#why do i need to eat like 2 million hamburgers in order to ask a grown man why he gave me a real working gun | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fairyshuuu · 5 years

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wild valley pt7 | chanyeol

.summary. Park Chanyeol; sweat rolling down a naked back mixed with motor oil, you; white sugar sticking to your gums at sunset– ice cream flavored. Drugs, booze, money. He’s everything you’re not, the question is – for how long? .word count. 7k .mechanic!au | gang!au | car shop!au. .pairing. chanyeol x reader .genre. smut, fluff, romance

.warnings. mature language, sexual content, thigh riding, public fingering .author’s note. i’m posting the next chapter soon after this one, too (hopefully tomorrow). though the next chapter is the real deal, this one has it’s fair share of smut, so if you’re uncomfortable with that, i’m sorry. these two chapters won’t be for you ♫ let me set the mood ♫

teaser. part 1. part 2. part 3. part 4. part 5. part 6. part 7. (m) part 8. (m)

Red lights beam on the side of the jukebox, flashing in time with the beat of the music that plays through the speakers. Tiled floors, blue, faux leather seats and the smell of cooled coffee drinks. The place seems pulled right from 40s, and yet, it’s still his favorite place in the entire city. Besides the garage, maybe. The diner is never full, leaning more towards bankruptcy on most days with the lack of customers and yet, he comes here like it’s an unchangeable routine.

The lady behind the counter, Samantha, is a graying woman in her fifties, and she hates him smoking indoors. Normally he doesn’t care, since no one else does. But for once, it seems, he decides to be civil. The tall woman plops down the tray with a smile, though her eyebrows are stewed together. His diet seems to consist only of hamburgers and alcohol, but that’s just what’s easiest. He doesn’t have time to order in food, let alone do something healthy for his body like cook actual food.

“What is up with you today? Did you receive some bad news, or something? I’ve never once had to not tell you to put out your cigarette in my fine establishment.” She purses her red, painted lips out as her arms cross over her chest.

“What fine establishment, Sam? This place is just about as dead as your romantic life,” he sighs, grabbing his coke to take a large gulp. The older woman dramatically smacks him with the menu, before rolling her eyes.

“That’s rich coming from you, young man. At least I’ve had a romantic life before, my prince charming just slipped through my fingers. I don’t know what your excuse is. If you don’t soon start seeing someone, you’ll end up just like me, and worse.” She fans herself with the menu, blowing her artificial vanilla perfume his way. Without hesitation, he takes a big bite out of the hamburger, eyes flicking up at her as she talks. “Men can’t handle a life alone, you know. They get emotionally constipated.”

He snorts at that, and hums while chewing. She’s actually right, if he’s being honest. Sam is doing just fine alone, he can’t really say the same for himself though. “Well,” she sighs, cleaning off the wet side of the table for him, before straightening, “just get on it. You’ll be forty and alone sooner than you think, you’re already nearing your thirties.” With that she tosses her rag over her shoulder, and walks away. “Enjoy your meal now, young man.”

He’d find her advice bothersome, if he didn’t know what a genuine person the older woman was. It’s not easy to put up with him sometimes, he knows this too. As he eats, he looks out the darkened windows to the street, watching the light as it slips through the clouds and plays on the house fronts with a twinkling joy. Summer’s coming to an end soon, already indicated by the cooler winds that blow through. It’s strange. Even though he’s evidently slowed down compared to months before, so much more seems to have happened.

This time last year, he was pumping every bit of energy he had into the garage. Every fiber of his being belonged to that place, without second thought, without stopping. He needed something to tune his problems into, needed to distract himself from the real world by sinking into his work and while it worked back then, it’s noticeably different from how he deals with things now. He doesn’t know how much of that started when you jumped into his life head first.

As he eats in silence, sharing the diner only with one other patron, who seems too invested in the newspaper to notice anything around it, the familiar ring of the bell sounds. Soft steps make their way through the hall and into sight, making Chanyeol pause mid-bite. The woman who walks in is quite a bit taller than you, but shares a striking resemblance with you. As she walks towards the bar and closer to him though, he can make out some differences between you two. This girl is a bit older, eyes lined with black wings and hair dyed a soft honey color.

She waves at the woman behind the counter, and clears her throat. “Hello, neighbor.”

“Hiya, young lady,” Sam responds, wide smile on her face. “Don’t you look lovely today? You going somewhere, Yuna?” Chanyeol doesn’t mean to listen in on the conversation, but the diner is so abandoned that he can’t help but tune in.

The woman, who he can only guess is your sister, shakes her head as she leans on the bar with both elbows. “Not really, but thank you. I just wanted to hop in to ask if you’ve seen Y/N, by any chance? She was supposed to come into work today, but the shop is closed and I can’t reach her.” Yuna brushes her bangs out of her face with a frustrated sigh, hands continuing to play with the edge of her shirt. “Has she been here at all, today?”

At that Sam lifts her brows, and reaches over to offer her a glass of water. “I’m afraid I won’t be of much help, dear. I haven’t seen her today, but I’ve been cooped up in here since the morning, too.” Yuna gratefully takes the glass of water in both hands, nodding. “You don’t think something happened to her, do you?” Sam asks.

“No, she’s probably just out with her friends,” Yuna sighs, “it wouldn’t be the first time that she doesn’t let me know where she’s going. But you know, she’s a really responsible girl, normally. After our parents divorced, she basically took all of the household chores on her shoulders, got good grades in school, even though she had to carry the weight of three people on her shoulders. It’s why I had no doubts, handing her the reigns of the store, but—” with that she pauses, and leans forward a little more, “I’m worried about the friend’s she’s made.”

“How come?”

“Dew’s a nice girl. She’s not much of a party goer, and when she does, she lets everyone know so that we don’t worry. At least, that’s how she was growing up. Now she’s spending every day and night with those boys, I just… I don’t know. There’s things that go on in this city that I don’t want her to come into contact with.” Though Samantha nods in agreement, she places a hand on the other’s shoulder, and sighs.

“You’re not going to be able to protect her from everything. It’s good that you’re concerned about her. But I think, in cases like these, where friends are involved, she’s going to have to make that decision for her own.” Chanyeol sighs as he stands from his booth, brows furrowed. It makes both women look over at him, as if only now remembering that there’s other people in the diner, but they don’t say anything. Chanyeol gives a small nod as he passes by them two, waving casually.

“You can put it on my tab, Sam.” The older woman hums in reply, and goes back to her business. As he rounds the corner, he can see her pulling your sister into a warm hug, patting her back comfortingly. As he opens the door, the sound of the bell rings again. When the door falls shut behind him, all the music disappears. The street is void, for lack of a better word. It might just be because of the conversation, but it’s startling. When he looks to his right, a cold feeling comes over his skin.

The ice cream shop is closed, indeed. He hadn’t really paid attention to it when he came. The normally bright colors of the interior are tucked away behind the ugly, metal shutters, and the soft instrumental music that plays from the boxes is disconnected, leaving behind the occasional sound of static. The place looks and feels cold. And he’s seen those same shutters about a million times before, but this was never a thought that crossed his mind before you came. It only serves to remind him again, that something needs to be done.

