More Marketing Like P.T. Barnum (Part II)
Here is the continuation of Joe Vitale's outline of Barnum's "Rings of Power". The Last Five Rings of Power center on people, creativity, networking, writing, and speaking.
P.T. Barnum's Last Five "Rings of Power"
- He believed in people helping people to get results.
Vitale points out that Barnum was a proficient at getting the most of personal and business networks. His amicable personality and established trust made it easy for people to help him. He used his personal contacts and connections to get him privileged access. This helped him significantly in furthering his business.
Use the networking power of email lists, family, and friends to help promote your online ventures. With the emergence of YouTube and MySpace, social marketing has set the Internet ablaze with buzz marketing. Use this to your advantage. If you have friends inside the Internet industry they might be able to share valuable advice. Have family and friends test visit your site and provide user feedback. - He believed in negotiating creatively, treating employees and performers with respect.
Barnum was a crafty negotiator. He would always look at the possibilities a situation offered and attempted to capitalize. He was revered by those around him. He treated his employees and businesses associates with the highest respect.
In the business world you need to be a great negotiator. If you are fortunate enough to ride up the ladder of success, bring those who helped you along. Nobody ever succeeded in business without help. The same applies for the online world. There are few if any people who make it to the top without the help of others. If you surround yourself with successful people you are more likely to be successful. Use can also get your associates to assist you with link building.
- He believed all was well.
He lost personal property, his fortune, and his family. Regardless of personal circumstance Barnum always found a way to forge ahead. His personal experience never left him with a chip on his shoulder.
You aren't going to get your web site perfect the first time. Each version is a new opportunity to learn something and make improvements. You might make several mistakes along the way but that is part of the journey. Some people go through multiple web sites before they finally make their mark.
- He believed in the power of the written word.
Barnum loved to write. He used his word smith skills on the general public and with public officials. To the very end he was dedicated to his writing.
Apply the power of words to your web site. Learn copywriting skills to deliver a meaningful message to users. Some of the simplest web sites on the Internet are very successful because they make the most of their copy. They compel their users to take some form of action with words. You can't do much online without words.
- He believed in the power of speaking.
Speaking was almost second nature to Barnum. "He knew that the spoken word could move mountains." He used his speaking abilities to further just public causes, cultural learning, and his business.
Public speaking is a great way to get the masses to visit your web site. Your credibility will increase and you can establish yourself as an expert. If you aren't comfortable speaking in public utilize a blog. Blogs allow you to get your message out to the masses from almost anywhere. Blogs are also becoming a tool companies are using for product and service feedback and to create new products.
Source: Vitale, There's A Customer Born Every Minute, pp.11-16.
After you had an opportunity to review all of Barnum's Rings of Power get a pen and paper and come up with your own interpretations. Sometimes the simplest ideas can lead our brains to discover completely new ideas.
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