Hit #2

Welcome to REALity Bites—your go-to source for real, unfiltered insights on brand and marketing (plus other stuff) for good humans in the financial advice industry...delivered at delightfully random intervals.

Author

Lisa Greensill
November 11, 2024

💫 REALisation - The power of a vowel

One letter between g and t. Instant mindset flip.

I'm training for a half-marathon - yes I'm that mid-40s cliché. Running started to feel like a chore. Same script, every night: "I've GOT to run tomorrow morning..." followed immediately with a heavy sigh.

Then a friend pulled me up on it - "You've got working legs, time to train, beach views and safe streets. It's a privilege. Stop whining."

Perspective served! It's what I needed to hear. And it works. Changing one vowel completely shifted my headspace.

This works for marketing too. When it feels like another thing you've got to do, remember Seth Godin: "Marketing is the generous act of helping someone solve a problem." 

We don't have to market ourselves and our businesses.

We GET to help people.

Try it with basically anything that feels heavy and hard. It works.

🛠 REALly Useful - Don't forget Adviser Ratings

If you’ve ‘googled’ yourself lately, you’ll notice that your Adviser Ratings listing pops up on page one of Google. It’s prime real estate!

Because we know the curious eyes of your prospective clients will certainly be googling you, it’s important you take control of your listing and give them something that’s REAlly you.

Quick Tips:

  • Update your profile picture.

  • Spruce up your ‘About’

    • Who you help (be specific)

    • How you help them

    • How their life better by working with you

    • What makes you different

  • Set a reminder once a quarter to ask a few clients for an Adviser Ratings review.

    • Even if you already ask for Google Reviews, you could ask clients who don’t have a Google account to leave an Adviser Ratings review.

Why is it so important to keep up appearances on Adviser Ratings?

Because of the potent power of social proof.

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people look to the actions, behaviours, and endorsements of others to guide their own decisions and behaviours. It helps reduce uncertainty and build credibility.

➡️ To find out more about enhancing your free Adviser Ratings profile see here Start here

🔍 REALity Check - Beware of smoke and mirrors

Paul Watkins is a dad and pharmacist who also happens to be a high-altitude mountaineer and ultra-runner. I recently saw Paul speak at a conference, and I’ve followed his musings on LinkedIn for a while.

While he might spend his weekends doing things most of us would consider crazy, his take on professional integrity is refreshingly down to earth.

In "Never meet your heroes," Paul rips the band-aid off those shiny professional credentials we often chase. You know the ones - "as seen in", "graduate of", "best-selling author."

His message? Build real and tangible credibility. Chart your own course. Set your own expectations. Add value.

When sizing up someone’s expertise and impact:

❝

Look for the scars of experience. Look at what they have done, that actually mattered or made a difference, not what they tell you they've done.

Worth the read and important reminder if you're like me and occasionally suffer from comparison syndrome.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and questions to help make REALity Bites something you’re excited to see in your inbox.

Much love.

Lisa

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