MARKET LIKE MY GRANDMA (Old School Techniques from My Great-Grandma Angie)

You probably won’t believe this, but there was a time when I was terrified of marketing. The very thought of it made me cringe.I hated talking to people about my business because I didn't want to be known as "THAT" girl.

Well …

Long gone are the days where I keep my mouth shut about what I do for fear of how others may perceive me; now I seize every opportunity to share with others how I change lives through my work with MamaBeBrilliant Brand Academy. (I also had a no-fluff business coach who straightened me out!)

When I stepped up my marketing game I realized that all I had to do was follow my great-grandmother's marketing tips. Say what??

Yes. I was thumbing through some old photos of her and suddenly realized that she was a marketing genius. Here are 4 tips that I stole from my Grandma Angie:

1. HAVE A STRONG SCENT: Your grandmother probably wore a strong and very distinctive perfume. You know, the kind of perfume that lingers long after you’ve hugged her. My grandmother wore CHANEL 5; she was a sophisticated and classy woman. Just thinking about her, invokes the delightful fragrance. Grandma Angie’s house carried a distinctive smell as well. When I walked into her house it had a peculiar smell - like that old fashioned moth ball smell. I actually squirmed at the aroma when I was younger; however as I grew older, I came to appreciate and welcome the smell of my grandmother’s house. I instantly knew I was back in Florida when I walked through her door. Even now, whenever I’m in a store and I come across the distinctive “moth ball” scent, I immediately think about my grandmother. From a brand perspective, this taught me to carry a scent and to create a brand that has a smell (literally and figuratively). Does your brand have a scent?



2.BRING YOUR SIGNATURE DISH TO THE TABLE: I don't know about your grandmother, but my great grandmother had a signature dish. Her collard greens were delicious, and her country time iced tea was absolutely amazing. This might make you laugh, but my grandmother was also known for “stockpiling” before it became popular by the extreme couponers. Her kitchen was laid out like a grocery store and everybody knew it. Let's pull out the marketing secrets from this tip. You must have a signature program, service or product and a distinctive way in which you do business. My signature program is the 3M-Personal Brand & Business System. I hand select every woman that I work. All of my clients know that I don’t come into coaching calls unless I receive their application. No application, no call. Period. My 3M-Business System teaches clients how to use a spiritual and stylish approach to add 5K every month over the next 12 months, attract premium paying clients and build a brand their clients love and adore. What's your signature program, product or skill? Do you want help creating your signature system or upgrading it? Apply for a free consultation here. 



3. ESTABLISH YOUR DISTINCT STYLE: My grandmother always wore these floral and plaid print cotton and polyester housecoats (Dusters). As a child I believed she had hundreds of them, but I'm sure it wasn't that many. When customers see you and your brand (your skill or product) there should be a consistent visual identity to help them instantly recognize and relate to you.Your goal is to project an image that represents your values and establishes your unique beliefs. Clearly my grandmother was going for ease, comfort and a dash of style. Your brand image is all about how your customers perceive and experience you. How do your customers see you? Do they understand how you can help them? Have you communicated your value effectively?

4. ESTABLISH YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Every grandmother has her point of view and she has a special way in which she sees the world. If I ask you to recall a saying or a deep-seated belief that your grandmother has, without hesitation, you'd be able to fire off several grandma-isms. In business, if you don't have a unique position or viewpoint your customers won't recognize your brand value and you won’t be remembered. As you talk to your customers about what you do, your goal is not to convince them to like you, your goal is to gain their respect and trust in you. Most grandmas have something to say about everything, and whether you agree with her opinion or not she’s going to give it to you. Your brand needs a stance and a point of view. Establish your own expressions, brand phrases, and mottos. Leave your trail of thinking in every business conversation. This will do wonders for your brand.

Brilliant Thinker, leave a comment and tell me which marketing tip resonates with you the most? What tips can you steal from your grandma?