Are Gatekeepers Your Ticket To Marketing Success?
Look at "gatekeepers" in a new light -
they're
valuable people to know,
and they can do a lot to help you
with getting
to your target market.
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A gatekeeper is defined in the dictionary as someone who controls access to something. If you're entering an exclusive gated community, the gatekeeper is the person who gives you access to that community.
When it comes to marketing, gatekeepers play the same role. They have the power to give you access to a community of your ideal clients.
And not only can they give you access, they can also give you an implied endorsement. This means those prospective clients will think more highly of you and your business than if they just happened to bump into your marketing on their own. Pretty powerful stuff.
Here are 3 steps you can use to put this powerful marketing strategy to work for you.
Step 1
The first step to employing the gatekeeper approach to marketing is to identify organizations, industry associations, businesses, or even individuals who already have as clients or members, large numbers of your ideal clients.
Step 2
Make sure you have something of value to offer the gatekeeper. You might be able to offer them a free talk or teleseminar for their audience. Or, you could offer them a commission on all sales made to their members or clients. The key is to make sure they get value out of promoting you to their audience.
Step 3
Approach the gatekeepers on your list with your win-win-win proposal. Let them know what they will get by partnering with you. Let them know what their members or clients will get. And make sure you know what you'll get. Typically what you get is access to their audience, or their promotion of you to their audience.
I used the gatekeeper approach to launch 10stepmarketing and as a result I was able to reach thousands of my ideal clients at no cost to me. It also enabled me to make a profit my first month in business.
Plus it was a whole lot easier and less expensive than going out knocking on doors trying to find clients one at a time.
How do you find gatekeepers?
Look at the associations or membership groups you belong to. Look at your competitors. Look at others in your industry who have the same clients you want, but that you don't directly compete with. All are potential gatekeepers to hundreds or even thousands of potential new clients for your business.
Make a list.
Contact them.
Make them a win-win-win proposal. Or brainstorm with them to create a winning partnership.
And watch your business grow easier than you ever thought possible.
Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Learn more about this unique, step-by-step system and get a free 10-week Marketing E-Course when you subscribe to the free, weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com. Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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