Hey Reader, .... "My launch didn't go to plan..." ... "I didn't get any sign ups to my program..." ... "The campaign fell flat..." ... "I made ZERO sales..." ... "The marketing plan didn't work..." Any of these sound familiar? Now, there are two elements at play here: The first element is about understanding the interplay between failure and success. There's absolutely nothing wrong with running a campaign or putting out an offer and it failing. That's just how it is. As long as you can pick yourself up and go again, no problem there. For most people, however, it IS difficult to pick themselves up and go again... ... because the campaign or launch takes so much out of you. You can spend huge amounts of time, energy and money for no return. You write emails, social posts, sales copy, landing pages, and on and on. You spend ages connecting everything up, testing it, getting it to work. You show up online, on video or live as the launch progresses. In other words, you do EVERYTHING the marketing playbook tells you that you should do. And yet... So, how about we take a step back and let me ask you a question or two... ... Do you actually enjoy running a marketing campaign? ... Do you feel energised during your launch? ... Does it feel natural, fun and exciting to you? Or are you going through the motions of what you 'should' be doing? Look, there's nothing wrong with modelling what works. But the 'real' reason all this marketing activity leaves you drained and reluctant to jump back in again is a lack of alignment. You don't feel it... because you don't FEEL it. You may have heard the phrase that marketing shouldn't feel like marketing for the audience. It should feel informative, valuable or entertaining. What no one talks about is that marketing shouldn't feel like 'marketing' for you, as the entrepreneur or brand owner. It should feel fun, intuitive, exciting or as though you are serving your audience or making an impact. You shouldn't be writing an email because you 'should' write an email. You should write an email, a blog post or a social post because you woke up and had something you needed to say. It was urgent and important. And you needed your audience to see, hear or watch it. (That's exactly what I felt about this email. Unplanned, unresearched... but with a message I thought would be useful for YOU to read). The secret to getting back up again and again so you can keep making offers, keep getting in front of your audience and keep going when others fall by the way is this: Stop following the same templated, narrow-gauge strategies that are right for some people... Even if you think you can push through it to finish that campaign, in the long term, it will chip away at you. Consistency is the 'hack' that will win over your audience, destroy your competition and build your brand. The 'hack' for consistency is for it not to feel like 'work'. For it not to feel like 'work,' it needs to come from you and be fun, interesting, exciting, or whatever you value most. (This is SO personal to you). Laters! Jody Jody Raynsford How To Start A Cult www.howtostartacult.co.uk P.S. Making consistent easy, simple and fun is the primary mission of the Broadcast module in my new Cult Leader Academy program. Cult Leader Academy is a step-by-step program for implementing The 7 Cult Commandments so you can be bold, build belonging, and attract a band of devoted followers to your business, brand, or community. |
I (accidentally) started a cult. Now, I show others how to do the same and become a cult leader. Yes, you're right – it's completely irresponsible. But it's the most powerful way to build genuine connection and belonging with your audience in an age where customer loyalty is dead. Oh, and it's a lot of fun. Join (you'd expect a cult leader to say that, wouldn't you?)
Do you think Shakespeare is boring, Reader? Well, that’s the feeling I was left with after my experience of Shakespeare in school. Having to read page by page out loud in front of the class. Struggling to understand what all these bizarre outdated words and phrases meant. With teachers who were less than enthusiastic and unwilling to make it any more interesting. The only mild enjoyment was when the teacher gave up and let us watch the Franco Zeffirelli versions of Macbeth (super gruesome)...
How now, Reader - how farest thou this day? On his birthday - and indeed St George's Day - it seems only fit that a writer should honour William Shakespeare. For the greatest debt the English-speaking world owes is to him. It shocks me we don’t celebrate it more in the UK. If Shakespeare was American, it would be a national holiday with fireworks and lots of food. But, for us, it slips right under the radar. (In fact, the only reason I ever remember is because it’s also my wife’s nan’s...
I don’t know about you, Reader … … but I f**king hate it when I see someone selling something they’ve not achieved for themselves. You know what I mean: All these pimply teenagers in rented AirBNBs trying to tell you how to think like a millionaire Or telling you’ve they’ve "cracked the code" of making money online (There are more “cracked codes” in internet marketing that in Bletchley Park!) That’s why I won’t sell or promote anything unless I have done it myself. The fact I even have to say...