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Educational Marketing Teaches Mediators a New Lesson

By Dina Lynch, ADRPracticeBuilder.com

Didn't I say that educating your marketing about mediation was the way to go? Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so....

Check out this recent article in Business Week that confirms educating potential clients on how to solve their problems is a very powerful marketing tool. This is especially relevant to us in our marketing efforts.

How Can You Use Educational Marketing?

Create an education experience for your niche market based on the types of experiences or processes they might face.

Suppose for a moment, you're a mediator who works with condo associations as your niche. You could compose a number of different articles, quizzes, checklists, reading lists, and how to articles that educated board members on working collaboratively, resolving conflict or any other related topic. Surely, you'd become the recognized (and highly appreciated) expert in that niche who clients turned to for support.

What to Write About

No matter where you are in your practice- newly trained or mature practitioner- you have information of value to offer to someone who is less informed in your niche. As someone once said, 'In the land of the blind men, the one-eyed man is king.'

Newbies

Write about what you know. Your experiences as a new practitioner are unique and bring a new perspective that can be enlightening. Or, write about what attracted you to working with your niche group. Or, what legacy you hope to leave your market.

Established Folks

Your approach is similar to that of the newbie, except your challenge is composing items from the vast amount of conflict resolution wisdom you already have to share! You have forgotten more about resolving conflict than some people ever knew. Time to give back.

Recall the questions, challenges or concerns that your first clients brought to you and turn them into learning products that teach clients how to begin to use and benefit from mediator or facilitation or whatever process you use. Then consider the challenges of your current clients and create tools that help them prevent disputes. Your clients will be grateful and turn to you when they realize they do need your expertise.

Definitely take a moment to check out the article I linked to above. The results were dramatic. If you could achieve a small portion of their success, you'd be at the head of the class!

Try. Fail. Learn. Grow!
Dina

PS I'm happy to brainstorm with anyone who may feel a little stuck. Let me know and we'll arrange a short chat

Full post as published by Mediation Mensch on November 02, 2007 (boomark / email).