Creating a successful business is all about connecting with people.

I’ve said this before, if you don’t like the word marketing, simply replace it with the word connecting.

At the most foundational level, all you’re really doing with your marketing, no matter how you’re doing it, is attempting to connect with people.

This core concept doesn’t change. And what continues to develop and expand are the possibilities, the channels and formats, to make connections.

You’re busy, I get it. You don’t need more to do, more to learn.

And at the same time, it’s crucial to continue to evolve in your business.

Maybe it’s time to let something go that doesn’t work anymore. Doing this will create space for something new.

Learning something new and trying a new way of connecting could possibly even make your life easier. Think about that for a second.

A new channel may help you leverage your content which saves you time and amplifies your message.

Trying a new platform or format may allow you to reach a new group of people that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to connect with.

And perhaps an alternative approach will help you increase your visibility which could open a door to a channel that it is difficult to enter.

I’ve collected a bunch of ideas here and by no means am I suggesting that you try them all. Please don’t.

Have a quick look through them all and then choose a couple to examine further.

And don’t forget that you can also combine ideas to create your own fresh and unique offer for your community.

What you’ll notice is that there is a theme, using your voice to connect. And some video if you’re up for it.

Asynchronous Connection

If you have a chaotic or unpredictable schedule (think small children, homeschooling, partner at home, etc), or your clients or prospect have one, or you’re both in this situation, then working asynchronously may be the perfect solution you’ve been dreaming of.

And including your voice (and/or video) makes it much more personal than only text.

Loom

You can use Loom to give feedback to clients using voice (or video of you), your screen, or a combination of both. Listen to this podcast to find get some ideas about how this could work for you. 

Voxer

You could also consider offering asynchronous voice coaching or consulting using Voxer. Here is an example of a business owner who is doing just that. She also teaches her clients how to do this, here are more examples of what that kind of offer can look like.

VideoAsk

Adding a new way to connect online can also help you pre-qualify potential clients, which saves both of you time and energy.

One way to do this is with VideoAsk (from the folks at Typeform) where you post a video to your website and people can reply with a video, text, or audio message. 

Additional Voice Messaging Platforms

Voxer, WhatsApp voice message, Facebook Messenger voice, Instagram voice message, LinkedIn voice message (app only) are all asynchronous ways to connect with people. 

Podcasting

Podcasting is an intimate way to connect on a one-to-many basis using your voice. One of the easiest ways to get started is with Anchor. 

Real-Time Connection

There’s nothing like connecting with someone in person. We’re all missing that right now.

Video is the next best thing to being together in real life but it requires preparation and a lot of energy.

A warm and cosy alternative to video is voice only. Voice only creates a different kind of experience and it’s simple.

Clubhouse

I’m sure you’ve heard about Clubhouse. It’s voice only and it’s live, no recording. Clubhouse is currently invite-only and only on iOS. Find out more about it in the Clubhouse Guide. If you’re interested in joining, go ahead and reserve your name here. 

Discord

If Clubhouse isn’t an option for you right now, check out Discord. You can gather your people and have a chat using this platform. 

Twitter Spaces

Another option that hasn’t yet launched to everyone is Twitter Spaces. 

Zoom Voice Only

We all know Zoom for video gatherings but can create a gathering and choose to make it audio-only. Simply ask everyone to turn their video off. And if you use the Zoom app, you also can meet on the go.

If you’re interested in even more audio platforms where you can connect, check out this post that has an interesting list for you.

Take some time to analyze the best options for you and then take action.

Marketing is all about experimenting, don’t be afraid to try out your ideas to see what works.

© Stephanie Ward

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to create meaningful and prosperous businesses. Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: https://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Which of these ideas resonates with you?

Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

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