Press "Enter" to skip to content

Month: February 2023

The three elements that made Oki Social successful

Published February 15, 2023

Find a Group of People

Before you can build a successful business, you need to identify your target audience. And not just any audience, but a group of people who are your biggest fans – your “superfans.” These are the people who are so passionate about your brand that they have made it a part of their identity and daily life. They will not only buy your product or service, but they will also talk about you online and offline, recommend you to their friends and family, and participate in a community of like-minded enthusiasts.

One of the best ways to identify your superfans is to focus on a niche market. Find a group of people with a common interest, need, or problem that your business can solve. Kevin Kelly, a technology writer and founder of Wired magazine, calls this group your “1000 true fans.” Pat Flynn, an entrepreneur and author, calls them your “superfans.” Whatever you call them, these are the people who will be your most loyal customers and your best marketing tool. They will talk about you and your products in your vocabulary, online and offline.

Oki Social has a strong focus on building a strong community. We don’t brag about our designs and products. Instead, we focus on bringing people together around the business by hosting events and creating opportunities for local artists on Okinawa. As a result, we have built a group of superfans who love to support local businesses speically artists in their community.

Lock on to a phrase

Once you’ve identified your superfans, it’s time to lock on to a word or phrase encapsulating your business. This could be a problem you solve, a benefit you provide, or a unique selling proposition that sets you apart from the competition. For example, if your business is about helping people quit smoking, you might focus on the phrase “quit smoking” until it becomes synonymous with your brand.

The idea is to keep repeating your keyword or phrase until it becomes ingrained in people’s minds. This is how brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid have become so ubiquitous – they have become the go-to word for a specific product or service.

Oki Social delivers a unique value, and I have been repeating that since the beginning – Okinawa Focused Arts & Gifts. I am happy to see that within our fan base when they think Okinawa art, they think Oki Social. This doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. The key for business owners is to show up. You don’t have to make a big impact each time, but you gonna show up. The more frequently you appear and repeat what you do in every appearance, the more likely you will be remembered. YouTubers understand that their focus should be publishing consistently instead of aiming for that million-view video. You can’t engineer a hit video. It is must easier you show up consistently so one of your videos may become the next million-views video.

Set the Right Price

Finally, you need to set the right price for your product or service. This is where you need to consider what you make, who it’s for, and how desperately those people want to solve the problem you offer to solve for them. If you’ve identified your superfans correctly, they should be willing to pay a premium for your product or service.

On the other hand, if you set the price too high, you risk alienating your target audience. If your target audience is between 20 and 35, for example, you need to be careful. A fifteen-year gap could be the distance betweent two generations.

Dealing with Unreasonable Customers for Freelance Artists

Published February 1, 2023

As an artist, when doing freelance work, dealing with unreasonable customers can be one of the most challenging aspects of your job. While it’s natural to feel frustrated or upset when faced with these types of clients, it’s important to remember that there are ways to manage the situation and come to a mutually beneficial resolution. In this blog post, we’ll explore why unreasonable customers exist and provide you with a step-by-step guide for dealing with them.

Why Do Unreasonable Customers Exist?

There are a few common reasons why customers might act in an unreasonable manner:

  1. Fairness and Professionalism: Sometimes, customers feel that they are not being treated fairly or professionally by you or your business. They may feel like their needs and concerns are not being taken into account.
  2. Self-Centered Thinking: Some customers have a self-centered approach to business dealings, focusing solely on their own benefits and disregarding the professional process you have in place.
  3. Unfulfilled Desires: Sometimes, customers may not be able to get what they want, even if they know that they are in the wrong. They may still try to push for what they want in order to see what they can get out of the situation.

What To Do When Dealing with Unreasonable Customers

  1. Listen First: The first step in dealing with unreasonable customers is to let them talk. Try to understand where they are coming from and what motivated their unreasonable request. Show that you are listening by repeating back to them what you have heard in your own words.
  2. Show Empathy: Next, show the customer that you are on their side by expressing empathy. Explain their motivation in your own words until they agree with your explanation.
  3. Put Yourself in Their Shoes: Try to see the situation from the customer’s perspective by putting yourself in their shoes. Make a few compliments about the customer, showing them that you understand and appreciate their point of view.
  4. Establish Your Position: Once you have listened and shown empathy, it’s important to establish your position. Make it clear to the customer what you can and cannot do to meet their needs.
  5. Negotiate Humanly: Finally, negotiate with the customer as humanly as possible. Focus on finding a solution that works for both parties, rather than simply trying to win the argument.
  6. Dealing with unreasonable customers can be a challenging aspect of freelancing, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your professionalism and your ability to find mutually beneficial solutions. By following the steps outlined above, you can manage these situations effectively and come to a resolution that works for both you and the customer.