The 4-step Marketing Cycle helps a stranger becomes a customer.

There are 4 steps to the Marketing Cycle — Know, Like, Trust, and Buy.

If you try and skip any of these steps, you won’t make it to the end.

Each one of these steps is necessary. If someone doesn’t Know you, or Like you, or Trust you, it’s going to be really hard to get them to Buy from you.

Every step in the 4-step Marketing Cycle deepens your relationship. Instead of asking strangers to buy from you, ask them to get to know you first. Don’t ask strangers to like you, or trust you; take it slow, and guide people one step at a time through this cycle.

From Slow to Fast

There are ways you can accelerate this process. Sometimes a stranger will come up to you and say:

They haven’t been slowly nurtured over time. They are ready to buy, right away, without any relationship.

Why is that?

Well, I tell a story in Marketing Yourself about the Rugged Maniac obstacle course. When I crossed the finish line, I was tired, and thirsty, and I drained my water bottle in one long swig.