How to use questions as a marketing tool (and what happens when you do)

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In my recent Quick Tip, with the subject line, "Want to Be Valued for Your Brain?," I emphasized the value of curiosity and asking questions, rather than trying to impress people with what you know. 

I am thrilled to say that at least one member of my small coaching groups has taken that idea to heart and has been not only asking questions, but also making it a habit.

Curiosity has to become a habit!  You have to remember to ask!

Here's what she shared in our private Slack channel: 

I am most happy I remembered to ask.

  • I asked in a followup email if I could stay in touch with my newsletter and got a yes.
  • I was speaking to the principal at my son's school and went off topic and asked if I could help them with their "printed program of classes." They said yes and scheduled a meeting to discuss the possibilities.
  • I got a cold call from my website asking about my services and I remembered to ask about their budget. It was higher than the number I would have blurted out. (By the way, closed the deal on that job and got paid in full yesterday for it.)

So thanks @ilise -- asking is starting to become a habit.

I see so much passivity -- you're waiting around for them (the clients) to come asking for what they need. That will not get you very far. If you want to be perceived as a strategic partner with a brain that can help them, you must be more proactive.

What I've learned from my own experience is that the simple age-old truism is true, "If you want something, you have to ask for it." 

How do you think I got my first of 7 books published? That's right -- I asked! That was a huge lesson in 2001.

Of course, that's not to say you'll get whatever you ask for. But you will get something and it's likely to be better than what you don't have. 

If you want to know more about how to use questions and curiosity as a marketing tool, listen to this interview on the 21st Century Creative Podcast in which creative coach, Mark McGuiness, asked me to elaborate on why and how this "asking questions" strategy works so well. Listen to that (or read the entire transcript) here

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Photo by Simone Secci on Unsplash

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