P.U.A. It’s an abbreviation for Pick-Up Artist- a guy who’s turned picking up women into a technique or even a profession- other guys will pay him just to learn his secrets!. A decade ago, music journalist Neil Strauss wrote about his experience immersed in the subculture of P.U.A’s and turned it into bestseller ‘The Game’. I remember somebody gave a friend of mine a copy for his 21st birthday (he’s always had “the gift of the gab” so it was given to him for the fact it was a bestseller at the time rather than some form of therapy!) Soon after, I borrowed it from him. The concept of there being a network of guys dedicated to meeting/ seducing random girls gnawed at my curiosity. What did they do? Why did they get into it? How had their lives changed because of the time they spent crafting this skill? So I read the book in fairly short time. I learnt about ‘sarging’, ‘peacocking’, ‘negging’ and plenty of other terminologies that were like second language to these guys. Were they more fulfilled because of this ability they gained?
I’d argue that no, they weren’t (although you’d have to read ‘The Game’ and decide for yourself). What struck me was this: the biggest factor making a difference for these guys was their attitude and confidence. It wasn’t about dressing up in crazy gear, planning every interaction 5 steps ahead or any of their canned conversation-starters. It was about having the belief (and attitude) that the girls in question were attracted to them from the get-go. That made the biggest difference between success and rejection.
I’d argue that no, they weren’t (although you’d have to read ‘The Game’ and decide for yourself). What struck me was this: the biggest factor making a difference for these guys was their attitude and confidence. It wasn’t about dressing up in crazy gear, planning every interaction 5 steps ahead or any of their canned conversation-starters. It was about having the belief (and attitude) that the girls in question were attracted to them from the get-go. That made the biggest difference between success and rejection.
The problem with P.U.A? There’s a lot of bullshit involved- memorised routines, dressing up like a circus act (just Google image search pick-up artists and you’ll see plenty of images like this one!), artificial interactions- and all for what? A one-night stand? A brief fling? You might be able to get into a relationship with a girl, but how long can you play a part before the façade dissolves and she meets the real you? What then? The thing is- I don’t just see ‘The Game’ at work from people seeking sex or romance. I see it in the business world, too (present company excluded!) People pushing the quick ‘Sell’ with grand promises, but nothing to back up after the big sale. How many times do you hear someone promising “they can get you on Page 1 of Google” like it’s their one major deal closer? How many times have you heard of somebody throwing away big sums of money on this? Maybe you’ve had your fingers burned? No shame if you have. I understand that (like any smart entrepreneur) your number 1 focus is to make money. Whatever can increase your sales, pump up your profits and tantalise your target market- you’re willing to invest in it.
The thing with these operators? Usually they’ll deliver on their promise. But then what? The job is far from done. It’s not enough just to rank highly on Google if you don’t have the social media presence, the blog posts, the regular updates or fresh testimonials to keep your name there and stay connected with your customers. Picking up new leads and clients means nothing if they’re here today, gone tomorrow. A successful business is a relationship built on trust. You’ve got to keep your target market interested and engaged, keep them coming back. A single trick marketing gimmick might explode your sales figures- but you want people to stay in touch after the dust settles. Get them to stick around and see what comes next. The better you can do this, the less time you need to waste chasing new leads.
The most rewarding business you can get, the best testimonials, come from clients who know you. Clients who’ve gone the distance. How do you find these clients? Don’t be a marketing P.U.A. That’s not to say you can’t have a bit of fire or sizzle to your marketing or promotion- as long as there’s real meat to go with that sizzle- with chips, salad and beer on the side to give 'em real value! The trick to growing your business without having to spend time over and over chasing new leads, is to think long-term. Work on building real relationships with your existing clients, give them reason to keep coming back, because they’ll be the most valuable people to you in the long-run. You might not win these people over in a single night- perhaps not even in a week or a month. But once you’ve won their trust and built that crucial relationship with them? They’ll be the gift that keeps on giving.
In all the time and money you invest in marketing, keep your focus on them. Business isn't a game. It's a get-to-know-you.
The most rewarding business you can get, the best testimonials, come from clients who know you. Clients who’ve gone the distance. How do you find these clients? Don’t be a marketing P.U.A. That’s not to say you can’t have a bit of fire or sizzle to your marketing or promotion- as long as there’s real meat to go with that sizzle- with chips, salad and beer on the side to give 'em real value! The trick to growing your business without having to spend time over and over chasing new leads, is to think long-term. Work on building real relationships with your existing clients, give them reason to keep coming back, because they’ll be the most valuable people to you in the long-run. You might not win these people over in a single night- perhaps not even in a week or a month. But once you’ve won their trust and built that crucial relationship with them? They’ll be the gift that keeps on giving.
In all the time and money you invest in marketing, keep your focus on them. Business isn't a game. It's a get-to-know-you.