Mindful Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners

There is a new way of doing business. Consumers are becoming intolerant to slimy sales tactics, personal data trading, and click-bait messaging. Instead, a call for transparency, connection and mindfulness is changing the way companies compete in today’s marketplace. 

Mindful Marketing. What is it, and why should we pay attention?

​To say we live in an information era is an understatement. The access we have to information has transitioned from exciting and useful to downright over the top. From our own personal data, to fake news, to social media addictions – we are forced to be hyper aware of the way we conduct ourselves online; or we chance putting ourselves, or others, at risk. 

As business owners it is our duty to act intelligently and responsibly when it comes to the information we own and share. Our consumers want to know they can trust us, we are not exploiting them, and most of all – that we are real people behind the screen, and we care. There are many ways we can be mindful when marketing our business.

Here are a few tactics I find particularly relevant: 

1. Be Transparent. Maintaining loyal customers has everything to do with building trust. A brand is a promise, and your business must deliver on that promise. Be up front and honest about your offerings and intentions. Consumers don’t have time to decipher hidden agendas, nor do they want to. #TransparencyIsTrending
2. Don’t add to the noise. I say this constantly. There is SO MUCH noise on the internet - reposted meme’s, false claims, and the same inspirational quote over and over and over... Be mindful about what you say, and how you say it. This shows you are respecting your consumers time. Time is more valuable than ever these days.
3. Be relationship driven. Yes, sales keep your doors open. Relationships grow sales. Create opportunities to meet people face to face. Have meaningful conversations (even if just online). Become so genuinely invested in your consumers that when anyone asks for a recommendation for a product or service you offer, you are the first person they think of.
4. Pause. The key to mindfulness is pausing before you act, or react. Now that literally everyone and everything is on the internet, there are no take-backs. Even if you delete the fiery comment you left under the less-than-stellar review someone posted on your facebook page… chances are a screen shot lives on.
5. Practice digital wellness. Last but certainly not least, put your phone down and go do the thing that you sell on the internet. Or don’t, and go outside.