Business is all about relationships.

It's not (only) a cliche, it's true. One of the best ways to have your business or organization marketed to prospects and new clients/customers/donors is through others. Other people talking about how great you are is far more persuasive than YOU talking about how great you are. But sometimes others need some help. Perhaps your 30-second elevator speech is too much for people to remember.

I led an exercise this morning in my marketing-networking group to outline creative ways for others to market your business or organization. Here are some quick (and fun) marketing gimmicks that may help you create a new way for people to promote your business:

1. Parkour. (If you are an Office fan you have an episode running through your mind about now...). The activity of parkour is getting from A to B as fast as possible using only the things around you to accomplish the task. Parkour marketing involves using items around you to promote a business. Perhaps you are at a lunch counter on a rainy day. An umbrella may be used to promote your insurance buddy to the guy at the counter next to you with a line like "JT is like this umbrella -- he will make sure you're covered." Corny? Perhaps but parkour marketing helps you get creative with promoting business in the everyday moments.

2. Acronyms. Make an everyday word into a phrase that will promote/refer people to a business. A used car dealership could be "She sells KIAs" -- Keeping It Affordable. If you can get the word to tie into the line of business, that's even more effective.

3. Tag-lines. Creating a snazzy sentence to describe a business can be memorable. Serenity Farm and Services could be "farmin' and fixin'" for their farm and handyman business. Petals and Wicks (a create-your-own-scent business) could be "makes scents."

Get creative in helping others tell your story.

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

#marketing #parkourmarketing #communitydevelopmentprofessionals