Soul Proprietor – Step away from the business buffet and the crowd

Ever go to one of those buffet style restaurants?  They are pretty popular around here so they are usually busy.

The food tends to vary so as is often the case, the popular entrees get picked over quickly, leaving the less-than-yummy stuff for the unfortunate few stragglers.  You might even wait around for the new bins to arrive so that you can hurry up and try to get some of the fresh stuff before anyone else does.

The vibe often has the feeling of vulture-like desperation to it.  Which is why I avoid those types of restaurants.

I prefer to be in a spacious place where I don’t have to jostle elbows or wrestle for a chicken wing.  I’d rather order what I want and eat in peace.

It’s the same with business.

Which is why I prefer not to hang where all my peers do, especially in online forums.  I’ve noticed a trend in some of those places: people aggressively trying to hock their wares and services, crowding out the potential for good conversations as they add nothing to the group but endless self-promotion.

In time, this strategy begins to become less effective as people tire of that “ugh she’s only here to sell something…again…” and tune it out. The pond becomes overfished and polluted and the nibbles become rare.

Sound like anyone you know?  Or are you doing this?  If so, you risk wasting a whole lot of time and energy – especially if you are in a group where everyone is selling similar stuff (check out any business-to-business group and you’ll know what I mean).

A smarter idea is to take your fine stuff and go where no one else is hanging out.  That means visiting other locations and seeing how your services might help them.

Even better, rather than trying to hard sell through constant self-promotion, try this novel idea: get to know people and develop relationships instead.

That may get more people swimming in your direction and if they see that you’re offering something of quality, they may just want to take a bite.

Think of it like this: wouldn’t you rather go to a friendly restaurant that has room, an ambience suited for smart conversation, and quality food instead of a crowded, noisy joint where the waitress is in your face and everyone is fighting over a few meager scraps?

Get out of the overfished ponds and the crowded buffet lines.  Look for conversation and breathing room where people actually get to talk and mingle.  If you can’t find them, create those spaces.

A few ideas:

1. Create lively online forums dedicated to topics that might create interest in your work.
2. If you join online groups, keep your selling out of it. Instead, focus on being helpful and friendly.
3. LISTEN more, talk less.  This will clue you in to things that people need.  Pay attention to areas where people are not being served and you can create a whole new niche for yourself.
4. Leave the groups where people spend too much time in self-promo land.  No one is listening to anyone there.
5. If your only goal is to “get business”, check yourself.  People are quite aware when you are showing up only to make a sale.  How about trying to make a few genuine connections?
6. Don’t copy what your peers are doing, even if it looks like they are successful (they might actually not be).  When they zig, you zag.
7. Go to places no one else in your industry is hanging.  Find new streams to swim in.

It’s a big wide world out there.  Explore, don’t bore.

Blessings,

Theresa

PS I have a brand new offering dropping September 1st.  And you’re gonna love it.  Keep your eyes peeled.

Ready to up your game and get your 2016 completely laid out?  Join this year’s Soulful Proprietor Retreat for masterminding, brainstorming, chocolate, tarot, astrology and other mighty fine stuff.

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