At this very moment, everything is changing in financial advisor marketing. Digital marketing and virtual prospecting are some of the newer ways to market your valuable services. However, these newer marketing methods can seem a bit overwhelming.

In this 6-part series you will learn the most important elements, best practices, and unwind the complexities.

As you begin, take inventory of your current digital assets. These assets typically include your website and social media presence. Are you presenting a strong value proposition, consistent messaging, and a powerful brand?

Part 1: Improve Your Website Presence

There are two major upgrades you can make on your website without doing a complete overhaul.

1. Upgrade your Website Messaging:

Does your website messaging speak to your target prospects and their challenges? If not, consider adding messaging on how you serve clients – front and center on the website. Be bold!
Is your value proposition clearly identified (why you)? If not, tell the visitors to your site how you and your team are different and why. Think about why your current clients chose you.
Do you have attention-grabbing videos? A video is one of the most powerful ways of personally messaging your value.
Could you make the case for your business with LESS words and pages on your site? Consider getting rid of long paragraphs and using more headlines to attract readers.

2. Add a Call-To-Action to Your Website to Engage Prospects:

Add an offer for a report or even a planning session that is compelling to your target audience. These could include:

Check out the entire Red Zone Marketing Guide, “The Contrarian Networking Strategy”
Contrarian Networking focuses on the principles of networking that do work – and they are almost always the opposite to what we may believe about networking.

Part 4: Create a Contrarian Networking Plan of Action
Have a plan of action before you go to any event. The goal – to meet connections and future advocates – not to make immediate sales.

1. Find out who’s attending.
Ask the host or organization for a list, ask others, check emails for others attending.

2. Who do you want to meet at the event?
Make a list of the top 5 (don’t avoid the big names).

3. Research people you may be attending by searching on Google and LinkedIn.

4. Find The Meeting Organizer.
If you can’t find out who will be in attendance, when you get there, find the meeting organizer. Introduce yourself and ask who he/she thinks you should get to know at the meeting. Oftentimes they will take you to someone and make the introduction for you (it’s a lot better than standing by the drink table or door all by yourself).

5. At the event, let them do the talking (You ask the questions!).
Once introductions are made, you can move on to more in-depth business questions:

Contrarian Networking focuses on the principles of networking that do work – and they are almost always the opposite to what we may believe about networking.

Part 3: What To Say When Someone Asks About You?

Every firm needs to have a refined firm story to assist in marketing and client acquisition. But there is a serious need to have a compelling opening line for your firm story – probably several of them. Without something compelling (to them), you may never get the chance to share your story. Even the classic elevator pitch is too gimmicky for an informal initial introduction. In a world of ever-decreasing attention spans, less is definitely more.

A solution for compelling others to want to listen to you is to develop a 15-20 second Simple, Repeatable, Statement of Value (SRSV) for each target audience. An SRSV is a statement that is easy to remember and shares some value directly for the person you are speaking with. Below is the 4-step formula for building your own SRSV. Your SRSV may not include the answer to every question, and it doesn’t have to be compiled in this order.

Develop your 15 second simple, repeatable statement of value (SRSV).

Answer the following questions:
1. What are their needs, wants, challenges, problems, questions, and interests?
2. What you do?
3. What is your memorable differentiator?

Here are some financial advisor examples:

Contrarian Networking focuses on the principles of networking that do work – and they are almost always the opposite to what we may believe about networking.

Part 2: Contrarian Networking Methods to Building Your Connections

1. Build Quality Relationships.
Take time to deepen your relationships with referral sources. Invite them to social functions, learn their hobbies and interests, and help them pursue their personal goals.

2. Network in New Places.
Look for new areas to find referral partners with common interests. Don’t prospect right away; let the relationship mature.

3. Focus on Others.
Adopt a “What can I do for this person?” mindset. Always give to others, and be known for this.