2012. The year of growth and recovery. Everyone seems abuzz with what new and exciting things this year will hold. Social streams and blogs are already talking about the iPhone 5 (we wish it was the iPhone SJ), the iPad 3, the expansion of Mobile Marketing and the Red Sox winning the world series (maybe that one is just me being hopeful).
With all that chatter, how do you still stand out? How do you find and keep your ideal clients? You know, the ones that are just right for your business, want to stick with you and turn into lifelong advocates? Forget about growth and recovery for a minute and just think about the 2 T’s: Trustable and Talkable.
Becoming Trustable
When it comes down to it, becoming trustable is very simple: treat people like you’d like to be treated. Here are a few easy things you can do right now:
- Be honest
- Tell the whole story, the good and bad
- Keep your word, don’t over promise
- Don’t manipulate customer comments
- Remain cordial
- Stop using sales lingo
Becoming Talkable
While being trustable is simple, being talkable requires thinking a bit more outside the box. Try these following tips:
- Be different
- Be trustworthy (you don’t want them talking about the wrong things)
- Give your clients a place to talk freely and share what you’ve done for them
- Stop needing the last word
- Take a risk
- Do the remarkable
If you work consistently over the next 12 months on the 2 T’s – trustable and talkable – you’ll have that amazing year of growth and recovery everyone else is talking about and then some. Go make your 2012 rock.
