While we may not be actually selling anything, or at least not normally, landing a boyfriend or girlfriend, and even at the beginning of a relationship is really marketing yourself. There are a lot of other similarities between the two as well.
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Everyone Portrays the Perfect Image In the Beginning
When a relationship’s new, you’re on your best behavior. You’re careful not to fart in bed (or on the couch, depending on how new this relationship is). You mind your Ps and Qs, and try really hard not to let the other person know you’re crabby or irritated. You hide your little idiosyncrasies as best you can because some small part of you wants that other person to recognize how damn wonderful you really are.
Pssst! Want to know a secret? When you let that silent one go? She knew it wasn’t the dog, but she liked you enough to pretend she didn’t notice!
Marketing’s a lot like that, you know. Products and services usually all look pretty good and free from flaws at the start. We know the negative points are there; we just don’t see them yet or they aren’t serious enough to be an issue.
It isn’t until after we’ve used the service/product and fallen in love with it a little bit that we notice the things that aren’t quite so perfect. But, if it’s handled the right way and our experience has been good up to that point, we’ll usually overlook it. If the experience hasn’t been quite so good and the business isn’t interested in listening, then like a nagging wife, the customer is going to blow a gasket and toss complaints everywhere like a vacuum in reverse.
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Looking In the Wrong Places Means You Waste a Lot Of Time
Here’s the deal, if you attempt to pick up this really hot chick (or guy) and she keeps looking over at her friends with this pleading look in her eye, she’s just not that into you.
If she goes to the washroom, and you happen to notice her trying to climb out the bathroom window, she’s just not that into you.
If she gives you the phone number for the local strip club instead of her cell number, if she starts scratching consistently, or tries to pass you off to her very eager but considerably less attractive friend, she’s just not into you. Well, or it’s likely going to take you longer to get her to go out with you than the two weeks the relationship will last because you realize looks aren’t everything in her case.
Marketing and consumers are like that too. If you’re constantly marketing to the wrong crowd or in the wrong area, you’re going to waste a lot of time and effort on people who just aren’t that interested. Instead, take time to become familiar with your target market and go where they go. Besides, it’s a lot easier and a lot more profitable to market to those who are already interested in what you have to offer.
There’s someone out there for everybody?
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Spontaneity Keeps Them Interested
When you’re girl or guy hunting, you need to stand out from the crowd and get noticed. Otherwise, you look like every other Joe Blow or Mary Jane who has mistreated them in the past. Best case scenario, she’s thinking as she eyes you up, is that you have absolutely nothing to offer her that’s going to make her life better.
So what do you do? You make sure you look just right, you slick back your hair, you saunter up to her and you say… something really stupid that makes you want to crawl in a hole, but it was odd and creative enough that she laughed and decided to give you a chance.
In marketing, if you’re too afraid to take risks or get creative, you’ll get passed by. The things really stand out are the ones that become highly successful. Don’t be afraid to take a risk.
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You Can’t Stop. It’s a Constant Effort
If someone breaks up with you, you get rid of any evidence and head back out in an attempt to land the next one. If you stay in a relationship, it needs constant work and attention because things just keep changing. This is particularly true when you hear statements like ‘you spend more time with your phone than you spend with me’, ‘we never do the fun stuff anymore’ and ‘I’ve got your keys for the truck. And if you sneak off to the bar on the garden tractor again there’s going to be trouble’.
Your customers probably won’t take away your keys or threaten to take half of everything if you sneak off to the bar, but those relationships still require regular attention and maintenance. Marketing also needs to be consistent to avoid creating waves in your income and keep you at the forefront of your customer’s minds.
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Honesty and Transparency Are Important
Her: What are these? *dangles a delicate pair of women’s undergarments*
You: Uh… they’re mine. You know, for days I need a self-esteem boost. Lace isn’t just for girls, you know!
Her: Uh huh. Like you’re a size 2. What’s her name?
You: Crap! *sweat* uh…uh…
Yeah, you know how it goes. If you aren’t honest or even look like you’re hiding something, it’s game over. You can bet your other half is going to sniff that out in an instant and it’s not going to end well.
Consumers are the same, and if they believe you’re less than honest and reliable, they’re going to dump you instantly and head to your nearest competitor. Giving misinformation or misrepresenting products or services is also a huge no-no in the marketing world that might get you more attention than you want.
Are there other ways marketing is like dating?
7 Comments on "5 Ways Online Marketing Is Like Dating"
Nice post, Angie! I love how you get an important point across by equating it with something we’ve all likely suffered through – dating. Good stuff to keep in mind whether you’re marketing or looking for Mr. (or Ms.) Right, lol!
This is a bit of a coincidence. Having only just moved my AOL Dating emails to my marketing inbox I thought to myself “How similarly dating is to marketing myself. But how I thought – Get lots of it, Show that your Organic and Creep.
Very Good I shall retweet this to all my followers.
Stop putting vegetables in my bed it’s perverse.
Thanks, Angie! Everything you mentioned rings so true. You did a great job comparing dating to marketing. As Lisa nicely stated, we’ve all been there. Your article kept me engaged and you addresses some key marketing factors.
Angie,
This article was right on target. You are a wonderful writer. I wanted to share with my readers your article. I did not alter your content and provided your links.
To Your Success,
Stacie Walker
Hi Stacie! I caught that in my Google Alerts. Thank you so much for sharing with your readers (the compliments) and linking back. That’s wonderful and benefits us both!
I was just thinking about this myself – since I love relating everything to money & marketing. Great post, thanks for reading my mind (kinda creepy, but I’ll let it slide)
Hi JM, hehe I *know* my readers