You must expose yourself

*Hear the full Free Agent Underground Show, 'Expose Yourself', in the audio link at the bottom of the page

What if you invented the cure for cancer, or developed a phone that was better and cheaper than the iPhone? Would it matter if you had nobody who would listen to you?

NO. It would not.

In working with aspiring free agents, we are finding a specific deficit that must be addressed with more than a mere call out.

We work hard to help folks discover a viable idea that is relevant for them and the marketplace. Then we work on the deep level of brand...what is their product or service, who is the target market? And we develop a compelling brand that fills a distinct need. A snazzy website that serves as your storefront and a blog or podcast to broadcast your message and you should be in business...right?!

Wrong. Nobody knows you exist.

Wait...setting up a Facebook fanpage and a twitter account is not the answer. You won't organically go viral and the world will beat a path to your doorstep.

With all due respect, what we see happening is that folks hide behind their websites and social media efforts in hopes they don't have to actually step up and do real marketing and sales. That is a bit uncomfortable. We'd rather just take orders, eh?

Yeah, me too sometimes. But as Zig Ziglar says, if we believe our product or service can help people fill a need or desire, then it's our moral obligation to promote it to them.

To...expose ourselves.

If you survey a bevy of successful free agents, you'll find they ALL have a primary vehicle for exposure:

• Someone with a large audiences is promoting them
• They are running ads somewhere
• They are doing speaking engagements
• They got really lucky...which means after they worked their butt off to be prepared, they got an opportunity that gave them killer exposure. Like writing a book on cat blindness and you end up in a stuck elevator with Oprah and her cat who is...going blind. She tells the world and...instant top seller. Have you prepared anything for such an opportunity? And I'll tell you, if you DO have anything prepared, you can make such opportunities arise. Well, maybe not that specific one, but a good one nonetheless...

And do you know the point of getting exposure? It's not to make a sale! Did you hear that? Not at first. Sales come from building relationships. All you are looking for is to grow your audience. After a number of communications, a percentage will step up. And you MUST keep growing that audience. They are prospects. Some will come, some will stay, some will leave, some will eventually buy.

But you've got to be feeding it.

Where or what are you going to intentionally go after for exposure to be consistently building your audience?

On October 29-31 we'll be gathering with about 40 free agents to hit this head on and create a 6-month marketing plan at our Expose Yourself Intensive Event in Colorado. Dare to join us?!

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Comments

[Shawn Frey]

Great post Kevin!

In direct sales we call this call reluctance. Everyone's got call reluctance because of their fear of failure. In my experience the easiest way to silence call reluctance is to simply put yourself on the line and "go for the no". Once you have that mindset of sorting your prospects with "no", you WILL eventually get that one yes. And that one yes can change everything... providing you have a great product to share with the world.

Keep up the great work. Love reading your posts.

[Jeff Beaudin]

Very good insight, Kevin. If being "out there" is not a strength then you need a support structure to help you. Two basic components you can start with are belief in your mission/product/service and knowing your product/service/topic COLD. There are more things you can do but begin with those and feel your confidence grow. Then, to echo Shawn, get out there!

Jeff

[Mike Evans]

Kevin,just what I needed to hear. This post has a truth to it that seems to be one of the real turning points in both keeping a business running or in taking the business from a survival level to a thriving growing level. It is easy to sit back on ones heels and that is the beginning of failure. I am at that transition point and appreciated your thoughts as they help to refocus and motivate me.

[Joe]

Great post Kevin! I really enjoy reading your posts and thoughts! They give me something to chew on throughout the day.

[Cathy]

I get it, Kevin, and am just getting going with implementation of what you say here. More details to come soon to the FAAmily.

[Melodie]

Kevin,
Good post! Even though I'm only at the Discovery level, now focusing on my idea, your description of the creative work that is to come when building energizes me. And reading that nearly 40 have declared for the upcoming intensive . . . wow! I feel ESPECIALLY blessed to have been a part of the August group of nine.

[Kevin Miller]

Shawn - yes...fear is huge. Im also committed to helping folks be
prepared to convert a higher percentage. I dont get many Nos because
I target the right people with the right message.

[Kevin Miller]

Jeff - yes, get out there. Its just one of those things those who make it do, and those who dont make it...wont.

[Kevin Miller]

Mike - glad you got value. As always, Im also preaching to myself...

[Kevin Miller]

Joe - thank you so much. Im grateful to be chew worthy. Seriously.

[Kevin Miller]

Cathy - hey, your in FAA...and I know getting the tools ready to get out there.

[Kevin Miller]

Melodie - youre doing what it takes, and I know youll be ready to expose yourself when we have you all set!

[Archie Winningham]

Great show guys.
Question: At what point do I stop volunteering for a living, and start making a living? It seems that I could volunteer for free for the rest of my life, but sooner or later one would get to weak from not eating!
I am working for a non-profit organization here in Cookeville, which is one of the places I had been volunteering for. I'm hoping it will turn into full-time soon, but in reality I am afraid it will just end up being another "job". Guys, what advice do you have concerning this?

[Kevin Miller]

Archie - we just started a brand new Idea Course. Its foundational
for free agency. I should have contacted you about it...I think its
what you need to do now.