The other day I was checking my email and got another message from a marketer offering their services, for a fee of course.
There’s always one of two offering something – maybe it’s lead generation, ghost writing, content creation, a podcast interview, or a feature in some kind of publication. Usually, I, like many others, ignore them and move on. I brush it off as spam and block them accordingly. In the past, I posted about it.
This time, it was someone from some random online marketing company offering to get me a mention in Forbes Magazine. Had they done their homework, they would’ve realized that I’d already been there and done that. As I was navigating my way to the block button, I thought about what a waste of time this was for them. Had they simply looked me up, visited my website, search engine results, or LinkedIn profile, they would’ve seen this. It’s very public information, but they failed to do this and missed the opportunity to show up better.
How often have any of us been guilty of doing this? Of not showing up in the best way, missing something, or wasting time because you didn’t do your homework.
Doing your research beforehand gives you the cheat codes, the hacks – it gives you the advantage you need.
Job hunting? Researching the role and people, will let you know if that job is really for you. It will help as you create your interviewing and negotiating strategies.
Growing your business? Research your prospects before reaching out so you can tailor your approach. Make your outreach as specific as possible. Speak to their needs and avoid offering something they already have.
Finding current information on almost anything has never been easier than it is now. Whether you use your favorite search engine, ask your network, or just social media – do your research.
