It’s Ocean Day in Japan - Connection
Here are the details as extracted from http://www.japan-guide.com
Ocean Day - (umi no hi) - A recently introduced national holiday celebrating the ocean.
The day marks the return of Emporer Meiji from a boat trip in Hokkaido in 1876.
Interesting eh?
As I’m typing this blog post I’m looking out over picturesque Prospect Bay. Think about it… doesn’t the ocean hold a sense of mystery? It’s vastness, depth, ebb and flow. Truly a great gifts to us.
I love using ocean and other bodies of water to add connection to my copy. When we connect we build trust and lower resistance. Critical elements in any form of salesmanship.
To me connection is a form of “Indirect Persuasion.” Here’s an excerpt from my chapter on Indirect Persuasion from the, soon-to be-released book, “Million Dollar Marketing Secrets.”
The Universal Power of Connection
There are a few things that everyone seems to have an affinity for. They are universal. As an example, most people will associate positive feelings with the ocean.
Why is this?
The more obvious reason would be images of beaches and vacations. These are direct images with a “direct influence.” It’s more than that though.
Think about it. How do you feel when you are near the ocean? It’s a calming experience, right? There’s an inner knowing, a feeling of peace. It’s a natural and therefore the positive effect is indirect.
Here’s The Key to Creating a Powerful Sales Message…
We can use this innate feeling to lower resistance. Connection helps us to create resonance and trust with our prospect.
As you begin to embed connection into your sales message, you will see how potent it is. I’ve experienced it many times. Just recently, a new prospect visited my blog. The next time we spoke, she commented on my photo. In an animated voice, she said… “That picture of you — on the bay — Is it from San Diego?”
The view of the ocean resonated with her so strongly that she felt compelled to comment on it. From then on our conversations had much more flow — her resistance had been dramatically reduced. Although she never did require my services herself I’m grateful that she has referred a great client to me.
Connect – Lower resistance – Increase your profits!
Happy Ocean Day,
Shaune
Comment by Andrew Jaronski
July 17, 2006 @ 8:02 pm
I read your blog and suddenly understood it. I mean, I really got it. The barriers that get broken down when we create resonance - such as your ocean example, or anything else universal like naming beloved pets, bringing up exotic locations, sharing common experiences - can also remind prospects that you’re human too. You become real to them and that much harder to dismiss out-of-hand.
Naturally, what you have to offer must reflect that resonance and be genuine. Otherwise, prospects will see right through it as a ploy to get to their pocketbook.
Worse still, if you have developed any kind of positive notoriety, “insincere resonance” is the fast track to copywriter’s oblivion. Imagine prospects groaning, “Oh, it’s that guy again” and filter you forever as spam.
Shaune, I’d like to add that in order for resonance to truly work, it has to reflect who YOU really are. I can’t explain it, but it shows up in your writing. If you believe, as I do, that everything has its own energy level, then it’s a given… prospects will KNOW you love the ocean.
Don’t believe me? Just read some copy loaded with “insincere resonance”. It won’t feel right. Like eating that burrito that’s been in your fridge for five (or was that seven?) days.
Take care everyone and thanks for the soapbox.
Andrew “The Professor” Jaronski