How to Attract Business: Let a Customer Tell Their Story
Why listen so well you practically get inside your customers’ minds?

The best marketing messages for whatever you sell –don’t come from you.
They come from your customers or the people you market for.
What do they say, think and believe about the problems or goals your business helps with?
You’ll get marketing results by matching your messages and content with how they view their problems or goals.
Step out of the way and let a customer tell their story!

Memories from Innovation Rodeo (IRodeo) 2016 and 2017
– Summer camp for entrepreneurs –
The glass door opens to a friendly greeter.
Chatter rolls. And rises. “What –you’re an entrepreneur too!” “You’re online.” “You’re part of a startup.” “You’re in communications too.” “Where do you hang out??”
Big questions pop up
“What brought us here?”
“Who are we here to meet?”
“Why are we here?”
A booming voice cuts our never-ending thoughts.
GRAB LUNCH. JUSTIN’S PRESENTING ON INNOVATIVE IDEAS!!
Mesmerized hearing about innovation, we munch cowboy cuisine.
A race to speed up creativity.
Draw a concept using every circle covering a sheet of paper.
Heather wins in less than a minute. Holding up a ‘Connect 4’ game board.
– Innovation challenge –
Groups break out. Every member thinks and learns differently. Paired with minds specialized for innovative thinking, analytic problem solving or evaluating problems.
How can our city prevent vulnerable populations from getting left behind in the digital era?
Brainstorming and helping solve a real challenge feels important. Our innovative vision has no limits. Enabling us to collaborate from shared wisdom, experiences and understanding of the people we’re helping.
We outline a process for implementing our vision. Including a consultation group. Invite members from every vulnerable population capable of leading their communities. Our multiple, unique minds collaborate to anticipate hurdles, analyze data and propose a solution.
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– A Mindset Wired for Entrepreneurship –
A man and his daughter join our team for the break activity.
Correction. Sarah’s an 11-year old entrepreneur, who’s come on her own.
What will you learn working with a youth entrepreneur?
Sarah’s confident and takes action. Her mindset’s positive and flexible. She has NO concept of what’s not possible. She’s not paralyzed by the unknown. She has NO fears of judgement or criticism. Yet, Sarah’s a team player and open to ideas.
She boldly begins her Lego project.
You hesitate… Will this be judged or critiqued?
– Celebrities and Inspiring Stories –
Coming back with beer and snacks –people pack every free spot in the room.
Inspired by entrepreneur kings who’ve exited a business.
Sharing tales of breakthrough ideas –launches –pitching for funds –angel investors –learning to love the ups and downs of entrepreneur life.
Their stories and advice inspire what’s possible –even residing in a rural city. But not like the unforgettable story from the previous day.
Two friends deployed in Afghanistan –dreamed of returning home and making beer in their tool shed.
Promising they’d survive and pursue their dream.
Thanks to investments from 10 friends and 2 family members who believed in their talents –a dream business began and still thrives.
– Networking and Behind the Scenes Stories –
A peer flips over backwards and BONKS onto the concrete bar floor.
Ouch!
“Don’t tell. Don’t tell anyone.”
Followed by another voice. “How’s everything really going?”
Our leader shares the story of starting Innovation summer camp for local entrepreneurs.
Within 5 weeks, he brought his vision to life. Relying on his extraordinary network, courage, and endless support from established entrepreneurs and businesses.
An EXPLOSION!
People volunteered –donated food –brought beer. Speakers and panelists found. People spread news.
Somehow, we found ourselves here and came together.
– Interviews Reveal Insights for Start-up Success –
My video partner and I head over to find out more from the pitch content winners.
The start-up entrepreneurs willing share. Mentioning previous experiences with public speaking, entrepreneurship or a related profession. Personal rationales for helping others solve problems come up. How they strengthened networks. What mindset and personal qualities aided validation. How support and circumstances accelerated success. Delving into validation steps with their target market.
– Take aways –
Big questions answered.
What brought us here?
We needed this innovative, bonding experience to fuel our rocky path.
Who were we here to meet?”
Everyone we connected with and every person whose story touched us.
Why did we come here?
To find our tribe.
The people who get us, boost our confidence, support through dark moments, encourage innovative thinking and care.
Kuddos of thanks for Craig Elias and his mighty team of volunteers and contributors!
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How do you get an ideal customer to capture what’s going to in their mind?

By following these video storyline tips:
· Either your ideal customer vlogs their story or you record sound bites of conversations or interviews.
· The goal is to capture what they say, think and believe about their problems, frustrations, goals and desires.
· It’s fine to capture sound bites from other people they interacted with. They’re part of their story.
· Avoid focusing on your services, event or product.
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You’ll get customers for your product, service or event from using these video storyline techniques. Future customers trust what an insider says, thinks and believes about whatever you sell. More than what marketing messages tell them. People love when you step out of the way.
Plus, learning about the people you target improves your marketing. Expanding your perspective to how they view problems and dream goals. Opening your mind to business possibilities competitors miss.
Let your customer tell the story.
Over to you… Will you record sound bites from conversations and interviews or invite a customer to vlog their experience?

