Invitational Marketing or Why I Don’t Hard Sell
It’s not in me to do a hard sell. I really don’t see the point in them. Our lives are full of things that contribute to feelings of tension and pressure. You don’t need me contributing to that. You really don’t. Pressing on pain points to manipulate you into clicking the Buy Now button? No, thank you. Really not my style.
Not only do I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to capitalise on another’s pain, but I don’t actually think a hard sell makes good business sense. Especially for offerings such as mine. And, I suspect, such as yours.
Think about it. I have this current offering – the Practical Magic Business Circle – which I’ve developed, nurtured, explored and tended to. I’ve listened to what it wants to become, and I’ve responded accordingly, with the result that I’ve created something that is going to be a truly special experience for all involved – myself included.
I’ve shared about the goddesses stepping forward to guide and support the circle. And I’ve explained why magpie medicine seems to be so important to this gathering. I’ve clarified why this offering is a circle and not a course. And I’ve expressed my desire for this circle to feel like home to Edgedancers of all kinds. I’ve even lifted the curtain to show you what’s been happening behind the scenes.
Consider each one of these articles as invitations. Because that’s what they are. With each post, I’ve extended my hand, openly, honestly, and with deep integrity. That’s what this offering demands. That is what my business demands. And I am so delighted to give that to it. In fact, it’s my honour.
Having delivered these invitations, there have been those who have chosen to accept, who have decided that this circle feels in alignment with their desires – for themselves and for their businesses. They’ve spent time with their decision. Or they’ve allowed themselves to respond immediately to their instinct, their intuition, their deep knowledge that this circle is for them.
Either way, their choice has been made without pain, without pressure, without manipulation on my part. I’ve simply made the offer. I’ve extended the invitation without strings. And those that have claimed their space? Well, they all really want to be there. And they’re feeling good about their decision. After all, it’s been a decision taken with freely, clearly and cleanly.
What this means is that we have a circle forming filled with women who know that this circle is for them. I know this, because that was my intention when I launched – may this circle fill with women who know in their heart that it is for them.
The energy of this group is going to be potent because it is clearly aligned with values such as honesty, compassion, generosity, openness, and presence. Because those are the values that I’ve woven into this offer from its very inception. Those are the values that I’ve used as my touchstones as I extend my invitations. Those are the values that those who have already claimed their space in the circle have shared resonance with.
Think how different the energy of this circle would feel if I had used hard sell tactics, if those values hadn’t been honoured at every stage. A different kind of experience altogether, hey?
When I think of how that circle would feel, as opposed to the one that has begun forming, I feel a heaviness in my body, and a constriction around my heart. I feel resistance building and a total lack of desire to be present. Like I said, this doesn’t make good business sense to me. If I don’t want to be there, then I doubt anyone else really wants to be there. They may have claimed their space, but because they did so under emotional duress, they don’t really want to show up and spend any time there. And they probably won’t share about the experience, either during or afterwards, in any kind of positive way.
Far better, I believe, to start as we mean to go on – with honesty and generosity, with compassion and openness, with presence. Don’t you think? Doesn’t that feel infinitely more joyful?
The next Practical Magic Business Circle will be opening soon. If it’s for you, then I trust absolutely that you will find your way there. And if it’s not, then it’s not. And that’s ok too. In fact, that’s more than ok, because there are bound to be more opportunities in the future – not the exact same as this one, but others. And maybe they will be a better match for your desire.
To make sure you don’t miss the announcement of the next round, then please do sign up to my mailing list – you can do that by clicking here….
