I wasn't going to share this story outside of my coaching group but one of my clients said, "Adam, you should. If it means one more person realises this is a thing and does it, then it will be worth it."
This story is totally unrelated to marketing, but it is all about marketing. So here we are.
I'm in hospital as I write this to you because I'm a bone marrow match with a recipient who needs a transfer. As the donor, I have started daily injections to boost my bone marrow stem cell production. In five days we'll do the actual extraction and donation and it will be sent off to the recipient.
I've been on the bone marrow donor registry for a few years now. Why? Because I was asked to. Simple as that. Of course I said yes because I knew it could help someone who needs it, but it started with a question.
It started with a question
My journey actually started way earlier. Half a lifetime ago, I got in the habit of giving blood when the Red Cross Blood Bank van came onto the university campus every three months. Volunteers stood outside the van and asked the question, "would you like to donate blood today?" I said "yeah, sure."
After years of regular donations, a nurse asked me "would you like to donate plasma as well?" I said "yes, sure."
Years later again, a nurse asked me "would you like to go on the bone marrow registry?" I said "yes, sure."
When I matched with a recipient, they asked "would you like to proceed with the bone marrow donation?" I said "of course."
Each time, it started with a simple question. I didn't actively seek them out and insist on donating blood, plasma or bone marrow. However, because they asked a simple question, it started a conversation which led to a successful outcome for both of us.
I presume you can see the similarities with what you're doing with your marketing and lead gen.
If you don't ask the question, your clients can't say yes.
Some marketers might be reading this thinking you could have got a way higher click rate if you'd used the title "I'm in hospital", but I think you'd agree, that's not my style.