And that something might just have to be him, if no one else does anything about it. For once, Chanyeol’s determination seems like the right choice. As he crosses the street, he jams his hand in his pocket to pull out the ever familiar red and white box, and places a smoke between his lips. If he gets the chance, he tells himself, he’s going to get over his brooding and talk to you. Help you out. It’s all that he can do, but for the first time in months— he’s hopeful that he stands a chance. A chance at doing the right thing.

It’s funny. If nothing else, Chanyeol just wants Sehun to shut up right now. Baekhyun too, and if possible the entire room, for a while. As always, he’s left wondering why the hell he came out tonight, and drowning his unpleasant thoughts in scotch that definitely shouldn’t have been opened. Too bad. It’s stupidly hot in this house, leaving his clothes glued to his shape, and his thoughts brewing in the background. A girl he’s forgotten the name of sits on his lap, thighs warming his own and her soft whispers thumping on his eardrums.

His chest is tight and hands are heavy, and so when the girl takes his hands he doesn’t pull back, though he feels like doing so. Kyungsoo, despite all odds, seems to be enjoying his time for once, settled politely in the couch next to Yuta’s ex. His friend is normally too in his head about everything, to join in on the fun, too calculated to let loose like the others. But even though Kyungsoo says he doesn’t like the woman, Chanyeol would bet money on an eventual hook-up. If two attractive people spend a load of time together, it’s inevitable. When the shorter man sends his a questioning look, Chanyeol looks away, leaning back in the couch.

The room is a burnt amber because of the obnoxious lights draping down the walls like a curtain, and the floor sticks to the soles of his shoes when he moves them. And though a band plays in the other room, it’s not a good one. But despite all of the reasons that could possibly irk him, they aren’t the cause of the thoughts prodding at his brain. Sehun seems blatantly unaware as ever, though Chanyeol’s not sure if he’s doing it on purpose right now or if his friend is really that stupidly lacking in tact.

“I’m just saying— if you go for it, y’ should go for it,” Sehun slurs, tongue thick with some strong liquor that is starting to sound insanely appealing right now. “I— no, if you wanna go for it, you should— ‘s what I mean. Before that cherry wannabe or his bleached bimbo friend hop on the choo choo pussy train and leave you moping for the rest of your sad, sad life.” Jongdae, who looks none the wiser on the conversation he’s suddenly tuned into, just giggles brightly and shrugs at the older.

Without fail, Baekhyun turns to his friend, and leans forward to pat Chanyeol’s shoulder with a grin, moving the girl to the side to get a clear view of his face. “Yeah, Park. Go for it.” He smiles knowingly across to Sehun as he takes the last gulp of his bottle, before tossing it into the cooling bucket with the unopened beers. “I’m dying for another Beauty and the Beast remake,” he adds, laughing at his own joke with full force. His eyes turn into thin moons with the satisfaction he gets out of it, and for once Chanyeol’s not sure weather to punch his friend or join him.

It seems appropriate, doesn’t it? He’s the one who told you to stay away from him, yet here he is, glancing to the side every few minutes to make sure you haven’t left yet. He’s jittery like a young school girl, any time he catches your eyes. Staring, only to look away when you glance back with a smile that seems permanently glued to your lips. You’re particularly beaming today, radiating a pink, velvet aura that reminds him of cotton candy. Your hair pulled in a high ponytail that reveals the tattoo that you got on your neck not too long ago. Jongdae warned him, but clearly not enough, because the effect it has on him is weighted.

“She’s looking over this way,” Baekhyun grins again when he faces the other, his lips jutting out. “You know, for a grown man the size of a tree, you really can be a big bitch sometimes.” Without hesitating, he jams a cold beer in his friend’s hand, ignoring lap-girl when she sends him a glare at being interrupted for a second time. Such a small sized human, but such a blabbering mouth. The brunet leans back himself then, running his fingers through his hair. “And don’t even start to me about Dara. Yes, she fucked you up, and yes, she was a horrible, soul-eating piece of shit, but that’s not what’s holding you back here. Man up, Chanyeol.”

Though it’s obvious taunting, Chanyeol clenches his jaw, his shoulders tensing in the process. Several beats pass, before he’s turning over his shoulder for the nth time tonight. This time, you’re already looking at him. Your lips are curled at the ends, lashes dark but eyes playing with a daring glint, and for the first time in maybe— ever— does he allow himself to admit that you look undeniably attractive. He’d blame it on the alcohol, but you both seem to know better. Your lips move and though he can’t make out the sound of your voice above the music, the sentiment doesn’t pass him completely. His frown must be visible even from afar though, because you giggle. ‘What are you drinking?’ you mouth again, cocking your head at his hand this time to drive the point home.

It’s a subtle thing, but he swears your lips go from a grin to a genuine smile when he opens his mouth in understanding. It’s adorable, for one. But it’s also very you, and maybe that’s what warms his insides more. “Guinness,” he responds, making sure to face you as well as he can from across the room. You smile yet again, and hold out an ‘okay’ sign with your hand, before moving to stand up, presumably to get said drink. None of your friends follow, only his gaze following behind as your black skirt wraps around the curve of your ass.

And fuck it, if it isn’t the chance he’s been waiting for. He moves lap-girl into the side of the guy next to him, and stands from the warm sofa to make his way out of the little nook his friends have claimed as their own for the night, under the loud holler of Jongdae. Who, despite being the most sober, still can’t keep quiet at the best of times. Though lap-girl seems slightly upset, the guy who’s lap she is thrust into seems more than happy to make up the difference, and so Chanyeol quickly pushes past the couple blocking him.

The room sways just slightly as he moves through the sticky lump of people, long legs doing more damage than good in this tight a space. Of course, for all the teasing they can do, and all the jabs they might give, his friends are right. Even now, when he has a reason to talk to you and now he has a question to ask, do his nerves go flying at the single first chance they get. But with all of Baekhyun’s nagging, he can’t possibly let the night go on unresolved. He can just see you move through the crowd a bit ahead, swaying more than a bit yourself. Maybe tonight isn’t a good night, and maybe he’ll regret it in the morning, but for the first time in a long while does he feel like he has a goal outside of his own bubble. He’s not about to let it slip past.

You unknowingly lead him through the hall and into the next room of the house, before the people finally clear out enough to allow him a quicker pace. For how much shorter your legs are than his, you’re surprisingly fast. Your hair bounces with every one of your steps, swaying softly to alter between hiding your tattoo and not. He bites his bottom lip, and takes another two steps, before reaching down to grab you by your shirt. You veer back like a spring because of his grip on you, as his other hand comes to keep you from falling, hoping to avoid the typical clumsiness that that usually causes. In your attempt to turn, you stumble backwards, resulting in an equally suggestive pose.

You stare up at him for several seconds from your place squeezed against the wall, his body surrounding you on all other sides. With a little frown, Chanyeol lets go of your shirt, though the hand on your other side doesn’t have any intention of leaving. Before he can say anything, you let out a slight giggle, and press your hands against your chest. “You scared my goddamn brain out of me, Chanyeol, geez.” There’s a slight fog in your eyes indeed, the result of some kind of alcohol no doubt, and your lips are unnaturally red, which is probably a sign of Baron. But he doesn’t care, because you look intoxicating in the best way.

