Online Marketing Tip: Find a Teachable Moment


The other day on Facebook I caught Ellen Britt of Marketing Qi sharing great info in a novel and highly effective way.

Ellen uses Audio Boo, which is an application that allows you to record audio and share it with your friends and contacts. It’s iPhone friendly and social media friendly.

Ellen took us to the bookstore with her, literally. She recorded the audio as she walked into the store and headed straight to the magazine section. Then she began reading the headlines and taught how to use similar headlines in your business.

I loved this strategy!

Ellen found a teachable moment and immediately turned it into valuable content for her followers. She added in humor and authenticity too.

Where are your teachable moments and how can you capture them to create a stronger bond with your ideal clients?

Everywhere around you are teachable moments, lessons yearning to be taught.

The other day I was on a hike and I saw a wildflower flourishing in the cracks of a rock. Metaphor alert! How many times have we struggled in a less than optimal environment? Well, this wildflower made the best of its environment and grew tall and beautiful.

That insight alone could be turned into an article, a blog post,  even a new module for a coaching program.

You may not think you have anything new under the sun to teach the world, but when you anchor it to a teachable moment, it takes on new life.

Here’s a fun way to find YOUR teachable moments:

For the next 20 minutes (go ahead and set a timer) watch for metaphors and lessons yearning to be taught.

Do you have too much email? There’s a topic. What lessons are hidden there?

Do you hear two cats fighting outside your window? That could tie into something about getting along, power, instinct.

Did you find a missing sock? What missing components in your clients’ lives could you link that to?

The world is filled with ideas.

Jot down as many teachable moments as you can in this 20 minute time period. Come back and leave a comment with what topics you were able to spin from the ordinary and the day to day.

This is something you should do on a daily, ongoing basis. It will keep your creativity fresh and who knows… maybe there’s a big breakthrough for YOU nestled in the powerful lessons!


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About Nancy Marmolejo

I'm a soul-driven strategist who teaches entrepreneurs how to turn followers into fans and fans into clients using social media and heart based marketing. My approach integrates proven strategies and intuitive hits so each client finds her special way to stand out and sizzle in the spotlight.

  • meredithliepelt

    I have kids, therefore there are LOTS of moments in that!! Ha! Right now: playdate going on upstairs in the bedrooms. It's a metaphor and story I talk w/ clients about a lot: Don't overlook who is in your backyard, even if you ARE in internet marketing and have an international following. A great client or partner you love to be with is flipping fantastic no matter where they hang their hat.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Awesome! Kids give us lots of teachable moments. And that story will make it soooooooooooooo much more interesting to hear about looking for business contacts then the same-old, same old stuff. Thank you for that great idea!

  • http://www.diviningthemuse.com Paula Chaffee Scarda

    I love Ellen's Audio-boos. Look forward to them everyday. In my newsletter, I often use fairytales, myths, and childhood memories as teachable moments. Then there's my dog, my 14-year-old collie, Duncan. Lately, he teaches me alot – like conserving energy!Good post, Nancy.

  • http://www.MarketingQi.com/blog Ellen Britt

    Hi Nancy,Here's my comment (in AudioBoo format, of course!)http://audioboo.fm/boos/118394-the-viva-visabil…..

  • lindamickle

    I was just planning to write a blogpost about my teachable moments over the past few days, having come home to a bee swarm in my carport last Thursday, what's unfolded over the past several days, and how it's all about going with the flow :-) I love Ellen's Audio Boos and she does such a fabulous job with the teachable moments.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    I can only imagine the lessons learned from a bee swarm! Send me a quick Tweet when it's published @NancyMarmolejo

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    You're just the best Ellen! And you even took the audio to a visual level with that rubic's cube. (Don't want to spoil too much, want people to click your "boo" and listen")

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Thanks Paula. I love how my blog has become a de facto Ellen Britt fan club too!

  • http://www.melaniekissell.com melaniekissell

    Pretty cool post, Nancy & Ellen! Love the boos.Teachable moments from my desk surface:1) Ceramic mug that's overflowing with pens, markers, etc. – I don't need or use half of these writing implements. It's time to think "Declutter" to better organize my office space and get rid of distractions.2) Hat box filled with business cards, postage stamps, etc. that's imprinted with beach-y locales. Small business owners need and deserve a little R&R once in a while, a break, or a vacation.3) Wrought iron napkin holder used to hold mail. Online marketers can "recycle" their teleseminars, articles, etc. into programs and products.This was a fabulous exercise! Best 20 minutes I've spent all evening. :-)

  • http://www.MarketingQi.com/blog Ellen Britt

    Thanks Melanie! I appreciate your kind words about my Boos! And isn't Nancy a fabulous teacher to come up with this great exercise?!

  • http://www.melaniekissell.com melaniekissell

    Ellen, I've already told her this (many times). Nancy is the "Cat's Pajamas!" :-)

  • jennyjohns

    I learned a very valuable marketing lesson from this in an odd kind of way. I listened to Ellen's boo which was very good and wanted to learn more, so I clicked on the link to her website and was taken to her squeeze page to sign up for the free report. I signed up for that which took me to her download page and clicked on the download page. Nothing happens. I have no information on any of those pages that enables me to contact Ellen to let her know about this problem so that I can access her truly "irresistible offer". I have just written my free report and am working on my squeeze page and even though it may be a problem for Ellen, it was a really good lesson for me. Put some contact info on each page in case there is a glitch in the system. Ellen are you following this? I'd sitll love to read your report!

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Jenny-Thanks for the heads up! We don't always plan those teachable moments but glad you were able to share that important experience.

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