Marketing Fun 101…what is that term and why do you want to use it effectively?  Well here’s a perfect example…I just got back from talking to my daughter’s first grade class this morning.  They had their “teach-in” where you go in and talk to the kids about your job…or in my case my own business.

Now, I used to teach 1st grade back in the day, and it’s always fun for me to get back in the classroom and talk to the kids – at least for 30 minutes! (Don’t really think I have the patience for full days anymore!)

As soon as I came into the room, they immediately rushed over to the computer and sat down on the floor.  I went over to the computer table and sat down on the TINY chair and proceeded to talk to them.  Now, I had every single eyeball staring at me and back at the computer screen watching what I was doing.  I mean their eyes were glued… and they were even quiet – and believe me this is certainly a feat for some of the boys in this class!

So how did I get this group of 6 year old’s to give me their undivided attention while looking at a computer screen talking about what I do online??

…because it was Marketing Fun 101!!!

If you aren’t having fun with what you do, then it isn’t going to enhance the quality of your life, or even a possibility of engaging anyone else’s life is it?!  Marketing Fun 101 is a term I came up with (actually I’m not sure if I did, but I haven’t heard about it before) that helps people remember the goal in their marketing!  I knew I had to follow the marketing laws to make this presentation go over well, but I also had to make it FUN…let’s face it they’re 6!

So I came up with a perfect idea – and used my marketing knowledge to help craft the perfect presentation.

The angles of Marketing Fun 101 can be used for anything!

- Create Curiosity
– Define Target Market
– Engage Buyer In Process

Now, these kids were so excited to see what we were going to do today, because I had generated curiosity about our project since last week!  Last Thursday I came into the classroom to take pictures of them…but didn’t tell them why.  It was for our “secret project on Wednesday”…oh…the mystery was killing them!

Now, I do LOTS of different things online, and market online different ways…but “What in the world would be interesting to a group of 6yr old’s?!” I thought. (Defining my target market right? – I mean seriously, talking about article syndication to 6yr old’s wouldn’t go over too well.  Their eyes would be rolling back in their heads faster than I can say Tribe Pro!)

So I pulled out one of my favorite products I have...and the one that got me started with all this 3 years back…  SendOutCards…

It would be perfect to show to a group of first graders because it’s colorful and we’d be working with their own pictures.  We were going to create a card for their own teacher and they have control over what text we put inside.  All elements were in place to make this a success!

Do you see how that follows Marketing Fun 101?

We created a “Super-cool” greeting card for their teacher and they voted on which borders and pictures to put where, what the text we should write and they even decided to add in some extra graphics to make it “extra special”!

They had a blast in the process,  and so did I!

And I can bet with almost 100% certainty that of all the presentations they see today, this one will be the one they remember the most.  WHY?  Because they were completely involved in the presentation.  They had been waiting for days in anticipation to see what we were going to do… and because I know what 6 year olds like.  I made it really fun and engaging for them to pick and choose which images to add to the card! Every step from the size of the picture, to the placement of the picture was in their full control…and they worked SO well together – which the teacher said doesn’t usually happen!  So Why did they?  Marketing Fun 101 – they were all reaching for the same goal and working together to get there…and it was FUN!

When I told the kids that they could each go home and create a card with their mom or dad tonight and show them what we did today…you should have seen the look on their faces!  WHY? Because it was FUN!…and 6 year old’s love sharing fun things with everyone!  Now, reality check…did I have an agenda behind this presentation?  Well of course…every entrepreneur (well good one) sees every opportunity as a way to move forward.  I just did a business presentation to a group of 19 engaged prospects…yeah, they’re 6, but of those 19, how many are going to go home and beg their mom or dad to get on the computer so they can make a card together?  Of those who try it out and make a free card, how many parents are going to like it and see it as a great tool for their holiday cards this season?  How many will become customers this week?  How many will tell their friends that they just found out about this “really cool website that has cheap cards?” How many referral customers will I get? You never know!  Just because Marketing Fun 101 is fun, doesn’t mean that it can’t be profitable?

Use your business and relationship skills in every avenue of your life and make a point to be creative and fun about it!  The more you enjoy what you do, the more others will see and come along for the ride!

If you’d like to join in the fun today and create your own greeting card like we did, head on over to CreateThenSend.com to try it out today…but don’t be surprised if you find yourself using all the little features and enjoying yourself a little too much!!