If you want to create a world you want to live in, if you want to sell more of the products and services you create, if you want to have many friends and partners, do these things …
Offer real value. In order to get someone to do something for you, there has to be an incentive or some type of reward. Yes, people will do things for you without an incentive, but you will get more value by offering true value to others.
Be optimistic. Laugh, smile, express confidence. People are drawn to others who appear resilient and hopeful.
Share. Entertain others with jokes, stories, or insightful information. Be open and sharing. That’s why the most successful authors and speakers are those who know how to tell a good story.
Give advice freely. The more advice you share freely, the more trust people will have in you. In the internet marketing world, people will buy from those they know, love, and trust. And people know, love, and trust those whose advice they value.
Establish your credentials. Let people know what you offer. If people feel you are in a position to help them, now or down the road, they are more apt to work with you.
Be honest. Give guidance like a waitress who suggests you order something else when what you ordered is not a good choice. Everyone will appreciate your honesty.
Be ethical and truthful. Always. People like to help others who seem like-minded and people like to do business with those they trust.
The first secret of success is very simple: Tell the truth. That is how you build relationships with potential customers. This first secret does not change, no matter how successful you become. You must always tell the truth.
Ask. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. Ask for advice. Ask for joint promotions. Ask for interviews and reviews. And, of course, respond when others ask favors and advice from you.
Listen with your heart. Listen to what people say are their concerns and then react. Appeal to what seems to trigger a response in them. And never be afraid to reveal your heart, your passions, and your soul.
Be open. Get unstuck. Show a willingness to negotiate. Be willing to change.
Acknowledge concerns. Don’t come off as if you are right and they are wrong. Meet in the middle when you can. Create win-win situations where everyone has a chance to gain.
Never use threats. Threats, cover-ups, lies, and other improper or illegal means to persuade might work for a short time, but they will come back to haunt you.
Be fair. Act reasonably, fairly, and kindly even if you believe you hold an advantage over someone. Always be kind.
Create relationships. All of marketing consists in creating relationships. Real relationships: friends, lovers, partners, warriors, fans.
Be true to yourself. Do the promotions that match your heart, your mind, your service, and your soul.
Don’t sell yourself short. No one will value you. Set a fair price for you, your product, your services, whatever it is that you have to offer. Most of us set way too low a price. Sell your true value. Always.
Do what is right, and the reward will be immediate and multitudinous. Think what is right, and your authority will grow.
Aim big. If your aim is small, the results will be small. If your aim is big, your results will be big. Very simple math. But absolutely accurate.
Stick around. There is an ancient hardcore rule of life: That what you put out into the world comes back to you multifold. The sad thing is that most people don’t understand this. So they don’t stick around. They give up.
About John Kremer
John Kremer is author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, the Relationships Matter Marketing program, and many other books and reports on book marketing, Internet marketing, social media, and book publicity. -- John Kremer on Book Marketing.
