Let’s play a game.
Think back to the last time you made a big purchase or investment—maybe it was a conference ticket, a longer-than-usual vacation, or even a new car.
What ultimately influenced your decision?
Was it a flashy ad? A perfectly curated Instagram post? Or was it a friend, mentor, or colleague who personally recommended it?
(Do you even know? After all, something influenced you!)
I would argue that more often than not, we do things because someone (another person) asked us to. (The medium they used may cover a variety of tactics, but ultimately, a person made a request or made… an invitation.)
Marketing may get you attention, but invitations drive action.
The Power of a Simple Invitation
I see it all the time—people spend a TONon their ad campaigns, SEO strategies, and social media growth hacks, yet they struggle to get engagement, clients, or butts in seats for their events.
When you look behind the curtain… there’s not much actually going on there.
Meanwhile, someone with a much smaller budget but a stronger and more focused network who is armed with the ability to make personalized invitations is quietly filling their programs with ease.
Why?
Because an invitation is personal.
It’s direct. It’s built on trust. It’s special. It’s “Customer Intimate.” (It’s also much harder to decline—especially when it’s well thought out and presented!)
When you invite someone to be part of something—whether it’s a business opportunity, a workshop, or even just a conversation—you’re not simply marketing at them; you’re connecting with them.
In a world oversaturated with elementary-skilled ChatGPT marketing noise, actual connection will win.
Marketing Says “Look at Me,” Invitations Say “Join Me”
Don’t get me wrong, marketing is important.
I’m all for branding, storytelling, and having a strong online presence.
But marketing is like putting up a billboard on a busy highway. It might get noticed, but it’s rarely enough to get clients to actually take action.
Invitations, on the other hand, are like a warm cookie on a cold morning or a personal phone call from a friend saying, “Hey, I was thinking about you, and I think you’d love this. Want to find out more?”
Marketing tries to convince.
Invitations create belonging.
The Business Hack That Everyone Neglects
If you want to grow your business, increase sales, or fill an event, stop using impersonal, AI-generated marketing.
Instead, make a habit of personally inviting people to events that they would be interested in.
Here’s how you do it:
- Be specific. A vague “Hey, check this out” is manipulative. Instead, offer something much more clear: “Hey Sarah, you mentioned that your sales team needed a good kick in the pants, and there’s a workshop that I’m leading next week that I think would be perfect for them. Want me to send you the information?”
- Make it personal. Use their name. Reference something about them. Show them you thought of them specifically. (Consider typing each message out personally versus simply copying and pasting.)
- Follow up. A single invite might get lost in the noise. A gentle reminder goes a long way. “Have I lost you on this?” is a phrase that I use. (From the book Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss.)
- Keep it simple. No long-winded explanations. Just a clear, warm invitation. Don’t copy and paste emojis that you NEVER USE in real life. (We can all tell when you’re using AI to speak with us… after all, you can tell when someone is using ChatGPT on you, can’t you?)