W is for Whisper

This entry is part 23 of 27 in the series A to Z

I’m learning that what works for my kids, works in marketing.

When I whisper to my kids, they know it’s something important or interesting or not just my everyday banter.

So what is it, exactly, about whispering that works so well? If you break it down, it makes lots of sense.

Turn off the noise

If you’re not yelling, you need the surroundings to be quiet–or at least quieter than normal. With two boys under 10, that’s not terribly quiet so you can imagine the impact silence has on these two monkeys. If it’s silent, they can hear. If it’s silent, that means they’re not talking, farting or … talking about farting.

In a business or a website, if there’s so much going on and so many bleeps and buttons and shiny things, how do you muffle the noise?

Focus

If I whisper something, they not only listen, they want to listen. They know it’s something out of the ordinary. In fact, if I did it all of the time, it wouldn’t work. They stop what they’re doing and pay attention. Wow, why don’t I do this more often?

In fact, how can you turn off the noise in your life, your business, and your lifestyle and listen to what matters? Why don’t we do this? Because it’s hard. What’s hard is often what works.

What’s that sound? Silence? What’s that? Whisper what’s important. [Waves in Moorea.]

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6 Comments

Jaime on April 26, 2013 at 6:41 pm

This is so true. When people whisper to me – I have such a hard time hearing them. I cannot read lips for anything. I used to pretend that I knew what people were saying but now, I just tell them “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Jaime at Awakenings and Reflections

Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 6:58 am

I think the surroundings have to be just right: silence or near silence. If you ask them what they’re saying and they can repeat it, at least it’s worth repeating. Not all things are!
Reply

dee on April 26, 2013 at 11:58 pm

This makes a lot of sense! There’s a saying that goes: “a whisper is louder than a shout.”

Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 6:59 am

Also with websites (or any marketing), people usually just want to shout louder. The trouble is that they’re often in a shouting match … with themselves.
Reply

Susan Taylor on April 27, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Love this reminder. I find that whispering to my kids can really change the whole conversation on a dime. And I love it when they whisper back.

SiouxsiesMusings

Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 7:00 am

Ooh, good point! When they whisper back you know that they “get it.” Thanks for the comment.
Reply

Jaime on April 26, 2013 at 6:41 pm

This is so true. When people whisper to me – I have such a hard time hearing them. I cannot read lips for anything. I used to pretend that I knew what people were saying but now, I just tell them “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Jaime at Awakenings and Reflections
- Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 6:58 am
  
  I think the surroundings have to be just right: silence or near silence. If you ask them what they’re saying and they can repeat it, at least it’s worth repeating. Not all things are!
dee on April 26, 2013 at 11:58 pm

This makes a lot of sense! There’s a saying that goes: “a whisper is louder than a shout.”
- Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 6:59 am
  
  Also with websites (or any marketing), people usually just want to shout louder. The trouble is that they’re often in a shouting match … with themselves.
Susan Taylor on April 27, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Love this reminder. I find that whispering to my kids can really change the whole conversation on a dime. And I love it when they whisper back.

SiouxsiesMusings
- Bradley on April 28, 2013 at 7:00 am
  
  Ooh, good point! When they whisper back you know that they “get it.” Thanks for the comment.