How To Immediately Grab Attention When Emails Are Ignored

I’ve received a bamboo toothbrush, arugula seeds, a metal straw, and seed pods for attracting bees.

All from skincare company emerginC. Whose emails I rarely open despite buying from them every couple of months.

I am also on first name terms with their warehouse manager Jeff, as he always leaves me a lovely hand written card in my order with a?personalized note.?I probably know more about?emerginC’s sustainability programs?than any other company. Why?

Because:

They don’t rely on email.??

They put their action where their talk is.?

They try creative ways to tell their story.?

Their giveaways aren’t gimmicky - they solve the issues they stand behind - and they are useful!

When I speak at conferences and corporate events?I give away unusual items that make a point about my talk. Props that I have used on stage that act as a reminder for what I am suggesting the audience does next. Props that the audience takes photos of and shares, further sharing my message and becoming more memorable.?

This goes beyond corporate life.

Last year I was helping out my daughter's?school?fundraising auction and it was clear that the email communication wasn’t working. So I bought a few boxes of mandarin oranges, created stickers with QR codes for ticket purchases and donations, and gave the oranges away at morning car line. No one really expected to be handed an orange at 8am in the morning, never mind with a QR code attached. It was a conversation starter, it piqued people’s curiosity and?the message quickly got out there!

The High School Volleyball team at my eldest’s school just made the playoffs.?Go Ravens!?Sunday evening I took my daughter to the campus entrance to stick up a poster she had made encouraging people to come to the game. Everyone will drive past it at the car line drop off and see it as they walk through the campus gate. A hand written old school sign.?You can go over to my?Instagram page?to see it.?I have to say that seeing her putting up signs in the dark with crows on them gave me serious Banksy vibes! —he who epitomizes eye-catching communication.?You can read my Inc Magazine Interviews on Banksy?here?and?here.?

Back to business life, everyone who used to be on the road and traveling for work is now starting to return at various speeds. Conferences are back. Attention spans are short. It is time to get creative.?

How are you catching the attention beyond email?

I too want to make sure my communications are catching attention, it’s why three years ago I started using SuperPhone technology for text messages when I speak at events around the world.?You can sign up to text chat with me?here?and if you text the phrase #goravens before 5pm?PT on 10/18?you will have 24 hours to ask me anything as a gift from me.?

This weekly publication will celebrate its tenth anniversary in a few months. Thank you to all of you who have been here since the beginning and those who have joined along the way and are part of several thousand readers?who receive this each Monday.??I love hearing you reactions and feedback every week.?

To allow even more people access,?I am also launching this VAL-uable Insights publication on LinkedIn as they have invited me to use their newsletter service. You will see added bonus sections there so look out for the invite in your LinkedIn Inbox to never miss a publication.?

How are you catching the attention and getting your message across beyond email? Let me know and I might feature your company in a future publication.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning:?https://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/