Why Great Marketing Feels More Like Helping Than Selling?

byNicholaJames

11.5K followers

2 months ago

Quote of the Day: “Marketing is the generous act of helping others become who they seek to be.” Seth Godin

When I first started learning about marketing, I thought it was all about clever words, flashy graphics, and the perfect sales pitch. The kind of stuff that makes people grab their wallets before they even finish reading your post. I was wrong. Very wrong!

Now the real question is, what is marketing? Seth Godin’s quote sums it up perfectly: “Marketing is the generous act of helping others become who they seek to be.” This quote should change our entire perspective of marketing. Marketing is not tricking people into buying something. It is about helping them move closer to the person they want to become.

More importantly, think about it. Every product or service that succeeds does so because it helps someone solve a problem or reach a goal. If you sell fitness coaching, you are not selling push-ups or diet plans. You are helping people become healthier, more confident versions of themselves. Additionally, If you offer business tools, you are not just selling software. You are helping entrepreneurs feel in control and capable of managing their dreams. The best marketing does not feel like marketing. It feels like service.

These are a few steps to help us apply Seth Godin’s idea of marketing in our businesses:

1. Know who our people want to become. We must take the time to understand their deeper motivations. Do they want freedom, security, confidence, or peace of mind? When we know that, our messages become more meaningful.
   
   2. Create value before we sell. Share insights, stories, or tools that help our audience right now. Give them a reason to trust us before they even spend a dollar.
   
   3. Speak like real people. Drop the corporate tone. People want to connect with people, not companies.
   
   4. Show the transformation. Instead of saying, “Our products are great,” show how they change our and our customers' lives for the better.
   
   5. Keep it human. People can tell when our only goal is to make a sale. When our focus is on helping, our sincerity will shine through.

Finally, when marketing is done right, it feels like a conversation, not a commercial. It is about being generous with our time, our knowledge, and our intention to help others grow. Furthermore, when our marketing helps someone take even one small step toward their goals, we are not just running businesses; we are making a difference and that kind of marketing never goes out of style. So my question to you is; what kind of marketing are you doing?

I appreciate your time, comments and likes.

To our success

Kind regards,

Nichola