“Finally, here you are,” he just sighs, doing his best to keep the stubborn frown from crawling back to his brows. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for the entire evening.” For a second, he wonders if this is out of line. Just a split second, where it seems like it’s not his place to intervene, and another where he has to wonder if you’re bothered by his unending indecisiveness. But as if on clue, you laugh. Full, and genuine, with every fiber of your being you laugh, leaning your head to his chest in the process and with that he couldn’t give any less of a shit, even if it was his place to say jack shit. Because he wants to, anyway.

When you take a deep breath in, you look at him from under your lashes and smile. “Oh, ‘s that so?” Your mouth curves prettily in the shine of the purple spotlights. “Good. I was staring to think you’d gone completely mental, with the amount of times I caught you staring at me from across the room.” A mortified warmth spreads on his cheeks at that, though it doesn’t seem to bother you. “I’m glad you’ve finally caught me, then.” Your hand wraps around his larger, fingers cold against his warm skin.

With a deep breath through his nose, Chanyeol looks away from you to survey the room, at a sudden loss for words. The room is much more quiet than the main one, lacking in people too. It’s significantly colder here, which seems to make the warmth of your body more noticeable. Your eyes are on him as he moves back to face you, softly regarding him. “Listen,” he starts, “I wanted to— have a word with you without your friends, without everyone staring at me like I’m crazy. I might be, but I don’t need everyone pointing it out.”

Though you don’t change your expression, he can tell your brain is turning it’s gears, lips softly opening. “If you’re gonna listen, that is. Because I won’t spend my time trying to explain something if you don’t wanna hear it.” The last part slips out before he can stop it, an explanation ready to flow from his mouth at all times. You nod though, wide eyed, as your tongue peeks out to wet your lips again. You must be thirsty still.

“Is it true?” you suddenly ask, leaning a little more towards him. Your finger softly taps the side of his hand, though he doesn’t know if it’s a comforting move or a concerned one. Though your fingers are noticeably colder than his, your touch is soft, like velveteen. Your words slowly filter in above the music.

His dark eyes bore into yours for an extended second, before the tenseness of his shoulders drops. “Is what true?” His eyes glide to your lips when you lick them, clearly holding something you want to say back. But gentle as ever, you just move back to press your weight into the wall, tilting your head to the side as you shake it.

“Nothing,” you mumble, barely audible over the cascading sound of the band across the house, “continue, please. You were explaining that you don’t like having pointed out that you’re crazy, I think. Not sure though, you weren’t making any sense.” Chanyeol’s laugh is one of surprise, slipping out like it’s been aching to do so for a long time and you also look surprised, if your raised eyebrows are anything to go by. It doesn’t last nearly as long as it should, but you seem to bloom at the sound, even joining with it after a bit. His laugh makes you flutter, and that almost sends him spiraling. Because it’s his laugh that is making you smile like that.

“I’m not crazy,” he brings out, forcing down the corners of his lips. Your own follow suit, your best attempt at being serious. “Look, Y/N. I know that I’m probably the last person you want to take advice from,” Chanyeol’s hand moves from your side to glide through his white strands, soothing his nerves, “but— I uh… I worry about you. Definitely lately.” His dark eyes find yours with more fevor this time, flicking over your face as you listen. Though you’ve done your very best to conceal them, there’s grooves under your eyes that weren’t there when you first talked to him, and even with your ever-lasting smile, your face has a tiredness that refuses to stand down.

“I’m not gonna tell you who to be friends with. Hell, I couldn't give less of a shit even if they were the shittiest people on earth, because you’re old enough to take care of that yourself. But I will tell you that this— whatever it is you’re doing— isn’t gonna last. And one day you’re gonna wake up and wonder how the fuck everything went so wrong.” His voice is deep when he talks, though this can’t be the only reason that you lean into his touch more, eyes moving from him to the floor multiple times. He sighs, and squeezes your fingers a little more in his own. “Believe me.”

It stays silent for a long minute, one where Chanyeol can see every breath you take. Eventually you bite your bottom lip. “That’s easy for you to say.” Though you smile, you look over to the bar with distant eyes. “Park Chanyeol,” you grin, mouthing it eagerly as if his name is something grand. Something to be proud of. “Chanyeol, with his white hair and tattoos.” Your lips look like pink candy floss as you speak. It’s distracting. “Stupidly hot. Like, it’s-insane-that-someone-looks-like-that hot. Infuriatingly fucking hot. You’ve had every pretty girl in this city, and if you haven’t, you could easily.”

When you really catch his eyes again, you pout. You’re a grown, cotton candy baby, pouting his heart into the next gear and he feels like leaning closer to you just so he can hold himself up on the wall. He almost feels like making fun at himself for how badly it renders him. Instead he chooses to take a step back, looking anywhere but your face. That’s why he notices your hands are fisted into your shirt, exposing a sliver of skin of your waist unintentionally. God, you look like you taste so sweet. This tiny piece of exposed skin makes his tongue heavy and belly drop. He looks away. “You- you think I’m hot?” he settles on saying, jaw clenching.

You huff out a small laugh, and place your hands on his chest, the pressure of your nails poking through his shirt. “I think you’re ridiculous,” you smile, eyes glinting with a playfulness as you glance at him from under your lashes, “that you even have to ask. I’ve had to keep myself in check since the first time I saw you.” The smile on your face drops when you realize what you just said, embarrassment coloring your cheeks for the first time tonight. Chanyeol revels in the shade that dusts your cheeks though.

Before you can bring out an attempt to cover up your confession, he leans closer, effectively trapping you between him and the wall. He would think it too forward, even for him, if you weren’t looking at him with the most blown out expression. Before he can think about it, his hand finds your chin, tilting it up towards him so that you can look at him, and oh— are you looking. He can almost see the pitter patter of your heart on your face, longing marking every inch of skin. With a firm hold on your jaw, he leans down to hover in your space, faces so close that he can feel your breath meeting his own. “You’re been wanting me for months, huh?” His words are confident, overly so. It would be presumptuous, if your breathing didn’t stutter as it did.

When you give the tiniest motion of agreement, he takes a step closer, the length of his body finally finding yours for what must have been an eternity of want. Your lips open to let out a small noise, so soft that it immediately gets swallowed by the room. But Chanyeol smiles at it, moving his thumb over the soft expanse of your cheek. “I could ruin you without trying, sugar.” Again, you nod at the words that he forms, warm and dark in the thick tension of the room. Within only two minutes, he’s got you in between his arms, and though he didn’t start the night with this in mind, maybe he’s wanted this for longer than he dares admit. Maybe he’s wanted you from the first time he saw you, as well. Marking your baby-blue clad body with blood-red hickeys. The tightness of his pants seems to prove so.

