photo by Piedmont Fossil

True communication are two souls speaking from the heart.

Being the unique persona that you are makes you irresistible to others who will want to know more about you, to tell you stories about them and to tell stories about you.  A triple threat in relationship marketing!

One stitch at a time, one person at a time.

Picture this donor, this customer, this person you want to motivate to take action.  Then focus on communicating directly to this person.  Me, I like to picture her sitting next to me in a knitting circle showing me the scarf she is working on as we are sharing stories about what’s going on in her foundation.   There are more women in decision making positions in many industries and in the nonprofit world so I always think about a female knitter.

Speak to her like a friend, she is someone you care about.  She will become your ideal knitting companion and soon there will be more knitters just like her who will be part of your circle.  Even if they are a little different from your ideal person, your personal and consistent attention to their wellbeing and happiness will make them eager to connect with you.  They will become your fan club.

We love to belong

Create a strong emotional connection with your donors, your customers, and they will become loyal advocates of your cause.  Those who knit together, change the world together.  Any relationship strengthened by a sisterhood of dropped stitches and tangled yarns is a tightly knit one.  It is absolutely a much more fun and creative way to build a lasting relationship.  Do you have any idea how much time it takes me to finish a sweater?  Thank God for multi year grants!

We share when we care about each other

You can be a remarkable relationship builder just by sharing your individuality with others.   I am the nonprofit knitter in business class among suits with laptops and I always, always find myself listening to the person sitting next to me telling me a story about the socks his Aunt Agatha made him for Christmas.  My knitting is a way for him share some personal story with me and for me to gain some insight to the upcoming budget process.  You can so easily be the person that people will want to relate to when you give them an appealing way to become part of your story.  Or the socks you are knitting.

You and your sphere of unique interests have the power to draw like minded curious people to you.  And all you have to do is to follow your mother’s advice -

If you want a friend, be a friend.

Can’t wait to get Hooked?? Grab your needles and click here!

If you want style notes and more for people who change the world, please check out:

Getting to Wow! to feel good, do good and look good

Nonprofit Knitwear for all things knit and nonprofit

Style Notes from me, your artspy

Hoong Yee