Marketing as we know it is over. Done. Finito.
People the world over are bored and spammed to the brink of tears. But there is good news: There's a better way to connect with precisely those you wish to reach ? and it works far better than traditional, expensive, gimmick-driven marketing.
We call this method "Marketing as a Spiritual Practice." Why? Because marketing is actually a process, just like any real spiritual quest. It takes time. There are countless "monsters" (or at the very least, struggles) at every juncture. We learn our lessons through trying and failing. And despair, it seems, is always just around the corner. But this process teaches us invaluable lessons:
Experiencing success and failure shows that you are really trying. True, you'll have periods of denial, followed by frustration, and anger. But these will eventually be followed by enlightenment and elation.
Marketing really is much more than a task to achieve financial success. It's about unearthing potential-in your business, in the leaders of your company, and in the kinds of clients you attract. And when you learn to market as a spiritual practice, the sense that marketing is a "chore" will vanish. Instead, the process becomes meaningful, so you'll value and enjoy it.
Once you break from ho-hum marketing and learn to put your deeper beliefs "out to the universe" (think: "a broader level of promotion"), a remarkable thing will happen: You will attract those who really need and appreciate the products or services your company provides. It's an incredibly simple concept. [Then again, Buddhists say their methods are simple, yet it takes decades for their monks to master them.]
Rules for Marketing as a Spiritual Practice
If the following rules for this new marketing paradigm sound "New Age," read between the lines of any enormous business success story (even Donald Trump) and you'll find similar guidelines (OK, so maybe #4 would be a major stretch for The Donald!).
Listen to Your Intuition
When you are ready to refocus your marketing, there are practices you can begin right away. First, consider that when you do not listen to your intuition, things often go very, very wrong. Consider these examples:
Case Studies: FedEx and Starbucks
Let's start with understanding the value of intuition. Like these successful business founders, you must continually practice "trusting your gut" to make appropriate marketing decisions.
Based on his intuition of the market demand and potential for a guaranteed overnight delivery service, Fred Smith wrote a paper for his college professor. Said professor was not encouraging in the slightest. But Smith still followed his gut instinct, did his research and preparation, and developed solid marketing. As a result, his company, FedEx, is one of the world's biggest success stories.
A similar intuition struck Howard Schultz. While in a café in Milan, Schultz realized that Americans would pay over $3 for a cup of coffee. Thus did the creator of Starbucks give birth to his company, which has enjoyed phenomenal international growth in the past few years. Obviously, Schultz was correct in following his instinct!
Willingness & Risk-Taking
Willingness is the state of mind that takes an idea from intuition to creation. But too often, this willingness is defeated by a belief (especially inherent in business owners or entrepreneurs) that "we can do it all ourselves." If you are open to assistance and you have good direction, you will usually reach your goals.
Case in point: We worked with a writing firm owner who wanted to return to her roots, doing more journalistic projects. After years of writing marketing materials and web content for technology-based firms, this owner lacked the confidence to approach editors of consumer-focused publications and pitch her story ideas.
After a Speed Consulting session (just $180), our team helped her map out a strategy for breaking through her pain-points, and created several simple-to-execute tactics:
In just a week, we convinced two publications to pick up one of her articles. True, few stories are sold this quickly. But we believe that it was the writer's willingness to adapt to the editors' exact needs that allowed her business goals to be realized. In fact, one of the publications has since advised her that they would like her to write a series of articles...so this could be the beginning of an exciting, ongoing relationship for this very talented writer.
What is the Value of This "Spiritual" Approach? In Her Own Words ?
"After 20 years as a writer, and writing about everyone else's products and services, I found it hard to pitch my own. But Allison helped me to remember that editors are simply another target market seeking a product (my writing) that will meet their editorial requirements, and will be of interest to their readers.
What was really wonderful about my consultation with Allison was that she made the process so simple. I had only to accomplish a few tasks, play to my own strengths, and the rest took care of itself. I could never have done this without Allison's immediate grasp of my needs, her very wise counsel, and her help with the pitches.
I tell my friends: If you're paralyzed by a bad case of the "buts" (I'm really good at this, but...), and you truly have a willingness to succeed, do yourself a HUGE favor and call Allison! She can get you "unstuck" and back on track in no time, with her intelligent, caring, cost-effective, no-BS brand of marketing" - Owner, Lucchesi Communications
More Tips for Implementing Marketing as a Spiritual Practice
We have New Marketing Products Under $15 that will help busy business owners get what they need right away!
