Successful Blog

Don’t Pay Attention — Are You Curious?

by

Pay Attention!

Pay attention.

How many times have you heard those two words?

What did they really mean?

To me they meant sit up straight; fold your hands; and be quiet. Look and listen?

I used to think life was all about paying attention. I don’t think that anymore.

Paying attention is passive. I don’t wait for things to come to me.

Are You Curious?

The world moves faster than waiting allows. If you want to know things, you have to do more than pay attention. Observing only provides half of the story. You have to get out there and find out things. That means you have to be active–get curious. Ask questions. Get interested in everything. Don’t leave an idea uncovered.

Pick a block of time today. Question everything you do. Use curious questions like these to build your business.

  • Do I always do this task this way?
  • Is this a habit or do I have a reason?
  • Is there another way to do it?
  • Do other people do it the same way? Get curious. Don’t just take your own word for it. Check it out.

We have this way of fooling ourselves into believing that everyone thinks as we do.

After you’ve gotten curious about how you do things, check out whether other people do things the same way as you. That’s the whole point, you see.

Curiosity As Influence

I need curiosity to know my customers, my readers. I’m lucky. I’m weird enough that people have made it clear that I’m not focus group material in any way — but my curiosity is influence. It changes how I think and how people see my business. Curiosity connects. It forges links. My curious questions establish my interests and seal my one-of-a-kind value.

Still, you’re one of a kind too. Things you do in your own way or in a way that’s different from many of your customers, deep curious questions you ask establish that. Sharing your curiosity adds value to a business.

As a customer, I value a brand that’s curious about what I like. It makes me curious about the people behind the brand. I want to get to know them and once that happens, I want to do business with them too.

How might you use curiosity to promote your brand?

Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Cow- . . . Er . . . Blogtipping

by

I Know Cowtipping

Where I grew up, some kids would go out cowtipping in the summer. They would drive out to 1-Mile Road or 2-Mile Road to find a farm where cows were sleeping, sneak up on a cow, and push it over. Then they’d run back to their cars laughing.

I didn’t do it. I’d like to say that was because I am a humane soul. I am a humane soul. That’s true, but that’s not the reason I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it, because I make a habit of not disturbing sleeping beings, especially those that are larger than I am. The risk is more than I care to take on.

But Blogtipping?

This morning when I went to check my links at Technorati, I saw one from Easton Ellsworth at KnowMoreMedia called It’s A Great Day For Blogtipping. Needless to say I was a bit concerned.

I stood up to look at my computer to make certain it was upright. Then I viewed my homepage to be sure that it wasn’t sideways. Whew! What a relief to see it looked fine. Those two things out of the way, I could then click the link without fear to find out what Easton had in store for me.

Blogtipping Easton Ellsworth Style is a great example of showing readers that you value them.

He’s right. It is a great for blogtipping. Will you tip a blog today?

–ME Strauss

Related articles
Just Say YES!
Link Love Raises Your Property Value
Do You Know a Customer When You See One?

Better Than Hi! How Are Ya?

by

Conversation Starter

Customer Think Logo

The first step in getting to know anyone is conversation. Sometimes though, conversation doesn’t come so naturally. It’s no fun to find yourself in a situation with nothing to say for whatever reason. I keep myself armed with a question or two that I can pull out on those occasions.

A great “getting-to-know-someone” question has three critical traits.

  • It’s open-ended to get the other person talking.
  • The responder can choose what to reveal.
  • No implied judgment or right answer is hidden within it.

The question I use most often when I want to spark conversation is this one.

So, what do you do when you’re not doing this?

I’ve had fabulous conversations with CEOs, cab drivers, hair dressers, and once with another person stuck in a elevator. I’ve always parted those conversations feeling like I’ve made a friend.

Got any conversation starters that you use?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Customer Think: Saying Things without Talking
There’s No Putting ME in a Box
Do You Know a Customer When You See One?

Pick a Number–Just Make Sure It’s a BIG One

by

The First One to Pick a Number

HAS POWER. I found that out last night. It was exciting. Here’s what happened.

Customer Think Logo

In yesterday’s article, Job [and Client] Hunting ala Liz, I added three bits of advice I had learned about negotiating meetings. This was one.

The first one to name a number loses. To me that’s self-explanatory. If I say a number, they’re not going to go higher. If they ask, I usually answer with . . . what the work is worth, let’s talk a little more about what’s involved and what you usually pay for this kind of work.

I found out in less than 2 hours I was wrong. WAY COOL. [Read more…]

Don’t Hijack My Attention

by

WAYS TO LOSE READERS

Going Shopping

Customer Think Logo

I’m walking down the sidewalk on a sunny day. I have a little time to look in the shop windows. I look in one and see something interesting. I go in, only to realize that the shop is not what I thought.

I immediately turn to leave by the same door I entered. Hah! Here’s the catch. The door is latched. It only opens in. I’m literally stuck in this shop.

I bet you’ve had this happen to you — not in a brick and mortar store — on the Internet. [Read more…]

There’s No Putting ME in a Box

by

A Heartwarming Story

Customer Think Logo

One more story–this one will explain the last. You may already know it. It’s inspiring and heartwarming. I’ve encountered it more than once myself.

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.

They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back……every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.

It’s a lovely read, but it’s not what happened. [Read more…]