Closing The Grand Canyon

Ok, this isn't actually a press release or massive notice about the "Grand Canyon" closing. But hopefully it caught your attention. This is about "Closing The Grand Canyon" for finding new business by leveraging relationships and Internet marketing.

The world of "finding customers" is like the Grand Canyon. So many nooks and crannies, valleys and plateaus in which to discover new things. And that's just part of the fun in relationship and Internet Marketing - new nooks, crannies, valleys and plateaus to discover new customers just waiting to be found and introduced to your products and services. The key is realizing you have to dig into the canyons and find them...and most of the time it doesn't take a deep dive into the canyon to discover there are potential clients everywhere.  Case in point!

I recently moved my financial planning services to Edward Jones. Stick with me here so you can see how my trek into the canyon created a path to new business. I was referred to an attorney by my tax professional while I was searching for advice on managing a windfall of inheritance. CONNECTION #1! The attorney, whom I really liked, provided me with a recommendation to Edward Jones, and my financial planner Lee N. (whom I now really like)! CONNECTION #2!

During our "get to know each other" discussions, Lee N. and I talked about what I do as a Marketing and Social Media Consultant. Lee indicated that he sat on the board of directors for a local chapter of a national association and wondered if I would be interested in presenting a marketing workshop (and the answers was "yes, of course.") CONNECTION #3! A few weeks later, and 15 new faces to converse with (not talk at, or sell to) I now have additional Twitter Followers and Blog readers and potentially 15 new customers! CONNECTIONS #4 - 18! A few weeks later, Lee N. asked me if I would present to a group of CPA's (and the answer was "of course.") Now, CONNECTIONS #19 - 25 and a potential website deal only three days after the workshop to CPA's! And what did Lee N. get out of this? Nothing but good will and the "rememberance factor." He offered good business advice, outside of his scope of expertise, to people he had relationships with, and the advice had nothing to do with selling Edward Jones financial services.

If you haven't already figured this out, "Closing the Grand Canyon" on getting more business is all about being available, present and willing to help others with your expertise without it being a direct "selling proposition." So just like multiple pebbles falling to the floor of the Grand Canyon to fill the void, perseverance and willingness to fill the gaps with thought provoking, educational information to help other business owners or consumers will close the gap of your Grand Canyon for your business...one pebble at a time and leave a remarkable impression!

So what pebble can you throw to the valley floor today, to begin filling the gap to get more customers interacting with your business?