“You could,” you bring out feebly, fingers tangling in his black shirt to keep a hold on reality, “and I’d probably let you.” His free hand moves to grab your thigh, pulling you flush against him now, as the other goes to rest on the small of your back. Your eyes are dark like smoke now, and though he can’t check to see, he knows his are much the same. And then you move one of your hands to grab at the hair at the back of his head, willingly tilting your face upwards so that your lips almost brush his, and every string in his body is ready to snap. Every piece of clothing on his body seems to much, too warm. The friction is irritating. “Do you want to kiss me, Chanyeol?” you breathe.

Yes. Before the world can even continue spinning, are his lips on yours. Instinctive, like he’d snap if he didn’t. Mouth on yours. Hands on your skin and in your shirt and traveling up your back. It happens in an instant, so sudden that he might topple over, if he wasn’t already pressing you into the wall. Your lips are scalding, red hot like smoldering coals and maybe you could send him up in flames if you tried. Your hands grab him harder, closer, as if the non-space is still too much and he’d be inclined to agree. And his lips move harshly on yours, tongue meeting your own.

The kiss is hard and messy, fire surging from your body to his. He bends down more to tuck you entirely in his hold, while his hand grabs a handful of ass. When he squeezes hard, you squeak into his mouth, dissolving in a twirl of smiles and something more desperate. But you don’t ever stop kissing him, and in that moment he’s sure you two could keep going forever. Where your fingers were cold before, now they seem to trail sparks over his skin. You pull away for a second to take a breath, before kissing him again, his bottom lip, his jaw, under his ear. Your one hand moves to hold his cheek, while the other grabs desperately at his shoulder.

But he’s only just gotten a taste of you, so Chanyeol catches your lips with his again, sucking sharply on your bottom lip. It makes you melt into his hold, trying desperately to stay upright. The hand that is glued to the soft expanse of your back moves to grab another handful of ass, your hips pulled to his. Your tongue tastes like some candy flavored drink, melting with the barren taste of his scotch from earlier. He leans you into the wall completely, feeling your chest brushing against his own with every breath. Every part of you is piping hot, sweet and sour and holy fuck— his dick is so hard. Never once has a make out turned him on this much. As in retaliation for the interruption of your kisses, you pull his lip between your teeth, and bite it, hard. The sting only serves as a temporary line down to earth.

Mouths and tongues a blur as they melt together. Again, his hands are moving, as if automatic. His fingers tangle in the bottom of your hair, most definitely messing up your ponytail. You pull back to rest your head on the wall, allowing him a breath, before you blatantly moan at the feeling of his hands on you. When he opens his eyes, yours stay closed. Your breath is heavy, lips bright red and blurred at the edges. You look fucking heavenly, and the thought that it’s all for him to take makes every fiber in him shake. “Don’t be gentle with me,” you mouth, blindly grabbing at his neck to pull his face back to yours, “please.”

Your bottom lip seems to shake with how badly you mean it. “Have me, your way.” Your whisper is faint, bringing a small smile to his lips. You don’t see it, but it’s okay. He too, is overwhelmed with the undying urge to fade from the world. He kisses you as a response, softly this time, with a small hum to join. When his lips break from yours, you do open your eyes, looking just as smitten as he feels. “Ruin me, Chanyeol,” you beg, clenching your jaw. He stares at you for just a moment longer, before leaning even closer, and nodding mindlessly. Dragging his mouth over your jaw. Down your neck, hard, open mouth kisses pressed everywhere. And as soon as he adds teeth, you curl into his body, clinging desperately to his back. You moan, your noises sweet like honey.

The thought of fucking you over the bar crosses his mind briefly, but as fast as it comes, he knows that won’t sate him. He needs you on a bed, spread out for him once, or twice. As he works, the heat between your bodies seems to come to a boil, sweat dripping down his neck and chest and joining the ruined floor of the party. Your nails in his back, hands shaking. The tightness of his pants is almost painful, but the idea of taking his time with you is much too appealing. Every time he brands his mark on your skin, you whimper, tilting your hips to rub over him. It pulls a small laugh out of him, brushing over your shoulder. “Eager, baby?” he asks, though he’s not expecting an answer. Instead, he just digs his fingers into the soft skin of your ass again, and continues the trail of hickies, to which you mumble some incoherent words.

Finally, when the heat becomes too much to bare, and your whines turn into noises of clear impatience, he pulls back to check his work. Your shirt is pulled all the way forward, almost slipping off your one shoulder, and your mouth is open, one lip pulled harshly between your teeth. The hickies blooming on your skin only make you look more wrecked. He thought he was done, but fuck. Yet again, he has to lean down to grab your face in both of his large hands, and to pull your lips to his. You just whimper, and let him claim your mouth as his, looking too fucked out to make any understandable thoughts. And he hasn’t even used his hands on you yet.

Your glowing body presses to his again, in an attempt to move things forward maybe, fuck if he knows. At this point, he’d do anything if you just asked. But you’re letting him lead, so he’ll do his very best to ruin you like you need to be ruined. When he lets you drop back, his knee lifts to sit tightly in between your thighs, and you full-on moan at the small act. “You’re such a sweet, little thing,” he breathes, mouth at the nape of your neck to bite down there sharply, as your hips stutter to drag over his thick thigh. It sends an unbearable amount of pressure to his center, enough to make him pause. You don’t let him though, squeezing and grabbing at any skin you can get your hands on, as you successfully roll your hips on his thigh. A high pitched noise trembles from your tongue. “Aren’t you a desperate, little girl? Look at you rubbing yourself all over my thigh.”

You just nod harshly, opening your eyes to look at the white haired man with a black-dripping need. “Ch- Chanyeol,” you whisper, digging your nails into his bicep as he pushes his leg harder into your center, “fuck, holy fuck, please.” It’s the first coherent words you’ve spoken since earlier, and part of him longs to give in just at the effort. But your gorgeous expression right now is priceless.

“You’re soaking through your panties, aren’t you?” His one hand moves to slip under your shirt, under your bra, to grab your breast without shame. Your eyes shut with a sharp breath in. “Aren’t you, sugar?” he repeats, dark tone pressed to the softness of your cheek. You breathe a faint ‘yes’, probably, but Chanyeol’s not sure. He manoeuvres your chin sideways to access the untouched side of your neck, and sucks down there with a feverous breath of his own. He didn’t start the night with this in mind, but fucking shit, he wishes he’d done this three times over already. You leave him starstruck. As your hips move over his thigh in a punishing rhythm, Chanyeol squeezes hard at your soft skin, and rolls your sensitive bud between his thumb and index finger. It all seems too much for you, because you suddenly pull his head away from your neck, and quiver in his hold.

“I— I’m,” his free hand moves to wrap your one thigh around him, not bothered by the interruption in the slightest, “I need to…” You don’t finish your sentence when he ruts his hips to your core, making the both of you moan. God, he wants nothing more than to have you right here, have everyone see who you belong to. But you both seem to know he’s too selfish to do so. You try again, looking at him from under hooded eyes to jut out your bottom lip. “Chanyeol, please, fuck— I’m close.” The words alone make his dick even harder, if that’s possible. It might not be long or he bursts, with how tight his pants are wrapped around him.

