“Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.”   – Confucius

I hope this quote resonates with everyone in the WealthNet community of entrepreneurs like it did with me.  I think the same wisdom applies to how we should think about marketing and communicating with people.  Especially clients, customers, prospects, and all the people in our respective networks.  I know my incredible wife of 24 years would agree with Confucius on this one!

I learned an invaluable lesson the other day.  We need to simplify our vocabulary when we are talking to customers, clients and prospects.  We need to keep it simple.  Here’s why.

A very successful entrepreneur asked me the other day what CRM means.  I said, “Customer Relationship Management software.   Typically a software program that helps us organize our contacts, tasks, calendar and many other functions.  Used and supported properly, it can really simplify your life.  Used and supported improperly, it can make your life a living Hell.  Any business running without it is operating in the Dark Ages.  Why do you ask?”

I am constantly wondering if our communications are getting through and making sense.  So as I thought about the question regarding CRM it occurred to me that from a marketing perspective, even a daily communication perspective, we shouldn’t use acronyms or jargon that most other people may not understand.  Not that we think other people are stupid.  More so that we end up understanding others and those with whom we communicate understand us.   We need to be clear.  We need to be understood in our communications.  Keeping it simple makes a difference.  We can’t assume people will understand.  (Have you ever heard that USA Today newspaper is written for 8th grade-level reading?  Hmmm.)

In our business the list of jargon is long.  SEO-search engine optimization.  SEM-search engine marketing.  PPC-pay per click advertising.  TWEET-A posting on Twitter.  BLOG- A weblog.  I think we would all agree that when it comes to internet marketing or any other subject matter expertise, our prospects, clients, employees and partners need to understand us.  We want to be understood and others do to.  Which means we should never assume that our market knows what CRM means.  Or anything else for that matter.

By the way, what does all this stuff really mean to you and your business?  I mean all the internet and technology stuff?  Over the next several weeks I will adopt a “keeping it simple” theme and share with the ever-growing WealthNet community some insights on technology jargon and what it actually might mean to you and your business.

Here’s a very important dynamic to keep in mind.  The rules of marketing have changed dramatically.  And in the world of search engines, the rules change by the second.  Literally.  Marketing now needs to be about PULL, not PUSH.  We all know that traditional marketing works, it just may not work as well as it used to work.  In order to PULL, you need to understand what we understand.  Internet marketing.  Or you can choose to leverage our incredible team.

To start off on our “keep it simple” theme, here’s the bottom line on SEO.  Next week I will (simply) pick another key term.  Better yet, send us your questions.  Just send me an email.  The address is cjones@wealthnetpartners.com.  We will do our best to answer all your questions in a way that will help our entire community.

SEO-Search engine optimization. Get found on page one of Google.  It’s the process of improving search engine results while millions of people search online for you or your competition.  It is entirely possible for you as a person and your business to be on the first search page results when people search for you, your product or service.  But it’s not easy and it doesn’t happen over night.  It is part art and part science.   SEO entails several key disciplines that must take place on an ongoing basis.  SEO is not a one time thing.  Assuming your site is built in a way that it can actually be found on the internet (infrastructure), building links and creating content that appeals to your audience and serves your business model are the fundamentals for being found online.  Social media plays an important, integrated role as well.

Jumping onto my soapbox here for a minute let me share this.  Don’t waste money on SEO if you don’t have a proper website.  Most websites are not built with a business model or lead generation and sales in mind.  They are most often designed by a designer or developer who is typically not a business person.  This is usually why they are really good designers.  As it relates to SEO, all the related disciplines will only compliment a website (more importantly the bottom line) that is built with the purpose of building your list, selling products and services, and driving traffic to your business.  If your website sucks don’t waste money on SEO.  If your website designer isn’t talking to you about your business plan, goals, traffic metrics, conversions, list building, integrated automated email marketing, and much more you might want to talk with us.  We can teach you how to market while you sleep.

Enough soapbox for now.  Confucius was a wise man.  I am a simple entrepreneur trying to make a difference.  Let’s allow the thought of simplicity to compliment our communications in business and in life.  Keep it simple.

As always, with warm regards.  Cliff.

Clifford Jones, Founder
WealthNet Partners, LLC
“Discover The Art of Business Development”
Scottsdale, Arizona
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