About The Author
As a former film & television director, producer, and manager, Allison rebelled against misleading, pushy marketing by consulting with businesses on "Marketing as a Spiritual Practice". Clients include United Airlines, Apple Computers, Chevron, ABC-TV, HBO-TV, advertising agencies, and hundreds of other smaller businesses.
Allison Bliss Consulting combines an expert team of seasoned professionals from the fields of advertising, promotional design & copywriting, event and television production, who offer Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurs an integrated range of do-it-yourself marketing products & cusomized hands-on services.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Your business depends on the success of your marketing efforts.... Read More
I do think that it is entirely possible for an... Read More
Postcards are perhaps the least expensive way of reaching a... Read More
Have you ever chosen to pay attention to someone just... Read More
How often do you sit around and wonder how to... Read More
Good marketing, whatever form it takes, always meets certain criteria.... Read More
December is a month in which many organizations make plans... Read More
Sometimes you can use a guarantee effectively in your headline.... Read More
You may be engaged in a marketing activities that are... Read More
Just because you have to stretch your marketing dollars doesn't... Read More
I don't mean you, I mean the YOU that is... Read More
So how do you effectively market your product or service... Read More
My wife likes to shop at the local Safeway. Is... Read More
Copywriters that try to be clever, humorous, abstract, or use... Read More
We all watch the commercials on TV. We hear them... Read More
In the last issue we looked at 5 reasons why... Read More
It all started out with an email message: "I am... Read More
Are you trying to promote your business with a tiny... Read More
Marketing is a vital aspect of a business' operations. It... Read More
This list contains 25 powerful strategies to improve your direct... Read More
The following 3 simple selling tactics produce sales by responding... Read More
Is Advertising Viable?At the turn of the 20th century, department... Read More
Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth... Read More
How do you answer the seemingly easy question, "What do... Read More
The writing of good classified ads truly is an art... Read More
Develop These Six Critical Marketing Traits...And Success Will Surely Follow.If... Read More
Behold! He with the light cometh!He shall light thy darkest... Read More
A brochure can be a great promotional tool, whether it... Read More
Do you have a website? A Web Newsletter? A mailing... Read More
A church in my community provided me with one of... Read More
If you've never done a postcard mailing, you're probably wondering,... Read More
Before we begin, I want you to think about how... Read More
Change is good, right? Not always. But when is it... Read More
In virtually any business first impressions are lasting impressions. Most... Read More
Personal contact with customers is a crucial element in the... Read More
Effective customer newsletters find the right mix of promotional and... Read More
Thirty percent of all the drinkable water that runs between... Read More
Those who believe the web is not a direct response... Read More
Direct mail can be one of the most effective tactics... Read More
Have you read anything in the news lately about childhood... Read More
How would you use business cards for gift certificates?I asked... Read More
I have been designing Yellow Page ads for the past... Read More
Do you spend a lot of time and energy courting... Read More
How well do you know your customers?What is the primary... Read More
There is a simple but almost mystical law which governs... Read More
Small companies that rely on business-to-business sales often find it... Read More
Do you want to be quoted by the national press... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes we could make as business... Read More
Which sale is the most important one you will ever... Read More
I'm constantly amazed by all of the media reps from... Read More
In the international bestseller "Blink," Malcolm Gladwell explains why our... Read More
Do you know what the majority of people sell? I... Read More
IntroWant me to tell you something on how you can... Read More
Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth... Read More
A Complaint? It's a Compliment!What made you mad last week?In... Read More
If you want to get consistent results from your marketing,... Read More
Some of the ways in which to get your "name... Read More
In your marketing efforts, be they on or offline, it's... Read More
The basic lead generation process is pretty much the same... Read More
For many of service-based businesses out there, it's not that... Read More
Each of these 11 marketing tips is based on a... Read More
"If he who has a thing to sell Goes and... Read More
Writing and publishing a successful newsletter is perhaps the most... Read More
Your customers don't know what they want. And to assume... Read More
Coming up with an idea, seizing the opportunity, and setting... Read More
Everywhere you go on the Internet you find the words,... Read More
Marketing |