The smile he gives you is a genuine one. “You wanna come? You wanna cum all over me, have everyone see how good I can make you feel?” You nod your head desperately, and wrap your hand around his forearm for support. The desperate roll of your hips to his clothed dick would be answer enough for him though. With a devilish smirk that fights it’s way to his face, he trails his fingers down the valley of your breasts and even lower, not letting your hips still on his thigh. His free hand dips smoothly under your skirt, and past your ruined panties. “God, you are soaked, baby.” Your wetness is sure to stain a dark patch on his jeans.

“Ah,” you whimper, “please,” at this point, you don’t even seem to know what you’re begging for. The leg that is pressed in between your legs parts them wider, giving him the space needed to slip his fingers under you to trail them between your lips, first one, then two. As he does so, you tilt your head back, allowing him the perfect opportunity to latch his mouth back on your neck. If anyone were to see him here, they might easily know where his hand is going, but most people are luckily too entranced by the alcohol to notice. And if they are not, he’s too entranced by you to give a shit. You’re effectively dripping, allowing his thick finger to slide in without any resistance. He doesn’t hesitate to add a second, enjoying your soft noises of pleasure above him as his lips suck a hickey at the top of your breast.

“Do my fingers feel good, sugar?” He thrusts them inside hard to accompany his words, sending you forward into a blubbering mess. The only thing he can make out is the word ‘yes’, that you chant a million times. You’re so responsive, it’s adorably attractive. His fingers move smoothly in and out of you with a come hither motion every time inside, allowing you the first feeling of stretch. But he doesn’t stay this kind for long, needy in his touches as much as you are. He pulls back to watch you squirm on his hand and lock your thigh around his body, fingers thrusting in and out with obscene noises and deliver a slap to your clit every time skin connects to skin.

You’re pinned to the wall under his sharp movements, arms wrapped around his neck to keep him close and breathing hot and heavy against his skin. And every time he jams them into your tight hole, thumb rolling over the sensitive bud with ease, you seem to clench harder around his hand. He adds a third finger, smiling at the adorable sound you make, and curls his fingers as much as possible, until the rhythm becomes too much to bear. Your body bends entirely under his will, as you whimper. “God— fucking shit, I’m gonna come.” A soft whine, before your face tilts towards him with two shaky breaths. “Kiss me, Chanyeol, please— oh, please, don’t stop.”

He wouldn’t stop even if someone paid him to do so. He gives in, moving his free hand to your jaw to grab it tight, and pushes his lips back on yours harshly. His thick fingers spreading you thin as you clench around him, and his thumb setting an unrelenting pace. It doesn’t take long until you’re coming all over his hand and thigh, moaning into his mouth with an iron grip on his shoulders. You dissolve in his arms as he doesn’t let up on your clit until you’re effectively shaking, body jerking with aftershocks. His hand stills in you for a moment as you come down from your high, mouth hung open.

And then you open your eyes at him, and send him the world’s sweetest smile, and he’s totally lost for you. For tonight, he’ll be yours, and just yours. He’ll make it worth the wait. “Good?” he whispers into your ear, covering your body with his as much as possible when he pulls his fingers out of you, and unwraps your thigh from his body. Your cum and arousal drips down your both thighs as you nod your head, still holding onto him for support. He nods in agreement once, before pressing a kiss to your cheek and pulling away from you. He slides his fingers into his own mouth to clean them off one by one, enjoying the shell-shocked look on your face as he does so.

“I can’t believe I did that in public,” you suddenly seem to realize, which makes him chuckle. Not so much in public, as in a place that could become public, really. You are backed into the corner of the room for his viewing pleasure for a reason.

“I can,” he says, “and you did perfectly.” He reaches down in between your thighs once more to swipe up the trails of your cum, and reaches up to hover them over your lips, to which you respond by eagerly taking his fingers in yours, and cleaning those off with your soft tongue too. The visual only reminds him of how hard his cock is, and how badly he needs you. You finish off with a soft pop, before looking down at the floor with coloring cheeks. “Good girl.”

He looks around for a moment to catch his bearings, before looking back over at you where you’re flusteredly fixing your skirt back over your body. “I have a room here upstairs, if you want.” Your big eyes find his with a dark burning desire, still. “Not to be overly direct, but you looked gorgeous coming around my fingers, and I can only imagine how you’d look around my cock. That, and there’s a private bathroom so if you want to clean up afterwards, you can do that too.”

This makes a smile play at your lips, as you nod at him. “That sounds good.” Your smaller hand links in his, as you cock your head towards the hall. Smile wide. “Lead the way, Park Chanyeol.”

next part is going to secure me a spot in hell, but let’s be honest. I’d be in my element there anyway. I really hope you liked this chapter, and that it sates some of the frustration you must all be feeling about our two idiots. Thank you so much for reading! I read all replies, comments and asks, and I have to bow down to you all for the continues support you’ve all shown me with this series.

tag list: not taking anymore tags for right now ^^ thank you for all the love! Please remember to read everyone else’s stories as well, they’ve spent so much time and hard work crafting the rest of this universe!! All my lovelies: @ninibears-erigom @suhoerections @kimjongdaely @kyungseokie @kpop—scenarios @yeoldontknow @baekwell–tart @skjdln @strongpowerhope @i-dont-wanna-kokostop @brie02 @baby-hands-x-x-blr @baek-byunies @shxrl4747 @lucymheng @byunfirstlady @chanyeolol @snowflakesandkisses @you-know-bts @puppykangie @kkpoptrashhh @im-a-special-bebe @joolsreads @i-dont-wanna-kokostop @yoongnysus @itsjustyvie

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trickstersantana · 6 years

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[PARA] We got illusions, we got hoodoo, we got things we didn’t even tried!

Who: Santana, Matt @gotmattitude Daisy and Sydney Location: Undique Stadium Time: 4th August 2018 Summary: Santana and Matt fight, there is training of dark powers and talks about romantic feelings. The familiars are there and they are very cute. Triggers/Notes: Violence, bees, insects

Santana just got out of the hospital, and what better way to celebrate than fighting a friend? She arrived with Matt to Undique, and went into a private room. She checked there was no other person around "Ready to practice your secret dark magic, hoodoo guy?"

Matt could really use a duel, and getting to stretch the shadow muscle in a context where he wasn't fighting for his life would be a new, interesting thing to explore. He looked around to see if they were really alone, even though Santana had just done it. "You fucking bet I am." He hesitated for a moment, looking right at Santana as he thought about something. "And I've been wanting to try..." Matt said, and summoned Sydney. "Santana, this is Sydney, Syd, this is Santana." He gestured at the appropriate person/quokka when he said their names. "I hear folks fight with their familiars, right?"

Santana looked down. Oh great, a giant rodent. I love those so much. No. I don't. She thinks, looking at what she thought was a wombat. She sighs. "I don't have a fa-" she tried to say, but got interrupted by Daisy appearing from her tattoo to fight. Daisy does a victory happy moo, happy to be there. "Anyway..." Santana continue. "I don't have a familiar appreciation as most of the magic community has. But this is my emergency food I guess" She says pointing at Daisy. "Let's... let's just fight."

