Get Personal for Quicker Business Growth

Get Personal for Quicker Business Growth

If you’re eager to generate business quickly, here’s a tried-and-true strategy: engage with people! Whether it’s online or in person, building connections is key. Consider sending a personal email, commenting on social media, attending networking events, or even treating someone to lunch.

During a recent chat with fellow financial services marketer Kristin Harad, she referred to the opposite approach as “hiding behind the computer.” Sure, optimizing websites, honing SEO, creating content, and recording evergreen, on-demand webinars are important, but they can’t replace the power of genuine human interaction.

So step out, meet people, and foster meaningful connections—it’s the time-tested way to supercharge your business growth!

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

ChatGPT-ify Your Business

ChatGPT-ify Your Business

An advisor recently told me he found my company using ChatGPT. That was a surprise! This got me thinking—what's the future of finding businesses through AI?

You should be aware that ChatGPT's data is a few years behind, making AI visibility a long-term game. ChatGPT produces responses from a blend of licensed data, information from human trainers, and public resources. Specifically, it told me it uses online databases, credible financial publications, and its compiled collective knowledge to suggest the "best financial advisors."

There's no surefire way to “ChatGPT-ify” your business. But based on this understanding of how it sources responses, here's what I'd recommend doing over the next few years:

• Try to get on all the “best financial advisor” lists.

• Register for all the "find an advisor" websites.

• Strive to win industry and local business awards.

• Ramp up your public relations efforts.

Will these steps make ChatGPT highlight your business? Honestly, I don’t know, but this is my best-educated guess on how to get listed in the future.

Written by humans. Edited by artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4).

Filtering Questions for Smart Marketing Decisions

Filtering Questions for Smart Marketing Decisions

When it comes to making marketing decisions, it can be overwhelming to determine which opportunities and ideas are worth pursuing. That’s why I recommend using filtering questions to simplify the process.

Though you should develop your own set of filtering questions, here are a few examples to help you start:

• Will this activity resonate with my niche?

• Is this opportunity getting me in front of the right audience?

• Will it help me leverage my reach?

• Does it offer a chance to engage with multiple prospects simultaneously?

• Will this cost me less than $X per lead?

By applying standard filtering questions that you develop, you can simplify your marketing decisions and ensure you’re investing your time and resources in activities that align with your goals.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

The Three R’s of Building Trust

The Three R’s of Building Trust

When you ask a prospective client to hire you, you ask them to place a considerable amount of trust in you. This trust requires confidence in your competence and your commitment to acting in their best interests. It also involves certainty in your ability to safeguard their life savings and faith in your skills to address their financial issues and help achieve their goals. It’s a significant ask, especially from someone just getting to know you.

So, how can you cultivate this trust through your marketing? The answer lies in utilizing the three R’s in your marketing strategies:

1. Recommendation: A testimonial from someone who has worked with you helps build trust. This “R” can include client referrals or endorsements from centers of influence, or client reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp.

2. Research: Prospective clients will likely conduct an investigation to assess your trustworthiness. They might visit your website, scrutinize your social media presence, or use search engines to learn more about you. They might also inquire within their own networks to gauge your general reputation.

3. Repetition: Familiarity often breeds trust. By consistently showing up on a prospect’s radar—through social media posts, newsletters, community event sponsorships, published articles, or advertising—you can create a sense of familiarity that, over time, contributes to trust-building.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

Summer Planning for Fall Marketing

Summer Planning for Fall Marketing

Summer is upon us, marking it the perfect time to proactively plan for your fall marketing endeavors. While it's common for prospects to overlook your marketing efforts during the summer months, their engagement tends to increase as the fall season approaches. The summer presents an opportunity for valuable planning time.

During this season, take advantage of the relatively quieter period to establish your marketing goals and strategies for the September through November marketing push. Consider the online or offline events you want to host and start thinking about relevant seasonal topics and themes that will resonate with your target audience in the fall.

By strategically planning your fall marketing initiatives during the summer months, you can position yourself to captivate your audience when they become more receptive in the coming months.

Written by humans. Edited by artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4).

Create Email Campaigns in Gmail

Create Email Campaigns in Gmail

Sending email campaigns is easier than ever. Gone are the days of needing dedicated marketing email software like Constant Contact or Mailchimp, or automation tools like HubSpot. Now, you can launch visual email campaigns straight from your Gmail account, reaching hundreds of recipients at once.

Gmail offers a diverse range of graphic email layouts, supporting up to 1,500 individual emails in a single send. This is ideal for beginners starting an email newsletter without the complications of using Mailchimp or similar platforms. Plus, it's perfect for creating campaigns that resemble a direct, one-on-one email from you.

Discover more about this feature and how to set it up here.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

Persisting Through Boredom

Persisting Through Boredom

Staying consistent with your marketing efforts is critical, even when it feels monotonous. Boredom is a positive sign that you’ve found a rhythm and routine that work. Familiarity and repetition lead to predictability with your prospects and create trust.

Routine communications, regular outreach, and sustained visibility all generate momentum over time. While the allure of a new strategy might be tempting, remember that consistency fosters trust, recognition, and loyalty in your niche.

Don’t let fleeting feelings of boredom detract from the benefits of a stable, reliable marketing plan. Persistence in your efforts not only reinforces your commitment to your niche but also cements your connection with your clients and prospects.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

AI for Graphic Design

AI for Graphic Design

This week’s tip is inspired by a suggestion from Jim Ludwick, founder of Procrastination Junction, a sales skill coaching program for fee-only advisors.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just for writing anymore. It’s making big moves in graphic design and web programming too. Take MarketingBlocks.ai, for example. This tool is designed to take care of many different marketing tasks. It can create videos, produce voiceovers, handle graphic design, and build and optimize landing pages. In essence, MarketingBlocks.ai is evolving into a one-stop solution for all your audio-visual marketing needs. For DIYers without technical design skills, this tool is a fantastic resource.

Adapting to Social Media’s Uncertain Future

Adapting to Social Media’s Uncertain Future

There is an ongoing debate surrounding social media’s potential decline that is primarily driven by concerns about mental health, privacy, and misinformation. These factors have led some users to reduce engagement or even leave platforms altogether.

For financial advisors who have found success in social media marketing, there is no need for immediate concern. However, it is wise to consider contingency plans and explore additional channels for reaching prospects.

For those who don’t have an existing social media strategy but are considering trying it out, it’s important to manage expectations. You may not achieve the same level of success as advisors who leveraged these platforms earlier. You can also explore alternative channels for engagement.

The key to success lies in remaining adaptable, enabling you to navigate the ever-changing social media landscape effectively.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.

Build Your Network

Build Your Network

I work with many financial advisors entering niche markets, and those who achieve success quickly often have an existing network in that niche. They’ve built trust and credibility over time, so when they focus their marketing on that niche, people in the community are eager to work with them.

For instance, an advisor with connections to doctors on LinkedIn received an inquiry from a doctor soon after updating his profile to reflect his new specialization. Another advisor, experienced in a specific industry, launched a business to serve his former peers and quickly gained traction after announcing it.

To succeed in a niche, build a strong network as soon as possible, either online or offline, or both. A strong network not only accelerates marketing success but also supports long-term growth. Remember, people do business with those they know, like, and trust, so prioritize relationship building.

Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-4). Edited by a human.