How often do you visit your elderly relatives?
Roger Jones
Head of Digital working with Enterprise CMOs to Boost Sales, Cut Costs & Mitigate Risk | Digital Business Consultant | Driving Growth & Efficiency
This week I was asked to research an audience segment with a view to increasing their engagement ratio and customer lifetime value.
It got me thinking but from a completely different angle, mainly due to the audience segment I was trying to understand.
Have you ever wondered why, when visiting elderly relatives, that they greet you so warmly, listen to everything that you say, engage you in meaningful conversation and look you in the eye as you say goodbye?
Let’s say (made up) Uncle Bob is 76 years old and you typically see him twice a year (his birthday and Christmas) for 4 hours of which 20 minutes is face to face conversation.
(made up) Uncle Bob has more than likely come to terms with the fact his life expectancy in the U.K. is 80 years (bonus points for anything thereafter)
This means you are likely to be in face to face conversation with Uncle Bob for another 2 hours and 40 minutes before he ever-so-beautifully pops his clogs.
No wonder (made up) Uncle Bob cares about your conversation.
It puts into perspective, with a brutal simplicity of thought, the value of conversation and time – and how much more valuable it becomes as it begins to run out.
So.
If you have a few (real) Uncle Bobs, pay them a visit and pay attention to everything they say.
Want to increase your engagement ratio?
Easy!
Visit more often and have longer conversations, because the (real) Uncle Bob variable is fixed.
Grandad, Dad, Property Investor, Business Owner, Airbnb Superhost
8 年I always remember the TV interview with Alan Sugar where he admitted to having one regret that he was akways too busy to visit his mum yet in hindsight he recognised that 'what she really wanted was him in person, his conversation & presence'. I hope Alan's own children saw this interview & never have the same regrets! #maketheirday
Director & Owner Bayside Business Centre Ltd
8 年An excellent reminder - now I know why I endeavour to visit my elderly parents once a week - although I find they prefer to talk than listen
Delivering Non-Exec Expertise to Small Businesses with No Placement Fee
8 年What a great post; longer and more meaningful conversations with everyone! thanks Roger
Dorset Business Angels Director and MD
8 年Great article Roger. And never make assumptions about data until you check it out. There is literally a mine of opportunity there. For example, to a 22-33 year old in marketing someone of 45+ may seem a homogeneous group. Did to me when I was younger, I will be honest! Now I am an older chap, and the population is ageing, and still working, there are real differences which = opportunities to differentiate between age bands, lifestyles etc. I know we have to be careful re discrimination laws. But I am thinking about this inclusively and positively not negatively. BTW only issue I have with my lovely Uncle Bob is he passed away but he was a hero of mine so bless him! Peter
Ecologist, author, science communicator & trekking guide. Provider of engaging environmental training, Author of The Alps-a natural companion, inovative educational activities developer. International trekking guide.
8 年Saw my dad last night :)