Why You Need to Live the Question "What's In it For Me?"
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David
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November 15th, 2012
One of the most important things you can do for both your own needs and those of your customers is to live the question "What's in it for me?"
Businesses, especially small businesses, blogs, and websites are incredibly hard to maintain past that initial jump of passion. Often, we're encompassed by a deep and overwhelming desire to provide a product or service or to be a guide for other's on a path. We want this so badly that we just go for it!
The answers to the question, "What's in it for me?," should align with your deepest passions and desires! (Photo by Mike Kwiatek)
But then, it gets harder. We have to learn about things like online marketing, social media, customer engagement and retention, ROIs, and so much more. It starts to feel impossible, doesn't it?
After this initial jump, you need to find the fire that keeps you going.
There's got to be some seed of self-fulfillment lurking under that business exterior! What is it? Why are you doing this? Why do you want to keep going?
On an even more simplistic level, just ask yourself "What's in it for me?" Don't let this feel like a selfish endeavor, either.
Let's say you're a freelance writer and someone offers you a regular position writing about something somewhat outside of your areas of interest. Now, you're stuck. You would love the steady, stable income, but you already know that your passion for the field will suffocate under the terse, overly technical field you're about to enter.
What's in it for me?
- Well, you'd get the money you need to pay the bills, and build another area of expertise for your resume.
- You'd also have to fight with yourself to be productive everyday, walk away from the path you've built for yourself, and just hope you don't feel like you "sold out" in the future.
These answers aren't necessarily very easy to give or even confess to, but you have to. You can't just say yes to everyone and hope that's good enough for what you really want in life.
Be honest, and always accept yourself for who you are (no matter how silly you might feel sometimes).
For your customers, "What's in it for me?" is an unstated mantra.
Think about the average internet user. They happen upon your blog or website after running an internet search. Why are they there? The fact they even see your content is because they're doing something for themselves. They need new hair gel and you just happen to be the best producer out there.
Do they want to read about why you're great, or even your product? Not really. Customers want to know what's so great about this product FOR THEM? Does it reduce those annoying flyaways? Does it cost less than the leading competitor, which means more money for whatever else they love? Will it make them happier and prettier? Excellent!
That's what the customer wants. Not a story about you, your inspiration, and your awards. Eventually, they might find that information extra appealing and enticing, but not at first.
For you and your customers, you need to internalize this question. It'll keep you on track and keep your customers happy. Hey, there's another pro!