The Very Best Plans Can Come Undone.
Sheep Won't Be Easily Fooled
Today we had to get all the sheep in to go to market. At first they were unsuspecting of what was planned for their future and followed the grain cart eagerly.
Then all of a sudden one of them must have got wind of a bigger plan and decided to make a run for it. Needless to say, sheep being sheep all followed this one renegade and soon we found ourselves back where we had started trying to get them to exit the paddock they were in and walk up to the yards.
We made a trail of grain expecting that to entice them but their intuitive minds decided it was a trick and were not to be conned. Consequently we spent twice the amount of time trying to convince them this was their only option. They had better move or we would continue to annoy them until they cooperated.
People are not Easily Fooled Either
It struck me after we finished that people can be very similar. We can offer them all the carrots in the world but if just one perceives it to be a trick and alerts the others, fear of being conned will drive them all away.
It takes time to build up trust with our audience. We need to deliver the carrots several times before we confront them with the real reason for our generosity. .
There is a good rule for promoting on social media which is well worth paying attention to.
The 80 / 20 Rule
It is the 80/20 rule where 80% of your posts will be engagement without selling then once you have established trust you can begin on the 20% of presenting your product.
People do not get on social media to be bombarded with ads, in fact that is the quickest way to turn them right away in the opposite direction, just like those sheep who knew we were trying to con them.
I think it is the same with pop ups on your web page. They can be very annoying. When I enter a physical store I want to browse before a sales person comes across and tries to sell to me. If they do I will just walk right out the door.
Your online store or business is the same. People need to have time to take in what you have offered before you thrust some promotion in front of them.
What will they get out of engaging with you the minute they arrive at your store?
If you have shown them over a period of time that you do care about them and their needs they will most likely respond to you down the track.
Recent Comments
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Thanks Steven, I am glad to have someone who agrees with me on that, but they say they are a necessary part of the business. I like to keep them well into the page view, like after at least 1 minute. I have some on my own sites I need to tidy up.
Some real food for thought, Judy, so true people can spot the things that don't seem right. Being transparent and honest can really help our cause.
Thank you for your comment Alex. I think it is more a case of building solid trusting relationships first which of course also means being transparent and honest.
Judy,
You are speaking to the choir.
How many times have I been that sheep who sniffed a con?
It takes time to build trust and know what someone agenda is.
I came across that revelation this month when I suddenly realized the primary mission in the beginning is to know your audience and what a great platform to learn than here at WA.
The lessons are designed to build trust in the system. What is often missed is building trust in the community so you can help others with your own site.
I commented on this in my recent blog. I went yearly on June 1st 2018 and found a new goal I'm grateful that the WA community is teaching me how to be a better person by looking through the computer screen and acknowledging there is a person on the other side not a dollar sign.
Building trust should be the first priority. I love your 80/20 rule. I will adopt that in my blogging philosophy.
Thanks for sharing your anecdote. It will be easy to remember.
Sheep and people can't be fooled for long.
All the best,
Louisa
Thank you Louisa.
You are right about WA being a great platform to learn and practice good marketing and business etiquette.
I took a look at your blog too and you have a unique and exemplary way of writing. It was a good read and I can see you are a fast learner.
Thank you, Judy.
I learned it here through the community. I didn't write like this before I came here. I have read a lot of blogs and comments and learned how to behave in a manner of support.
All the best,
Louisa
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Great analogy and truisms Judy!
Thanks Howard.We are a bit like sheep, the masses will follow the noisy few.