A simple + powerful lesson learnt on my European adventure

 

Last week in Tuscany I made a new life long friend, Riccardo.

Riccardo is a photographer and he happens to be one of the best marketers I have ever met.

He just doesn’t know it, and that’s the most wonderful thing….

Let’s back track a little….Riccardo also has a renovated barn that he rents out on Air Bnb.

So a few weeks back when I was planning my four week European adventure I booked the barn, not because it was the flashiest,, the cheapest, or in the best location – because in fact it was none of these.

I booked it because it had outrageously fabulous reviews. Traveller after traveller raved about the barn, and even more so about Riccardo.

We arrived just on dark, and the treacherous driveway put a look of panic mixed with horror on the faces of my mother and sister-in-law (who don’t like the country on the best of days). We were in the middle of no-where, it was late, we had no dinner, and we weren’t sure our hire car would make the journey down the driveway in one piece. But I’d read the reviews. I was excited.

Riccardo met us at the door, a huge grin spread across his face, pasta and sauce in hand, and one of the most delicious bottles of wine I’ve ever drunk made from the vines outside our window.

Exhale, everything is going to be ok.

Over the next three days Riccardo became the centrepiece for the most amazing country escape. He was welcoming and generous beyond words.

His conversation was effortless and free flowing, he invited us to a night of pizza and wine he was hosting for his friends under the stars, he welcomed us into his studio and walked us through he latest creative projects.

After just three days we felt nourished, relaxed, and part of Riccardo’s extended family.

It’s no wonder he has one of the most popular Air BnB’s around. And it’s not because of a big budget advertising campaign, complex PR strategy or electrifying lead magnet.

It’s because he was real, authentic, generous and kind.

Just as many before me, I’ll refer Riccardo’s stay onto anyone and everyone that I can (including the 5000 on this mailing list)!

In the Connection Economy it’s relationship marketing at it’s best.

The take aways for kick-ass marketing are simple.

• Be a good human.
• Be kind and generous.
• Be authentic.
• Enable a way for the message to be shared.

It’s simple, it’s free, and it’s available to all of us.  So let’s all plug into the connection economy and use our greatest asset, kindness to make more good go around.