Pearls of Wisdom from The Master of Marketing
Last updated on January 20th, 2020 at 6:03 am
Marketing forms an essential part of the career or business of many financial services professionals. Here, we touch on some pearls of wisdom from one of the most renowned marketers and innovators of today.
Written by Mark Underdown
Whether you work within a large established financial services company, a small boutique or have plans to branch out on your own, marketing will form an essential part of your career or business.
Even if you are lucky enough to have a large client bank, you still need to keep your clients engaged with your service and learn how to prompt them to obtain advice at the right times.
As I’m relatively new to freelance paraplanning, marketing is a new skill that I’ve needed to learn. My research into this fascinating field has resulted in one name standing out above all others.
Seth Godin.
Many of you will know of Seth, and some of you will already be implementing his ideas into your work and business.
However, for those who don’t, here’s a very brief overview.
Seth Godin is an extremely successful marketer and innovator, who has worked with many of the world’s largest firms and is the author of countless thought provoking books that mainly focus on the subject of marketing.
The one book that I feel is most relevant for financial services is Purple Cow.
Basically, we’re all doing things the same as each other, which I feel is especially true in financial services. This is boring your potential clients, and if you wish to capture your audience’s attention and stand out from the crowd, you need to dare to be different.
If you don’t have time for the books, I’d suggest at the very least you sign up for his blog.
You’ll receive great ideas and wisdom straight into your inbox and they’re mostly very short and quick to absorb.
Take some of my highlights from last year.
Hypergrowth
Fast growth comes from overwhelming the smallest possible audience with a product or service that so delights that they insist that their friends and colleagues use it. And hypergrowth is a version of the same thing, except those friends and colleagues quickly become even bigger fans, and tell even more people.
Often, we get sidetracked when we forget about “smallest possible.” If you make the audience you’re initially serving too big, you will dilute the very thing you set out to make, avoid critical mass, and compromise the magic of what you’re building. You’ll make average stuff for average people instead of something powerful for the few.
By “smallest possible” I don’t mean, “too small.” I mean the smallest number that eventually leads to the kernel of conversation that enables you to grow.
Marketing is an essential part of the career of many financial services professionals. Share on X
A Practical Definition of Reputation
Reputation is what people expect us to do next. It’s their expectation of the quality and character of the next thing we produce or say or do.
We control our actions (even when it feels like we don’t) and our actions over time (especially when we think no one is looking) earn our reputation.
Every marketing challenge revolves around these questions
WHO are you trying to reach? (If the answer is ‘everyone’, start over.)
HOW will they become aware of what you have to offer?
WHAT story are you telling/living/spreading?
DOES that story resonate with the worldview these people already have? (What do they believe? What do they want?)
WHERE is the fear that prevents action?
WHEN do you expect people to take action? If the answer is ‘now’, what keeps people from saying, ‘later’? It’s safer that way.
WHY? What will these people tell their friends?
Seth’s writings have taught me some extremely important lessons. Different ideas, books and blog posts will resonate with each of you, but what I feel is important is gaining a generic business and marketing perspective from someone not in financial services. It’s great to take a wider perspective and then see how it can be applied to your own service.
The two main lessons I’ve learned from Seth were.
- Mass audiences and mass marketing is the past. Find your niche. Find your audience. Find your tribe. This is the route to success in the modern age. (I’m well aware I’m a good few years late to the game here, but better late than never!)
- Don’t try and be successful being like everyone else. Sure you should incorporate a good amount of what already works, but you need to be brave enough to be unique and innovative.
What will he inspire you to create?
Mark Underdown is The Nomad Paraplanner. He works remotely and can assist with investment research and financial planning reports. Visit www.nomadparaplanner.com to find out more.
