Is it me or is it them?

I’m feeling a bit let down at the moment.

You see I’m running these two marketing workshops in March for Not-For-Profit organisations to learn about traditional and innovative marketing ideas.

Attendance fee is $347 for each session. A session runs for 4-hours. Here’s the info http://theideasguy.com.au/workshops

Getting them to sign up has been slow…but this is expected…they have lines of approval to go through and that takes time.

What I didn’t think would be slow was getting my corporate colleagues and friends to sponsor some of the smaller charities to attend. Those ones that just couldn’t afford to do something like this but would benefit greatly. I’ve provided incentives, discounts etc but I can’t do any more…I do need to maker a buck.

So, I’ve been sending out emails asking these people (mainly in medium to large businesses) to take out a sponsorship.

I even put this package together for the bigger companies http://theideasguy.com.au/nfp-sponsorship

The response…Either “No thanks, we’re committed” or none…silence! “No thanks”  I can deal with but  silence, I’m finding hard. Surely the curtesy of a response is the least they can do. They always respond when I email them something that doesn’t involve an ask for dollars.

Maybe I’m missing something. Maybe times really are tough and they can’t bring themselves to having to decline. Maybe my email got spammed…I don’t think so. Maybe they think I’m trying to line my own pockets…I think they know me better than this. Maybe they’re flat out.

So why don’t they respond?

The objective of this post is actually not to answer that question. I’m actually wanting to understand generally why  people don’t communicate. I actually think it’s really rude. When I was Marketing Manager of a large Travel Agency, I used to say to the staff in the store who had a customer phone inquiry…”If you’ve got nothing to tell them (a customer) ring them up and tell them that you’ve got nothing to tell them!” At least the customer knows that you’re looking in to their inquiry.

Anyway, enough of my bleating. What do you think? Be honest. Are my expectations to high?

At the end of last year, I made a business decision to do more educating and less writing.

To share the knowledge and ideas I’d collected in the various corners of my mind over the past 20+ years working in Marketing Communications.

Strategy documents no longer excited me…Marketing theory often falls on deaf ears. And my back was hurting from sitting at the computer for way too long each day.

I needed to stand up, walk around, connect with folk who’d benefit from my ramblings. I even had this idea that I’d actually become a school teacher…There’s a part of me that connects closely with Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets Society. That moment past rather quickly.

So, I asked myself…”Who would really benefit from what I’d have to say?” And the answer came straight away…Charities (Not-For-Profits) and Small Businesses.

It’s these two sectors that I believe  deserve and need simple, cost-effective, results driven Marketing advice. Particularly in the times ahead.

So that’s what I’m doing. And I’ve just created, booked the venue and am now promoting my first two seminars.They’re for the Charity sector…I figure this would be a rewarding place to start this new journey of mine.

I’m a tad nervous about the whole thing, but excited all the same. I always take the attitude that I’m sharing information that will improve people’s businesses…this removes any self-concious doubt I may pick up along the way.

I’ve got two seminars planned out – One on Traditional Marketing. The other on Innovative Marketing. Both tailored 100% to help Charities with their marketing communications.

My intention is to have those that attend walk out feeling completely inspired to do great marketing…immediately. Something that I find many seminar presenters that I listen to forget to do. It’s all about instant gratification these days isn’t it? Even in business…I’m finding more and more that the feedback I get from my Marketing talks is in direct correlation toh how many practical, quick to implement ideas I hand out. Years ago I would have struggled with this approach…Surely, I thought, we needed to plan and theorize before any action was taken.

Not any more…Go get ‘em I say!

What do you think? Is it OK toplan less and act more when it comes to Marketing these days?