Five Reasons Why 'Help Them Help You' is a Powerful Marketing Approach

Imagine stepping into a doctor's office and expecting them to know what is wrong without a word spoken. Sounds crazy, right? The same principle applies in marketing—expecting your audience to understand your brand without clear communication is a missed opportunity.

The philosophy of "help them help you" transcends personal interactions and stands at the heart of effective marketing strategies, aligning your brand with the genuine needs of the people you serve.

"I advocate for marketing that puts real people at the heart of strategy and messaging, laying the groundwork for them to engage in a meaningful way."

Here are five reasons why this is powerful approach:

1. Understand Who You're Talking To

Move beyond surface-level demographics and dive into your audience's needs and challenges. Craft detailed personas by analyzing behavior and conducting surveys. Different audience groups have unique needs, so precise understanding is the gateway to crafting compelling narratives that resonate.

2. Focus On What People Want To Hear

Think beyond your business to connect your brand's story with what your audience wants to hear. Break down your narrative into specific aspects of your brand, allowing you to align with audiences in different contexts. However, stay true to your core values—don't dilute your message.

3. Figure Out How To Talk About It

Avoid marketing jargon. Be clear and straightforward in your communication. Emotions play a pivotal role, so incorporating a human voice helps establish deeper connections, especially in sectors like health and wellness.

4. Strategize Why You’re Talking About It

Understand the purpose at each stage of your marketing journey, guiding your audience from awareness to action. Spark interest, address needs, present solutions, and make the next steps intuitive so you brand becomes part of their shared decision-making.

5. Ask Curious Questions

Continuous improvement requires staying open to refining your messaging and learning on the way. Seek regular audience feedback and don't miss asking purposeful, open-ended questions internally to gather diverse perspectives.

When you understand the principles of "help them help you," this powerful approach can enable marketers to foster continuous external and internal dialogue, build engagement and deepen resonance. If you ever get overwhelmed with the path ahead, remember that we’re all just people, working with people, trying to make a difference. When you help your audience understand, you not only help them, but they in turn, can help you too.

Thanks to Jay Shetty for calling attention to this framework in his Daily Jay Podcast on the Calm app, a part of my daily mindfulness practice.

Read the full article originally published on Forbes.com.