Comments for CanDoCanBe

Comment on Blog by What is a blogroll and how do you create one? | Fairy Blog Mother

What is a blogroll and how do you create one? | Fairy Blog Mother — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:04:36 +0000

[...] to Karen Skidmore’s KickAss blog, who definitely knows how to create a good [...]

Comment on Advertise your free stuff by Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:09:38 +0000

It’s a very good point you raise Judith and I believe you have to really consider what it is you are offering. For example, to run a random competition that allows anyone to enter to win one of your products is probably going to attract a good percentage of “freebie hunters”.

But offer a report, e-book or white paper on a subscription offer only (ie someone has to add their name & email address and opt-in to your mailing list) tests the commitment of this person. And this is why I recommend a double opt-in too – you don’t want to make the process too hard for someone … but you do want them to consider their options.

And if you don’t try, you won’t know if it works for your business. One rule (people who like free stuff never buy anything) may apply for one business … but it may not necessarily apply to yours! It certainly doesn’t apply to mine :O)

Comment on Advertise your free stuff by Judith Morgan

Judith Morgan — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:47:17 +0000

Hi Karen, I agree with this but what do we say to those who suggest that people who like free stuff never buy anything?

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:47:06 +0000

Thanks Gillian – certainly a theme worth considering. It could be a great topic one month for my new marketing club coming out this Autumn.

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Gillian

Gillian — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:01:33 +0000

I think also being able to make the switch from giving people what they want rather than what your own experence tells you they need is possibly a function of personality and or work experience. If you are nurturing by nature, if you work in education then you tend to want to help people and so you seek to give them what they need whereas if you are more a sales type then you want to sell so you sell them what they want the heck with what they need. Karen I feel a need for a course on mindset issues such as these – you should put it on your to do list and offer it to people like me who struggle to make the switch in mindset.

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:28:11 +0000

A common problem this need v want! And so many businesses just don’t get it. Thanks for adding this important point

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:26:29 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to add your thoughts Liz. Great points you’ve made.

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Gillian

Gillian — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:56:10 +0000

as an extension to what you say Karen – the crucial word is WANT as opposed to need. I know from extensive experience that people need to evaluate their business ideas, do market studies, feasibility studies etc but if I offer those services – other than to corporate clients via my ‘conventional’ website – I know I will have zero clients. People do not WANT boring old time consuming market and feasibility studies they WANT a business that brings in money working from home as of now. Took me a while to move away from the ‘I know what they need’ to the mindset of ‘offer what they WANT’. I actually offer the same things but present them in a way that ensures that the potential client gets what they WANT.

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Liz Machtynger

Liz Machtynger — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:45:49 +0000

Great article. From my experience a lot of organisations do not really understand what customers buy. It is important to ask people “why did you buy from me?” but also “why didn’t you buy from me?”, to find out what you might have sold.
Also to remember that speaking to a couple of people (usually the ones we like and who are like us) and assuming that customers are buying the same thing and trying to sell that may be a huge disadvantage to your business. Take care to understand some different reasons for different groups to be buying from you.
One persons “end results” are another persons “starting results”..

Thank you for the article
Liz

Comment on Stop selling what you do by Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:56:57 +0000

Thanks Matt. Sell the memories and not the photos and you’ll get a better price for your service too!