Shape of Things

When times get tough, evidently marketers get loud. And insistent. And intrusive. At least that’s been my experience over the last two months. More junk calls, despite Do Not Call. More spam. More hectoring. And as James Brown once said “You’re like a dull knife that just ain’t cuttin’. Talkin’ loud and sayin’ nothin’. 

Don’t we all have enough on our minds — keeping jobs, paying bills, staying healthy — that we don’t need rabid sales people attacking us?  Before you mildly annoyed me, now you’re making me angry.

Instead of punching up the decibels and frequency of attacks, how about giving listening a try? Find out what customers are dealing with and figure out a way to help them, even (or perhaps especially) if it doesn’t have anything to do with your core product or service.  Pass on savings.  Give discounts. Rather than sell, solve a problem. Help a customer save time and money, or do more with less.  Provide some value. 

Now’s the time to listen. And, hey, a little empathy wouldn’t hurt.