When I first started to write my newsletter, it was very difficult for me to write about anything personal. I made up a story that people didn’t care about me. All they wanted to read from me were my business building tips, success mindsets or any other relevant information on how to get clients.
But over the last few years, I have allowed myself to open up more and let people into my world. And it’s been an incredible relationship building adventure.
It all started at the urging of my business partner, Patrick, to shoot a video with Gia simply announcing my engagement. I didn’t want to do it, but Patrick can be persuasive, so I finally agreed. Getting Gia to do the video was even more difficult, but she finally relented.
What happened shocked me.
I got more comments and emails from that one video than anything I have ever done. What!!!
Since then, I have done everything possible to bring the human Bill element into everything I do and it’s made a difference.
We would all rather engage with someone who is open and personal. We want to know about people we do business with. We want to feel like we are dealing with real people who care about us. We do not want to deal with closed and impersonal corporations trying to sell stuff to us all the time.
When you speak about who you are and when you speak your truth – your newsletter subscribers are going to respond!
Here are a few tips on that for ya:
- Write the way you speak. There is no reason to use big words or fancy language. Write as if you were speaking to a friend who you care deeply about and are pretty familiar with. Don’t worry about making mistakes.
- Share powerful opinions even if you think some of your readers might disagree (especially if you think people might disagree!). Share perspectives that need to be said, but others are afraid to say. Scary – perhaps. Powerful – definitely.
- Tell stories from your own life experience. People love stories that allow them to extract what’s useful to them and their own lives.
I remember 4-5 years ago, my ex-wife emailed me after reading one of my newsletters. She said that it sounds like I am leading a charmed life, that everything seems so neatly put together and that I come across as perfect. I didn’t like getting that email because here’s someone who knows me and is telling me that I am not being altogether real.
That authentic email from my ex-wife made a huge difference for me on my journey towards being more real and personal in my own communication. I learned that sharing things about my journey that haven’t been easy or flattering is part of who I am, so why omit them from my communications.
So I want urge you to be more YOU, including all the rough edges, when you speak to people in your life, your clients, your newsletter subscribers and even your potential clients.
This will allow you to feel better in your business and your business will reward you with more revenue, more clients and more fulfillment.
So how are you going to be more authentic in your next communication/newsletter?
Warmly,
~Bill