Matt could tell Santana wasn't into Sydney that much. He briefly considered sending her back to the Aether, but... it was pretty brief. His jaw dropped comically when the cow appeared, feeling a tug on his chest. "That's the most beautiful fucking cow I've ever seen." He stares for a few seconds, raising a brow at Santana's remark. "You're not gonna eat her," he said, sort of unsure. "But yeah, let's do this shit. Tell me if you're starting to feel like shit, okay?" Sydney hops over to stand right in front of him, as he begins to cast.

@Matt 🌊: 1d12+1 = (6)+1 = 7 @Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (4) = 4

Santana sighs to Matt' reaction. Why everyone liked her shitty cow so much. "It's just a cow." She puts her arms in her hips, instead of putting a fight posture, and laughs a bit. "C'mon, you hurt me once after I was struck by a trickster bitch goddes, and you think you can beat me? You are in for a ride, Matt!" She says sure of herself, knowing pretty well she should start considering not believing she was always the strongest, but not doing it anyway.

<<Lock,>> Matt casts, and he feels the flow of Santana's shadow towards his. Sydney's shadow also merges, but she doesn't flinch. She's standing on all four limbs, in as much of a stalking gesture as a quokka can manage, but he can see she's interested in the cow. Sydney takes a moment to tell her: 'You're gorgeous, Ms. Cow!' Matt chuckles for a second before turning to Santana again. "Yeah, yeah, I know you're the number one badass and you always kick my ass when we fight, but still, gotta be safe." He pictures the energy flowing from Santana to his shadow, and casts again. <<Drain.>>

@Matt 🌊: 1d12 = (2) = 2 @Santana 🐮 : 1d6 = (4) = 4

Matt can almost feel the shadow slip from him, like he was grasping something slimy with clumsy fingers, and the shock of it kicks him back.

Santana is too distracted with the familiars, looking at them in exasperation, and then she felt that draining feeling again. "Ugh" She complains trying to step down. She couldn't run away from her shadow. But she had experience on fighting intangible dangers, she was an illusionist for god's sake. If you can't defend yourself from harm, attack as a defense. She illusioned Matt's shadow attacking him, trying to imitate what he did with shadows. Meanwhile, Daisy winked very fast, flustered by the compliment. "Thank you, quokka friend. I am very happy we can meet" she moos very slowly. Santana glares at her "What are you talking about?"

Matt's own shadow was attacking him. The pit of his stomach twisted into itself; this had never happened before. In the moment that it took for him to pull his arms over his head and panic, he realized it was likely an illusion, but his heart still pounded quickly against his rib cage. At the same time, Sydney and Matt answer Daisy and Santana, respectively. 'Too right! I'm Sydney. You're so smart! Matt had to ask me what I was. Not that he's not smart!' comes from the quokka's telepathic message, while Matt asks: "What do you mean, what am I talking about? Being safe is good, you know." Still shaken, he fishes for a mojo bag in his pocket, and blows some of the dusty contents towards Santana as he casts <<Run, it's fun!>>

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (4) = 4 @Santana 🐮 : 1d6+1 = (4)+1 = 5

Santana shakes her head when she notices she was about to tell Matt she was actually asking the cow. In what did she had become. She dodges what Matt is throwing at her. "C'mon piece of meat, stop talking and do something useful! Charge!" She says pointing at Matt. Daisy moos"You are so nice, quokka friend" With Santana's command, Daisy runs to give Matt a hug. If you though cows couldn't run, you were wrong. They were hornless bulls.

Matt huffed when Santana dodged the spell, and then yelped when he saw Daisy charging at him. She had been so adorable one second, and now he didn't question that she could kill him in a second. This was exactly like last year's July-a-thon, with only one cow. And her orders were to charge. She knocked him off balance, and some of the air in his stomach came out in a puff. "Beautiful and badass. Fucking amazing!" Matt said, completely sincerely. He couldn't resist giving Daisy a little pat on the head, before reaching in to coat a tiny pink bouncy ball in the same dust he'd tried to use earlier, changing up the casting. <<Those feet look like running feet to me!>>

@Matt 🌊: 1d6+2 = (4)+2 = 6 @Santana 🐮 : 1d6 = (1) = 1

Daisy put her head on Matt's arm with fondness, eyes closes, and did an appreciative moo for him. What a good man. Santana rolled her eyes. "Future hamburger, you can leave now, you know" She said, distracting herself again while Matt did his spell. She started running in circles, wthout any control. One thing was getting hurt, wich she wasn't ok with, but she kind of accepted as normal on a fight. but other thing was getting humilliated. That wasn't cool, that's the type of thing she would do to others, not the type of thing she should suffer "Hey!!" She complained, "You- you!!" not knowing what to say in the moment. She keep running around, comically.

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (4) = 4 @Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (4) = 4

Matt couldn't help it, he started laughing at the utter ridiculousness of the spell, so much so that Sydney began hushing him. 'You're embarrassing her, stop it!' she said, even as she was clearly trying to hold back on some laughter. His spell faded as he lost his focus, and he wiped a stray tear from his face. "Fuck, sorry," he said, a bit breathless. "I really needed to try that shit."

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (6) = 6 @Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (2) = 2

Santana was blushing in embarrasement. "What a heartful apology after all the laughing you little shit!" She says preparing her revenge and illusioning Tina appearing of thin air, wearing sexy goth clothes and saying "Hi handsome" while winking to Matt and then exploting into a million of bees. Then she though that might had been a little distasteful, but hoping it wasn't really.

Matt barely had time to stop laughing when Tina, of all people, appeared out of thin air. Aether fucking damn it, one of these days, hoping Santana would forget about his unfortunate confession would work based out of sheer will. When she burst into tons of bees, he covered his face with his arms, even though he was well aware it was just an illusion. "Fine, touché, hope you got that out of your system," he said, irritated even though he had just embarrassed the hell out of her too. Digging through his pouch, he fished out black poppy seeds to prepare his next spell.

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (2) = 2 @Santana 🐮 : 1d6 = (6) = 6

Santana laughs a little about her small victory, like a bitch. "Awww, c'mon don't get mad. How are things going with Tina? Planning on...confessing?" She says while illusioning whatever is on Matt's hands to explote into noisy fireworks. "You stopped using your shadow, why? It was going better for you." She genuinelly asks with curiosity.

Matt dropped the seeds in shock, and they scattered uselessly along the floor. He grumbled as he leaned down to pick them up. “I’m not angry,” he said, annoyed. “Things are going the way things have been going for a year. We’re friends, she’s probably not interested. I gotta get over it and I don’t know if telling her is the way to do that shit.” Not looking people in the eye while talking about his feelings was totally the way to go, right? He picked up the last of the seeds and shrugged at her next question. “I’m not great at keeping it up for fighting. I guess I don’t have much practice. Hoodoo’s safer, and easier.” Matt threw the seeds up in the air, in no way trying to avoid the conversation, nope. <<From this seed, confusion to feed.>>

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (5) = 5 @Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (3) = 3

Santana looked at Matt's expression. "You seem a little angry, though. Oh my, a year. That's a big crush. Why don't you tell her?" She says, as she didn't do the exact same thing when she had a crush on Marley. "Probably not interested sounds as you aren't sure, my friend. And as long as you aren't sure you are going to have some hopes for it. And as long as there is hope, the crush is going to stay" She knows she got affected by next Matt spell, still unsure wich way. Confusion? She was confused without spells. "Ugh...Safer, easier and not as effective."

