Paradigm Shift #3 - Strive for Impact and Service

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Updated 8 months ago

This article is part of the Paradigm Shifts series where I discuss the principles that should guide the creation of your online business.

Introduction

In discussing things that most folks strongly dislike, public speaking tops the list, followed closely by having to sell.

We have all had experiences with a typical car dealer, a pushy phone salesperson, or even the excited multi-level marketer that everyone eventually avoids.

And even though we we wouldn't act this way, the stigma of selling makes us very uncomfortable. Even the thought of selling is enough to discourage or derail and online effort.

If this is you, there is a way that you NEVER have to sell again.

But first, let's deal with a big elephant in the room. How we are taught to market in today's online world.

Coercion-Based Marketing

I am convinced that part of the stigma of "selling" on the Internet comes from what I call coercion-based marketing.

This is 90% of what we see online, WA excluded.

Every page of a funnel has to be hyper-optimized. And selling is done through psychological manipulation, pressure, urgency, scarcity, and a focus on stats over people.

The human element is completely missing from the equation.

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Here's an old adage for you: "People hate being sold to, but they love to buy."

And so this is where you get to stand out from the noise. The solution to never selling again is to reframe what you are doing. It is to adopt a different philosophy of marketing where sales are a natural byproduct.

Strive For Impact and Service

The solution to this angst is to strive for impact and service OVER the central concern of selling.

Impact means that you truly delight in helping people overcome a problem or reach a goal. You like the satisfaction of sharing your expertise with a group of people who appreciate what you do for them.

It means you enjoy being a coach or guide. A good coach ALWAYS has the other's best interest in mind. A guide is someone who has mapped out the path. They lead the way, at your pace, pointing out the things to avoid, and how you can reach your goals in a shorter timeframe.

To serve a group of people means that you always look out for its best interests. It means that you market with compassion and not coercion. It means you treat your audience members like VIPs, because that’s exactly what they are. Finally, to serve an audience means that you only offer your audience quality products / services that you have tested out first.

This last part is key.

You must be a fan of the product / service that you promote. This means you have taken it through its paces. Now you can stare straight into the camera and say, "Here's the great stuff, here's the not so great stuff."

That authenticity and confidence will carry you a long way in your online efforts.

Conclusion

The key to never selling again is to reframe what you are doing. It is to reject coercion-based marketing and to embrace two values that we desperately need on the Internet today.

Impact and service.

Just like that drop hitting that water and creating those ripples.

All the best

Gustavo

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Check out the other articles in this series: