If you are a blogger (or are about to start one) and you want to be really good--subscribe to Copyblogger. I think it’s one of the best blogs to improve your blog daily. There’s a reason he has over 100,000 subscribers. It was when I read this post called “Could your Blog be Ruining your Business” that I realized there was a very important paragraph missing from each of my posts.
And it was this one: If you want your home to have atmosphere including colours that flow to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, Contact me by email info@mariakillam.com for on-line rates or call me at 604.318.9725 if you are local.
Why did I add that paragraph? Because this post reminded me that “A blog is supposed to create more interest in what you do or what you sell. It’s supposed to bring you more credibility, more readers. It’s supposed to show off your expertise.” So if someone finds your blog because a friend sent them a link or they stumbled on it while surfing the web and you don’t let them know you can help them? Then they will simply get the information they came for and. . . leave. So it’s important to let your potential customers know “What you do” so that your blog can do for you what it’s supposed to do, bring you more business!
This weekend I was having a conversation with a good friend at a birthday party. I told him that I was cranky that the last three potential clients I had spoken to in the last week had not hired me. Once they heard what my rates were, the response was “I’ll talk to my husband and call you back”, and they didn’t. Normally, when someone has been reading my blog for a while it’s pretty much “When can you come?” not “You’re too Expensive”. (I’m not that expensive by the way, I just don’t list my rates because they vary depending on what you need, also I haven’t decided if they are exactly right and it’s harder to change them if they are posted—in other words—get me now while I’m still a bargain!).
Selling a service is very different from selling a can of paint. You buy it, you know exactly what it’s going to do. Easy. A designer? Different story. However, reading a blog like this one is like getting a referral (which is one of the best ways to hire a designer) because you can get a sense of my style and personality by reading this blog.
So, back to the story. My friend gave me some excellent advice; he said “Maria you are trying to sell them something, instead of letting them know what you do so that they can decide if you are the right fit for them”. He suggested that instead of ‘selling’ or ‘explaining’ my service, let people know “If you work with me, this is how you will feel. For example, “What I do is help people love the experience of being in their home”.
And you know what’s funny? That is essentially what I have written at the end of each post “If you want your home to have atmosphere including colours that flow to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me”. What’s missing is that I didn’t say that when I was talking on the phone with potential clients.
And not everyone is my customer or necessarily wants what I provide and that is okay too.
The story isn’t over yet. It get’s better. Today a friend sent me this video by Simon Sinek it’s 18 minutes but well worth it!
Here is his book:
Simon Sinek (who works with people on how to be inspired leaders) discovered a very important principal that profoundly changed the way he operates in the world and this is the short version (watch the video to get all of it):
“The part of the brain that’s responsible for all decision making has no language. It’s where trust and loyalty and gut decisions come from. Sometimes you can give somebody all the facts and figures and they will still say ‘I get what you’re saying but it just doesn’t feel right’. And because that part of the brain does not have language, that’s the best we can come up with.
If you don’t know why you do what you do, how can you get people to buy something from you or vote for you, etc. or more importantly be loyal, and want to be a part of what it is that you do?
“People don’t buy what you do they buy why you do it. And what you do simply serves as the proof of what you believe. People do/buy the things that prove what they believe.”
According to Simon, if you talk about what you believe, you will attract those that believe what you believe, why is it important to attract those that believe what you believe? It’s called the law of Diffusion of Innovation. (When I heard this I realized this was the reason my entire experience of design has changed since my blog—people that are attracted to my personality [and subsequently hire me] have similar traits that I have—which is what makes my job so amazing these days).
Those who lead inspire us, we follow those who lead not because we have to but because we want to, we follow not for them, but for ourselves and it’s those who start with why that have the ability to inspire those around them or find others who inspire them.” Simon Sinek
One of the reasons I’ve chosen images from Ralph Lauren Home on this post is because he is a master of creating atmosphere in his interiors and I study his interiors as well as countless others because I also strive to create uncontrived yet styled, clean, and comfortable spaces for my clients when I work with them on decorating their home from scratch and if I’m hired for a simple consultation to walk through how to do that: which colours for the walls? What colour should my furniture be and so on, it’s the look and the feel that I’m hired to create.
After listening to his talk I asked myself what my “Why [I do what I do]” is and if it should be different from what I’m already saying (there's a reason my blog has 'happy' in it, I love it when my clients are happy from the right colour and decor), so here’s the way I’ve been saying it:
If you want your home to have atmosphere including colours that flow to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, Contact me by email info@mariakillam.com for on-line rates or call me at 604.318.9725 if you are local.
And here’s how I might say it his way:
[Why do I do what I do?] If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me for on-line or in-person consultations.
Related posts:
10 Things every Blogger should Know
10 Tips that will take your Home Design blog to the Next Level
Authenticity. . . The Currency of the Future
If you are new to this blog, click here to see the Best of Colour me Happy