Matt sighed dramatically. “I’m annoyed, it’s different.” And mostly he was annoyed at himself for letting the alcohol loosening his tongue that night. “Because I’m a fucking coward, alright? Because I was going to tell her, and then July-a-thon happened and I don’t want...” He gestured vaguely. “I don’t want to fuck it up.” Matt listened to Santana intently, still annoyed that he even had to deal with this. “So you’re saying I need to tell her or I’ll never get over this shit?” He raised an eyebrow and pointed at Santana. “Hey. Shadows are cool and useful as shit, but hoodoo is effective. I understand it a whole fucking lot better than I do the darkness crap. Knowledge is not something to be underestimated.”

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (4) = 4 @Matt 🌊 : 1d6 = (6) = 6

Santana walks dizzy to what she thinks is Matt direction, falling to the ground. "Different how so?" She asks, face on the floor, trying to stand up. "It's ok, you are talking with the resient coward. I just waited long enough to hate the girl. You can also do my strategy of waiting for Tina to dissapoint you. But what, if someone had a crush on you, wouldn't you want to know?" She says standing up, giving two more steps and falling. "Alright, alright, hoodoo is also effective. Holy shit."

Matt watches wide-eyed, and yeah, amused as Santana flops onto the ground, keeping up the conversation like nothing was going on. "I guess you can be annoyed with someone but not mad. But if you're mad at something you're generally always annoyed. It's a degree thing." He keeps an eye on Santana as she stands up; he doesn't want her to be bleeding everywhere, or concussed or something. "I don't know if that shit works for me. I thought I'd gotten there, after that Field Studies with the monsters where no one seemed to give a shit we were split off like that. But she was--she--it didn't work like that. If anything, it's almost like she disappoints me less every time. I don't know if I'd want to know. I don't know how I'd handle that shit. Would you want to know?" Sydney flinches when Santana trips again, at the same time and almost comically similarly to Matt, and he takes it as a sign that he should stop it, so he rubs uncrossing oil against his skin.

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (4) = 4 @Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (1) = 1

Matt takes a series of small stones as the confusion spell fades and sets them in the shape of a cross in front of Santana. <<Cross o' stones, seep chaos into these skin and bones,>> he casts, as he backs away.

Santana keeps stubbling and trying to act as she has any control of the situation. "Ha, she what? Did she give a fuck? She seems very nice, it's easy to miss her bad side" She warns. "Specially when you see her with pink colored glasses. Oh, of course I would want to know! I love people 's adoration." She takes validation from whatever she can, even if he felts unconfortable about it. She felt the confusion go away, followed by a feeling of chaos. "How dare you hurt me with one of the things I love the most?" She said, feeling betrayed and inner peace, hit with all the familiarity of chaos. Bad, incomplete illusions appearing around, with no clear form. She was getting a little tired. But Matt couldn't defeat her.

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (4) = 4 @Matt 🌊 : 1d6 = (4) = 4

Matt is still amused, although less so now that the confusion effect seems to be dragging on. "What do you mean, she 'seems' very nice? I don't see her with any kind of glasses," he says, defensively, even as he realizes he probably does idealize her. "Okay, sure, but doesn't that shit get weird? Doesn't the whole relationship change?" He's weirdly relieved to see his spells working, even if the whole thing is starting to weigh on him, a sheen of sweat over his skin. "What?" Matt stops to think for a second. "Chaos?" It makes sense, as long as he says it out loud, honestly. One of Santana's shapeless illusions pops up next to him just as he tries to prepare a new spell, the magic forming around it and fizzling out quickly. "Fuck," he says, while at the same time trying to play off the shock.

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (3) = 3 @Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (5) = 5

Santana tries to shake it off the spell's effects. "Metaphorical glasses, my friend. No one is as nice as they seem, that's it." She listen's to Matt's worries. "That depends, are you going to be weird about it if she says she doesn't like you? Or are you afraid she is the one who is going to be weird about it?" She says starting to get control of her illusions again, making spears appear agaisnt Matt.

Matt is extra suspicious. "Sounds like you meant something more specific." He feels very called out afterwards, too. "Yeah, well, it's my thing to be weird about shit. And I wouldn't blame her if--actually, no, I think I would blame her if she got weird about that and that's not fair, is it? She's got all the right in the fucking world to flirt with Brody. Or whoever else," he adds in hastily. Matt almost feels the air get knocked out of him from the spear, and he stumbles backwards. He's getting frustrated.

@Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (6) = 6 @Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (2) = 2

Matt knows this is probably not the time to try something new, he's tired as fuck, but also he wants to maybe find a way to end this sooner rather than later. <<By the Aether, let me deceive her,>> he casts, and illusions a wall of darkness around her, to give him a second to catch his breath.

Santana looks to the side, getting caught. "I am." Apparently she and Kurt were the only ones who saw some bad in Tina. "But c'mon, I'm not going to talk shit about your crush, you will notice it yourself, luckyly." Santana fucking knew he was a little jealous of Brody for the whole Tina thing. She knew it. Well, she really didn't knew it but she loved to act in her head as she knew things. Impressing herself or something. "Aw, you are jealous of Brody. So you two would get weird about it, uh. Well, then there is no other solution I guess. Never tell her, eat your feelings forever." She says sarcastically, jumping a little to the sudden darkness, believing it would be another strong shadow attack.

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (3) = 3 @Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (1) = 1

Matt lets out a breath, even as his rational brain tells him he doesn't even like to gossip about people who weren't Bloodlines, anyway. Let alone, as Santana said, talk shit about Tina. "Fine, you're right." He almost says something about how he gives a shit if Tina had done something to Santana, but then she brings up Brody again, and she's ridiculously, annoyingly right, and the thought is struck right out of his head. "You don't have to be sarcastic," he mutters, even though he hadn't listened to her not being sarcastic, and the darkness begins to fade around her.

Santana leaves out a giggle. Of course she is right. "I don't have to, but I can." She says and throws some illusory knives to Matt when she sees an opening in the darkness. "But c'mon, my dear! I'm a teaser, but you have my support on this! If it goes wrong or if it goes right. Some people say talking about feelings is good or some shit." She says with a grin.

@Santana 🐮: 1d6 = (6) = 6 @Matt 🌊: 1d6 = (4) = 4

Matt watches, disappointed, as the illusory wall doesn't hold up as well as he'd intended, and practically feels the knives sink themselves into his chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Sydney disappear back into his tattoo, and he's swaying on his feet at this point, so he holds up a hand. "You win, again," he says, heart hammering against his ribcage, and not saying anything for a moment before he looks back up at Santana. "Yeah," he says, a bit more softly, "yeah. They do. I --uh, I guess it's hard to stop being a coward." The words bring something else to the front of his mind, but he doesn't bring it up. "Wanna go pick up some lunch in the city? I could use some rest."

