Sure-fire ways to get more subscribers, hot prospects, and sales without breaking the bank
@eliotkellyofficial
Attracting new business can be expensive, and if you do not have a good ratio of expectations to the sort of investments and profit margins you are looking at, you may be setting yourself up for disaster. If you are interested in getting more subscribers, hot prospects, and sales without losing your shirt in the process, here are a few tips to set you up for success.
Narrow your focus
You can help two or three people to succeed now and then, which takes more time and scatters your attention, alternatively, you can devise a plan to impact thousands of lives at once.
In his fantastic book, The Emperor of All Maladies, author and physician Sid Mukherjee explains the history of Cancer and how brilliantly physicians and scientists finally began to discover cures for the disease. For many years, doctors and scientists dreamed of finding a single cure for all cancers. They searched for a radical surgery or a miracle drug that could cure everything from breast cancer to leukaemia to prostate cancer. According to Mukherjee, however, breakthroughs finally came when scientists stopped trying to tackle this large-scale problem and made the problem smaller.
The first breakthrough came when Sidney Farber, known as the father of modern chemotherapy, decided to focus exclusively on treating leukaemia. He was one of the first physicians to dedicate his efforts solely to a single type of cancer and by narrowing his focus Farber was able to make significant progress against this single condition. By focusing on one tiny vertical, Farber uncovered answers that could be used to treat the larger problem. As Mukherjee puts it, “…by focusing microscopically on a single disease, one could extrapolate into the entire universe of diseases.” If your goal is to get more subscribers, hot prospects, and sales, focus on developing skills in one specific marketing strategy. You can use the Five Ps of marketing as a framework for developing in the specific areas of product, price, promotion, place, and people. Broadly speaking, the Five Ps of marketing are the key marketing elements used to position a business strategically.
When you are facing a complex problem or trying to do something bold, start with a smaller version of the larger problem. Focus exclusively on that small problem and solve it. In the case of achieving success, for example, across the Five Ps of your marketing strategy, develop consistent results in one of the five areas (ideally the one you have determined will generate the most value for your business at that time). Use the success and the knowledge and experiences you will gain, to expand your knowledge and mastery of the next prioritised area of the marketing framework.
Make an impact by solving a problem
To survive and thrive in business your purpose must be bigger than profit. Build relationships and connect with entrepreneurs who want and know how to create value. Continually learn as much about your field as possible and apply what is useful to supporting your mission to solve problems in your field. You may not be able to do all you find out, but you should find out all you can do.
Step out of your comfort zone
Are you open to new ways of identifying and solving old problems? Develop a mindset that there are no bad ideas, just concepts that can be sharpened using your mastermind group. Iron sharpens iron. It takes a team of people to scale your business. When you share great ideas with your mentors, support team and business partners, they will in turn share great ideas with you. Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything you want in life if you will just help other people get what they want.”
Find a mentor
One aspect of stepping out of your comfort zone is getting out of your own way. A mentor can help you to do this. So, how do you find a mentor who can help you in your business and why do you need a mentor in the first place? Let us start with why mentors are so invaluable. A mentor will provide value to your journey via experience and know-how. When you need an extra boost of confidence, mentors offer support and encouragement to keep you going when life gets tough. Without a mentor, negative thoughts may become prominent in your daily life. A good mentor helps you (the mentee), to make critical decisions that help you reach your goals. Less instruction and assurance are needed when engaged with a mentor who has a proven record of success in your area of interest.
How do you find a good mentor?
I have always followed a simple but powerful system for finding mentors for various projects and goals. I have learned that we usually find what we are looking for. For example, if you were to listen to your heartbeat and observe your breathing sensations, chances are very high if you are reading this article, that you will notice and become aware of their presence. Just like your heartbeat and your breathing pattern of inhalation and exhalation, mentors are all around you. If you seek a good mentor, you will find one. This is not to say that you will require one individual to help you with all your goals. You may have to seek and identify several mentors that will support the achievement of a variety of goals as you grow.
To get more subscribers, hot prospects, and sales without breaking the bank, identify the top players in your field. Write out a list of persons who may be able to support your mission as you support theirs and include their contact details.
How to reach out to someone for mentorship
1. Schedule an initial conversation
2. Clearly describe how you can add value to your prospective mentor and your ‘ask’ or what you want
3. Confirm your willingness to do the necessary work and follow-through
4. Acknowledge and respect the individual’s time
5. If you do not hear from them, use your discretion, and politely follow up without becoming a nuisance
For best results for our example above, only reach out to a prospective mentor after researching and finding evidence that their skills and experiences are a match for the area of the marketing strategy you will be focusing on at that time. The practice of identifying proof that your prospective mentor has had a history of success in your area of interest is in general, best practice.
Before calling or emailing, familiarise yourself with their content, current projects, values, and social media. Pro tip: It is always wise to become familiar with the language of any specific field your prospective mentor will invariably use (e.g., metrics, acronyms, technical terms).
By narrowing your focus, stepping out of your comfort zone, and finding a mentor, you position yourself for success for attracting more subscribers, hot prospects, and sales without breaking the bank. The best rapport is usually developed by persons who can communicate easily on topics of common interest. You will ultimately get out of your mentorship and business, what you put in. The main thing here is to remember you are building relationships and that these relationships are much more valuable than money. To get a free template of the exact script I use to reach out to someone with whom I have no connection (a referral, someone I have not spoken with or written to in the past), email info@eliotkelly.co.uk
Eliot Kelly is recognised as a serial Entrepreneur, and has been featured on CNN, BBC Three’s Be Your Own Boss and an extensive list of magazines and articles. His four books have been translated in over 7 languages and are sold in 29 countries, recently being shortlisted for Best Self-Help and Best Advice Books 2019 by The Author Academy.
