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| | The Un-Marketing Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | Views: 1262 | | Mar 12, 2006 6:30 am | | Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # | 
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | What would it mean to "un-market" a business mixer? Is that even possible? How would that work?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM
www.squidoo.com/CDMM
Your Synergistic Marketing SolutionPrivate Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 12, 2006 7:33 pm | | re: Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # | 
Angelo Cerase | | What would it mean to "un-market" a business mixer? My guess is that it would mean the roughly the same thing as "un-marketing" anything else.
To the best of my knowledge, Un-marketing is a long-term plan so that customers come and seek you out, instead of you having to go out and market yourself and your business to attract clients.
How can you do that? By consistently providing above average service, always being professional, etc., etc. Essentially, clients come to know you as the "go-to-guy" for whichever product or service you provide.
As for business mixers, what do people expect from them? Referrals, new business, new contacts, etc. Once you know that, then make sure that they know that the best place to get whatever they are looking for is your mixer.
How to do that? Well, I'm sure you have some ideas, but my guess is that the more new people show up, the more new contacts people can make. Once more and more people show up, AND are successful in what they are looking for, AND keep coming back, they will most likely tell others. Those others will come, hopefully become successful, keep coming back, and tell other people.
As you can see, this is a long-term plan. What to do in the short term? Do stuff to ensure that people get what they want out of the mixers. Ask people what their main reason for being there is, and help them achieve it.
AngeloPrivate Reply to Angelo Cerase | | Mar 13, 2006 6:21 am | | re: re: Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Angelo,
I like the way you think. I particularly like the idea of becoming the "go-to-guy." As you know, a business mixer is usually the bi-product of an organization of people - like a chamber of commerce, business association, etc. When should such organizations do to fit the mold of the "go-to-guy?" Should the organization be a business resource to its members in the way that the public library is the the public-at-large?
After all, every organization should have its benefits. What sort of benefits befit an organization that provides mixers - besides food, refreshments and door prizes?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM
www.squidoo.com/CDMM
Your Synergistic Marketing Solution Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 13, 2006 6:02 pm | | re: re: re: Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # |
Angelo Cerase | | Well, door prizes, refreshments, etc, are nice, but they are just gravy, not the meat.
For example, at the Ryze Toronto mixers (I haven't been to one in a while so things may have changed) you are given a coupon for a free drink and there are various types of finger food available. As nice as these bonuses are, they are not the reason I have attended these mixers. The main reason why I attend is to meet new people and gain new contacts. Food, drinks, door prizes are great, they improve the general atmostphere of the mixer, but they are just gravy.
Keep whatever refreshments you currently offer, but focus your attention on why people come to your mixers and what would it take for them to (1) come back to the next mixer and (2) tell their friends/contacts about the mixer and encourage them to come. Don't worry too much about making it easy or finding other ways for current members to tell new members - what I've seen is that if something it worth coming to, people will find a way and make the effort to tell other people. People will use their voice or email or whatever if they feel that what they are recommending is worth it. Concentrate on what is important to visitors and improve that.
AngeloPrivate Reply to Angelo Cerase | | Mar 15, 2006 9:25 pm | | re: Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # | 
Jill Hurst-Wahl | | Lamar,
An un-marketing business mixer is one where people get a message to show up at a spot at a specific time and bring business business cards. And then people met, talk, network.... Like one of those instant mobs that people do using text messaging on cell phones.
Jill
Jill Hurst-Wahl
Hurst Associates, Ltd.
Tel: (315) 243-4403
Web site: http://www.HurstAssociates.com
Digitization 101 blog: http://hurstassociates.blogspot.com
Speaking/Workshop Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/paouf Private Reply to Jill Hurst-Wahl | | Mar 16, 2006 7:19 am | | re: re: re: re: Un-Marketing & Business Mixers | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Angelo,
While I think your advice is noteworthy, there area major differences between where you live (Toronto, Canada) and where I live (Middletown, CA). To begin, you live in a densely populated metropolitan area. I live in a rural, lightly populated area with bedroom communities. According to the difference in demongraphics, it should be much easier for you to draw a nice crowd than me. You have a larger audience from which to pull to begin with. In addition, the folks who attend your events probably work in the surrounding area. They do not have to travel to a different county just to do their job. That's one of the major drawbacks to living in a bedroom community - such as where I live. Most of the people who live where I do, must travel to a different county just to find employment. So, the focus of where these folks spend their money and most of their time is NOT where they live...but elsewhere. That means getting the locals to attend a local mixer is a real challenge.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM
www.squidoo.com/CDMM
Your Synergistic Marketing Solution Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | |
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