In this economy, if you’re asking consumers or other businesses to write a big check, your pitch had better be a bold one. A timid or tepid request for a customer’s business, especially for big ticket items, is likely to be met with indifference. If you want to persuade someone to act in a big way, you have to ask in a big way. Consider the Marines. Enlistment ought to be a tough sell right now, with two wars on. But marketing for the Corps has only gotten tougher, stressing the brutal demands placed on anyone who wants to join. The result? They’ve exceeded their recruiting goals. If you’re asking prospects to take a big step, consider bold ways to ask.
