a time when I too wanted to be schooled in slick sales tricks; but tricks are obvious and certain to turn people off. Real people like real people, not sales people.