How do you feel about marketing, walking into an event where you barely know anyone, calling someone you barely know?

Marketing makes a lot of people anxious and physically tense.  And what's strange is that many of us tend to have the skills of connecting with people on a personal level, listening to their concerns, talking about their day, asking to see photos of their personal life, travels, experiences.

So remember, connecting with people is one of your strengths.  And remember, you can use this strength, build rapport, get and keep clients and close deals during the times that suit you.

Marketing does not have to interfere with your family, friends, or personal time. You can be successful without engaging in activities that have been essential to rainmaking for others, like golf, sports, and drinks after work.  You can create a marketing plan that works with who you are.

With all of this in mind, here are 6 tips for attracting clients.

No 1: Target the Top 20 in a New Way

Don’t focus on everyone or just anybody. 

Consider:

Who are my top 5 prospects -- the people that would love to work with me now or sometime in the future? 

Who are my top 5 connectors – the people who can refer prospects to me?

There are lots of people in our circle of connections who are happy to help us and we to help them, they just need to know who our ideal client is.  So, tell your friends and colleagues about your target market and let them share theirs with you. Make notes, so you will remember. 

Cultivate business friends and networks that work for you.  Be intentional and selective.

And give what you would like to receive -- no strings attached. That’s the clearest, brightest, way to create what you want in life. 

If you want to get leads, be generous in giving them. Be generous in helping others succeed with no expectation of getting anything back in return. That’s part of the heart-felt law of attraction: give what you would love to receive; teach what you most need to learn. 

Generosity and kindness go a long way in creating prosperity and abundance.

Consider where you most feel to invest your time and energy:  organizations? like-minded people? groups in your trade, business, or industry? Neighborhood or community associations or gatherings? Go with your intuition or gut instinct; follow your heart.

Find some quiet time to slow down and listen. Meditate. Breathe. Ask for guidance: Where to from here? Where can I best focus my energies for the highest good of all concerned?  Listen.  The inspiration you receive will not be loud and booming like the conversations in your mind.  Inspiration comes as a whisper, a feeling or knowing.

Relax and be open to guidance and be patient; guidance may come when least expected - while you are watching a movie, from a random comment by a friend, from a passage in a book, while taking a shower, in a dream.  The universe will respond to you.  It's up to you to be aware and discerning; there's a lot of negativity out there; just be open to inspiration.

Once you are clear, your mind may come up with lots of reasons why not.  Don't listen.  That's counter intention or your own ego trying to keep you small.    Be like the stern yet loving parent with an unruly child. Just say no, let go of all the reasons why not; drop all doubts, and love the child, that part of you that's afraid and feels abandoned and alone.   

No 2: Open Doors with Authenticity

You probably don't like it when someone calls you just to sell you something, even if you've done business with them before. So, don't do it to anybody else.

If you don’t have a good reason to contact someone, don't; that's the Golden Rule!

Good reasons are:

Invitations

Introductions

Information 

Intimacy (e.g., kindness and compassion)

You might send an invite to attend a social, political, or educational event as your guest.  The purpose could be to introduce your potential client to someone who can help their career.  You could send her information about a product or service that could help him/her (not yours!).  You could tell them about a class or seminar that feels timely.  You could send them a breaking news story or information about a piece of legislation or a new law that affects them.  You could contact them because something major just happened in their life - a death, birth or surgery; a trip or something fun and exciting. Or it may be something light and fun, like you are both following a television series and you text them about something funny.