Advertisement Ideas: Making Your Own Opportunities!!!
Imagine you are driving and you see this sign, how many of you would take the exit and how many of you would keep going allowing your self-talk to get in the way. So many times in business the opportunities to promote and advertise are staring us right in the face but we are so consumed with why not to advertise that we turn them down. The main key to finding opportunities is to remember you are your brand and to share who you are and what you do with as many people as possible as you never know who can benefit from you being of service and value. Exchanging business cards is a great form of advertising and when used and followed up upon will create opportunities. I remember a day I was sitting in Starbucks with my FREE HUGS Sign and a patron came to inquire about what I was doing and that person needed a speaker for her event and asked what I would charge I gave her my fee and she booked me to come speak to her organization. In sharing who I was and what I did I made my own opportunity.
Opportunities abound all around us and when we begin to seek the opportunities they will be found and we will prosper. The other day I was making phone calls to secure donations for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca, an event I am very passionate about and have raised $1844.61 so far to help cancer patients, their friends, and their families. As I asked for a donation the gentleman on the other end started to use words like I am broke, it has been a struggle, and I can’t afford. I pointed out that these were words of scarcity and that is why he may be having a challenging time. He is a mortgage broker and I know how challenging this field can be at times, however I asked have you gone to banks, to homeowner;s associations, or other entities that can benefit from your service. His answer no those are great ideas though. I asked if he had developed informational products like an e-book, a dvd, or audio cd, that could be sold to those in the residential or commercial real estate market. His answer was no. As I hung up the phone I thought if one is to succeed in any business they need to take initiative to find opportunities.
If you are a frequent reader of this blog you know my penchant for finding paying gigs as a PA Announcer and Emcee. My formula is quite simple search for basketball or football related activities or special events and start making phone calls letting people know who I am and what I do and what I charge. Each time I have done this I have secured a paying gig. The key is to put yourself out there and see how you are of service and value to others. As you discover how you are of service and value to others you can market yourself accordingly and thus create your own opportunities.
The biggest thing that holds someone back is their mindset.So many come from a scarce mentality and never pursue opportunities while others come from an abundance mentality and pursue all opportunities. I was asked one day JDOGG how is you raise so much money for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. My answer is because I seek opportunities to go out and share Relay fr Life with others and I ask for the donation. I am asked how come you get media coverage? Simply again I find the right angle to grab the editor, the program manager, or the assignment desk’s attention and give them a reason to interview me. I am asked how do you secure guests for your TV Show, The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EST. Again simple I target people to invite on my show and I call them and ask them. By using the idea of all you have to do is ask I have created my own opportunities.
You have the opportunity to build brand awareness and recognition while creating a buzz all you have to do is look and take action. I was sitting in Starbucks as I usually do and I engaged a lady in conversation and it turns out she is a retired school teacher who is now doing real estate investing. I gave her my card and this led to a great conversation where I shared a technique I learned from Ken Esrig, author of Start From Where You Are. She liked the idea and she took notes. In simply putting myself out there I create opportunities. As you go about your business remember to seek opportunities and to take action. Stay Positive!!!
