Sunday, September 7, 2008

How Thinking Like A Salesman (or woman) Can Improve Any Part of Your life. Read This :-)

The other day, as I was chatting with some friends at a local cafe at the Curve, a thought occurred to me as I saw all the people walking about. Young and old, trendy and stylish, simple or conservative, confident or looking pensive...i realised something very, very important that most of us tend to forget about.

And then it really dawned on me. I mean realised it before, but at this point, it really hit home and I knew I had to share with you guys.

Sales and marketing is not an activity we do at certain times of the day or our lives. It's not just a job. It's not something you can compartmentalise and pocket into a certain part of your life.

Now before we go any further, please take a moment to clear your mind, get relaxed and then consider very carefully what I'm about to say:

OK, here goes...

At anytime, anyplace and anywhere, we are all selling or marketing something. Whether you like it or not, as long as you're alive and kicking, you're a salesperson.

If you're in the public eye...you're actually marketing yourself based on the image you're projecting -- the clothes you wear, your facial expression, the way and pace you walk. You're actually selling an image.

If you're on a hot date, you're selling yourself (not in that way) but you're looking to convince the other party to buy into the proposition of you -- the package of you. He/she is going to leave the table (with you or without you) based on how well you manage the sale. Or whether there would be hot date Part 2.

If you're talking to someone, just a casual conversation, you're selling your opinions, your confidence, your ability to converse, etc. People are going to "buy" impressions of you based on what you say.

Even when you're just walking down the supermarket or sitting down at a mamak stall...you're in the public eye and that means you're "selling" again.

And in complete honesty, you're judging me based on how well I write this blog. :-)

And the list goes on and on.

Have you considered all these different ways and times that you're indirectly engaged in sales and marketing? if you do, good for you. Cos if you're aware, then you're probably also taking steps to always project the best or correct image for yourself in those many occasions of indirect sales and marketing.

If you don't, then consider how many business contacts, social opportunities and job offers you could have potentially lost. Consider then how you can turn things around.

Sales and marketing is not just a subset of our lives and something we do at interviews or at jobs (if you're a salesperson for your company).

It is our lives in a very big way.

How do you capitalise on this? In my next posting, I'll share some ideas on how you can capitalise on this free medium of indirect marketing and advertising.

Cheers, peeps. Have a good week ahead.

PS: Continuing a little from last week's post, socialising also means attending different kinds of events. Like the photo of the one below -- yes you guessed right. It's a rock party! Up the irons! :-)




And...........










PPS: Some of the ads we have done for a client in developing an international image for them as we help them go regional. It's fun to do this kinda work and judging from the response of the market and from our client, it's working. :-)







Josh
Words Wizards

4 comments:

IC said...

The real trick is to determine what kind of image you want to present rather than "ending up the way you are".

Coming from a marketing background, I think it would be fun to sit down and develop a positioning for yourself. What you want to achieve, what key message you want to deliver and how plus finally what kind of budget you are going to allocate to achive it :)

Words Wizards said...

Thanks IC, that would be something indeed. A really good point. And my point is that you can achieve the image you want...if you maintain the right attitude, disposition and build on that.

Thanks for the feedback and please do come back for Part 2. :-)

Sparkling said...

Oh yes, I will definitely come back for Part 2, I need to desperately know how to capitalize on it!

Nice creatives' :) - I liked the headlines very much - was all that body copy necessary?

Words Wizards said...

LOL, thanks for the feedback and compliments.

Yes, the body copy is necessary to "sell" to the niche market that is looking for a better retread (the product). For others, they may or may not read or find the copy important. But it does matter to a select audience...which is our target market. So we're giving them more information, to empower them and trigger them to respond.