Stories from the Crypt of Online Marketing – Vol. 7
Showing gratitude to Uncle Toms from the marketing world
I am sure that every family has at least one of them. The rebel. The black sheep, the wild one.
We have Uncle Tom.
Of course, he was not compared to the character of Uncle Buck that John Candy played, but, nevertheless, he has a certain style that makes him stand out from the rest of the family.
One summer, he piled several of us into his old Gremlin, one of the dumbest cars ever, apparently, and headed to the Abbotsford Airshow. This was before seat belts were mandatory and I’m pretty sure there were seven or eight of us crammed into that little car.
Being the youngest, I was delegated to the rear hatch.
I remember the time quite well, as it was the year a Canadian Forces CF-101 Voodoo exploded in the sky, literally moments after we all got out of his car. We wondered if that was part of the program, but it wasn’t. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
Uncle Tom was also a storyteller. He told this Airshow story many times to anyone who would listen, each time adding a new embellished detail for entertainment.
You couldn’t help but smile, because his energy was contagious, especially when he was talking about that beloved Gremlin!
Now that I think about it, we all have clients like Uncle Tom.
You know the type. Those who call you with a crazy idea or a new adventure they were on, wanting to tell you everything.
They are what make us smile.
They are the ones that remind us of all the good things we enjoy when we work directly with clients.
They’re the ones who don’t fit the mold of any marketing guru; You won’t be able to win over these unique customers with a guaranteed 10-step control plan.
But you know what? They are the ones who will be your ardent champion and will be happy to send you new clients whenever the opportunity arises.
I’m right?
So throw away the guru’s manual and do this to keep these rebels in your life: show them gratitude.
Tell them how much you appreciate them. Express how grateful you are when someone is sent your way.
And if they are also in business, be sure to share how much you appreciate them with everyone so that others can have the pleasure of having them in your life.
Sometimes we get so caught up in marketing funnels, ad campaigns, and lead generators that we forget the foundation of any business: Good old-fashioned relationships with people!
Whether those people are your version of Uncle Tom or not, being thankful that they are in your life and in your business is one of the ways your business will prosper. I guarantee it!
Take care of those customers who make you smile. Invest in them with your gratitude. You will benefit in so many ways that you can’t even imagine it yet!
For the success of your business,
Susan
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
1. In my teatime tip: marketing for busy entrepreneurs, I’m joined by gratitude expert Dana Smithers. I invited Dana to join me in discussing how gratitude can make a huge difference to your personal and professional success: How Gratitude is Good for Business (on my website)
2. 52 Week Law of Attraction Gratitude Journal: Law of Attraction Gratitude Journal: Attract more of what YOU want to create a happy and abundant life! By Dana J. Smithers
3. In business, we cannot afford to miss out on opportunities to thank you. Gratitude makes us money. Read 4 ‘Gratitude Tips’ to make sure your customers know you appreciate them: ABC’s of Business – Gratitude by Pamela Chatry
4. Book: Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results from New York Times Bestselling Authors Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick.