When I first started this business, I thought the best way to sell my services would be to throw money at the marketing. Facebook ads! Celebrity endorsements! Giant billboards! Except, there was a pretty big obstacle…
…I HAD JUST STARTED MY BUSINESS SO I HAD NO MONEY.
What was left instead?
Word of mouth. Here, there was another problem:
Most of the people I’d done sessions with so far had been pro bono. And they’d been happy to do those sessions for free, because those people had no money to spend on coaching. Which meant most of the people they hung out with also had no money to spend on coaching.
You might have this same issue. But you know who does have some money they might spend on your thing? SOMEONE you know. Which sounds easy…. but:
How do you tell people you know about what you’re doing, without sounding like you’re trying to screw them out of their well-earned money as an act of charity?
Two parts to this answer:
1. Remember that the stuff you do (/the thing you’re selling) ACTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE.
You’re not a wastrel. You’re not taking this role on because you are trying to screw people out of money. You know that your thing genuinely helps people.
So stop thinking of talking about it as an attempt to force someone into hiring you.
Start thinking of talking about it as doing a service to the people who might really need you — because you’re letting them know you exist,
Then, allow everyone who doesn’t need you just ignore you.
When you walk into a store, do you buy everything your eyeballs rest on, just because you know it’s available? No! You tune it out, and buy the thing you need in that moment. Respect the people you know enough to trust that they have the ability to tune you out.
2. Send out an email that looks something like this.
Hello!
Because you’re dear to me, I’m hoping you have literally one minute to skim your eyeballs over this email.
First of all HI! Second, in case you didn’t already know, I wanted to tell you that I’ve started a new project. I’m [thing you are doing] [eg coaching people who want to get a job they like more than their current job // helping people write more effective social media posts // working with people who feel like they work and work and never get anything done // building tiny houses for pet guinea pigs]. It’s a pretty different direction for me but I’m having so much fun!
If you don’t care at all, please feel free to delete this email now and I won’t be IN ANY WAY offended. Not least because I’ll have no idea that you did (and I promise I’ll never ask!)
BUT, if you know anyone who is [demographic you serve] who is [having problem they are having] and who wants to get to [thing they really desire, using the words they use], then I’d love if you could point them in my direction to have a (free! no money!) 15 minute chat with me. If you’ve forwarded this email to them they can either email me on [your email] or click HERE [put in scheduling link].
If you don’t know anyone like that and you’ve read this far — you’re a great friend! I am so lucky!
Thank you either way. And if you feel moved to hit reply and let me know what you’ve been up to, I’d love to know.
love // hope you’re so well! // BISOUS,
[Your name]
Then, do the same post on your personal Facebook.
And if anyone’s a d—k about it, know that it says a lot more about them than you. Anyone who thinks it’s weird but is actually happy in their life will just leave you to be weird without feeling the need to tell you their opinion.
Of course, part of sending that email or making that post is knowing exactly what the problem you solve is, what desire you deliver, and — most importantly — how to talk about both in the exact language your ideal client is using RIGHT NOW. If you want some help with that, YOU ARE IN LUCK! This is exactly what I do with my Sales Pages With Soul clients.
During the sessions walk you through a visualization which helps you access what it was like to be where your ideal client is right now, and where they want to be. Inside those places, we figure out exactly what they’re thinking, both about what they need to change and what they wish was true instead.
This helps you come up with words and phrases that make it easy-peasy for you to say, “I can help you with that.” Because if they know you get it and get them, they’re already pretty certain that you’re the person they need.
Click here to find out more: yesyesmarsha.com/saleswithsoul
Thanks so much for reading! If you know someone who you KNOW could have more clients if only they actually, you know, told people what they do, you can share this using one of the round buttons below, or click here to share on Facebook (and make sure you tag me — I’m @yesyesmarsha everywhere).
You rule!
xx (Yes Yes) Marsha
PS want to get free coaching on storytelling and business, AND get my epic guide for the magic bullet when it comes to powerful storytelling? Pop your details in below and you can get ALL of it when you join the Yes Yes Family. It’s FREE!
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