Why Marketing Often Feels Sleazy (and How to Avoid It)

I was recently teaching marketing to a wholeright." Then I come to a decision. If I feel safe
flock of spiritual healers at the University ofenough to trust my guidance, I say Yes, and if I
Spiritual Healing and Sufism.don't, I say No.
Now, these folks aren't slouches. Some of themMarketing without the Jewel can feel manipulative,
are extremely successful corporate consultants,and "attractive" words often feel sleazy if your
highly visible doctors used to addressing hundredsheart isn't present. But, your Jewel solo without
of people at conferences, a nationally publishedthe safety of a solid marketing message means
spiritual weight-loss expert with a 100,000 clientsthat your customers will melt away.
under her belt, and a variety of otherConnect to your own unique Jewel. Then craft
practitioners, all of whom have had a certainyour marketing message to help your best
amount of success on their own.prospects feel seen and safe, so they can trust
Yet, even these folks, many of them, whenthe natural attraction in their heart.
confronted with trying to fill their own workshopsYour marketing? Keys to Safety Marketing:
we assigned them for homework, have been- The biggest thing that creates safety in any
stumbling. "How do you create marketing that cansituation is when someone trusts that you know
possibly explain spiritual healing in a way that willwho they are. If you don't know them personally,
attract people in?" It's a good question. But...the next best step is to identify the Who and
The truth is: you can't. No description of what youWhat of your target market:
do can ever do it justice, and it certainly can'tWho: Demographic (observable characteristic) plus
attract people in. But that's okay, because yourPsychographic (belief or internal identity)
marketing language isn't there to attract people in.What: The problem
So forget about trying to attract people withExample: Homeowners (demographic) who care
your words. I'll tell you what you will be doing withabout the environment (psychographic) who want
your words, in just a minute.a beautiful garden that doesn't take a huge
First, understand that the main attractor of youramount of water to keep alive.
business isn't even directly visible, because it's theA brand-new landscape designer who used a line
Jewel in your heart. I know it sounds woo-woo,very similar to this in a party left that evening
but haven't you had days in your business whenwith three new clients, effortlessly. Her Jewel was
you felt great, full, generous, and business flowedattractive- the Who and What helped them feel
in seemingly out ofthe blue? And haven't you hadsafe enough to hire her.
days when you did everything "right" but you felt- Answering unasked questions
a little off, and nothing seemed to work?Put yourselves in the shoes of the prospect, and
That's your Jewel in action (or inaction). Yoursee things from their perspective. Then, list all the
Jewel is the unique quality in your heart thatquestions that would come up for them about
makes you, and your business, magneticallyyour own business. You may be surprised that
attractive.issues that seem very tangential to your product
An example from one of my workshops: aor service may be very important.
participant sunk into her Jewel through my guidedFor instance, in an ad for a yoga studio, it never
exercise "Unveiling Your Jewel." When she 'clunked'made clear what to wear to the first class. Do
into it in her heart (you know that feeling -clunk-you think someone might not drop-in as a new
when you are in yourself deeply), and spoke fromyoga participant because they don't want to look
there, we all felt tears in our eyes. I lookedfoolish in front of the other Yogis and Yoginas?
around the room and everyone was on the edgeAnswer as many of these questions as possible in
of their seats listening, rapt, physically leaningyour marketing materials, to help people feel safe.
towards her, and ready to buy and send her- Tell people what happens after they buy.
referrals.Asking people to buy, without telling them what
And she hadn't spoken one word of "sales" pitch.will happen next, is kind of like leading someone up
Nice, huh?to the door of a party where they don't know a
So what are the words for? The words are theresoul, and asking them to open the door and step
to create safety. Here's the process: Someoneinside. No way! First, I want to know who is on
feels the truth and guidance in their heart to dothe other side of the door, what kind of a party
something- take your workshop, buy youris it, is there food, is it formal or informal? Is it a
oatmeal, hire you for the job. What happensbirthday party and is a gift expected? Without
next?these answers, most people, feeling even slightly
That's right, they doubt themselves. When haveshy, won't open the door.
you ever trusted your heart on a big decisionThese are just a few pointers, but put into action,
right off the bat? If you are like me, it's fairlyalong with your connection to your Jewel, and you
rare. First I get a hit "Yes, that's right." Then Iwill have a lot more people feeling safe enough to
think about it and doubt myself, "Maybe I'm notbuy from you.