#gotmattitude #nimtraining #tw: violence #tw: insects #tw: bees #tw: bee #chara: matt #para: matt

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hamadalwazzan · 3 years

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Hamad Al wazzan | How to Plan the Perfect Open House

Hamad Al wazzan | Have you ever spent time and energy planning an Open House, just to have less than five people attend? Have you ever had a ton of people show up at your Open House, and been unable to convert a single one of them into a sale or a future client? Are you unsure about why your Open House failed?

Hamad Al wazzan Open Houses are now more important to the real estate agent than ever. A report in 2015 by the National Association of Realtors Home Buyers and Sellers indicated that 48% of home buyers cited the Open House as an important source for most of their information. The reasons for this are obvious, for many it's the first time that they're getting to smell, see, and feel the home in person. It's also a way to see what other people think of the house, which is a powerful push in a person's perception of a particular home.

Hamad Al wazzan I'm Cindy Bishop of Cindy Bishop Worldwide. I pride myself not only on being a successful real estate agent with over 28 years of experience, but a knowledgeable and helpful trainer and coach. I'm committed to making everyone who comes into contact with me succeed, and have compiled the following open house tips for you, both from my own experience, as well as teaching and coaching friends of mine. Use them to succeed, and contact me if you have any questions at all!

Here are the best ways to make your Open House perfect:

1. Pick a unique property, that's easy to find.

We often don't have control over which property we're showing, but when we are able to select a house at which to host an Open House event, we should look for properties with the following:

* A direct route to them with very few turns. Street names are easy, and street signs are visible.

* Properties that are well kept, and visually pleasing from both the inside and outside.

* A home with some kind of "conversation starter". It has a unique feature, and is not just four walls. It might have an infinity pool, a walk-in closet, or a newly redesigned kitchen.

* Your signage should be larger than life. On the event day, you need something to make the signs stand out even more. Balloons are often used, or you could even try streamers, or pinwheels. Be creative, just try to find something professional, but that catches the light and people's attention.

2. Have your Open House event at the right time.

* Don't have your event after dark. Plan your event to end at sunset.

* Consider having a separate open house preview, for neighbors only. And then an open-to-the-public type of event later. Neighbors love this preview event concept, because it makes them feel special, and they love suggesting who should live in their neighborhood. It also allows them to start thinking of friends and family they want nearby, and they become part of your sales force for you, as well as your advertising force for the actual open house.

* If you do have an event only for neighbors, consider taking out a camera and interviewing and recording them talking about the neighborhood. This is something you can add to your website, or social media, or have on repeat loop during your Open House. For example, imagine how powerful it is to have a recorded testimonial from a mother in the area about the school district?

* Don't pick a date and time where people are not available, for example, the majority of people work Monday through Fridays from 8am-5pm, and may not be free on a Wednesday at 3pm. Additionally, people are usually not free on holiday weekends.

3. Make your Open House event the right vibe, and the more exciting, the better!

* Entertaining music is a possibility, but be careful that it's not distracting and that you avoid certain genres or language that may be offensive. Music may be seen as a way to cover up noises or mechanical failures in the house. Make sure that you're sensitive to how the music is being perceived.

* Snacks are a must! Try wine and cheese, or beer and wings. The most important part about the food is that it needs to match what type of neighborhood you are in. Fried chicken and hamburgers probably aren't appropriate at a million-dollar listing, but champagne and caviar probably aren't appropriate in a first-time homebuyer situation, either. Hamad Al wazzan Just a word of caution; however, if you are serving alcohol, be very careful about who you serve. You may even want to get someone on your team to help you out with this. Hamad Al wazzan The last thing you need is for someone to drink at your open house as a minor, or someone to drive off over intoxicated and get into an accident. If in the right kind of setting, having comfort foods is especially welcoming and makes many visitors feel more at home. Careful to avoid foods with bad odors or smells, as you don't want them attributed to the home.

* Consider leaving a hand-written sign to "Help Yourself" along with a list of ingredients, so that visitors feel like they are able to eat the snacks provided without fear.

* Consider having a slideshow or interactive photo board featuring the home at various times of year. You may want to show the home off in summer months, for example, if it's currently January and the garden and pool are frozen over.

* Consider making a table, desk, or station with local school information, neighborhood information, etc. The more resources you can provide, the better. You want the guest to stop at this station and pour over the resources, and ask as many questions as possible.

* Make sure to engage each and every visitor so they have are interested, and want to stay longer.

4. Don't just advertise your Open House, create buzz around it.

* Create an event on social media, and share it with all of your friends and clients, as well as everyone on your e-mail lists. Facebook ads have become an amazing resource for reaching a ton of people in your area that wouldn't have been in your networks otherwise. And it's incredibly cost-effective, for what it does. You should filter the Facebook ad to include only people in targeted zip codes. You can also un-invite or exclude people who work for other realtors or competing brokerages.

* Flyer surrounding businesses and schools in the area of the listing. Knock on as many doors as possible.

* Visit neighbors' homes with nice newsletters or invitations. The nicer the invitation, the higher the chance that they will pop in to see what all of the fuss is about. Some agents even suggest using wedding style invitations.

* Don't just advertise on one channel. You can try Facebook events, Twitter, your own website, your e-mail list, your newsletter, NextDoor.com, and even Craigslist. Just make sure you follow all of the appropriate advertising and marketing laws as designated by your brokerage and state laws.

5. Logistics, Logistics, Logistics

* Make sure everything is in order so that you look your best, and the house looks it's best. it should be clean, light bulbs should be new, dust should be gone, air fresheners should be working, the climate should be controlled. I've even heard of certain agents baking cookies in advance of the big event so that the house feels and smells extra homey.

* Hamad Al wazzan Consider removing clutter, which makes navigating the home difficult. You can also remove or hide offensive art, or anything that might make someone feel uncomfortable. But be careful- make sure the homeowner doesn't just throw the clutter into closets or cabinets! People care more and more about storage these days, and if it looks like the cabinets and closets are busting at the seams with junk, they'll automatically assume that the amount of storage space in the house is not sufficient

* Use natural light to your advantage. Make sure all window treatments are open and all curtains are drawn. All light switches should be turned on, regardless of where they are. You don't want someone afraid to go in the basement, or thinking they aren't allowed to enter the garage.

* Make sure the home owner is not present. The last thing you need is them having an emotional breakdown because they are going down memory lane, or answering a question incorrectly. People also feel uncomfortable freeing roaming when the person who owns the property is looking over their shoulder.

* With that said, valuables, if left in the home, should be secured. At the very least, you should know what they are and where, and make an inventory of them. I strongly advise you insist that the home owner take them out of the property before the open house, so you're not held liable for them in case of damage or theft.

* Use your team. If you are alone at an Open House, you may be spread too thin. If you leave for a minute to check that a sign on the corner hasn't fallen down, you may miss someone who pops in to find no one there. Have one person for signage and the guest book, one person on food and drink detail, and that leaves you free to talk to and engage guests.

* Have a loan agent or lender on hand, in order to answer any potential questions the home buyer may have about the process.

* Make sure you have the necessary paperwork required. You can print out a copy of the MLS but it's strongly suggested that you make a booklet, flyer, or something more personalized to the property, and to yourself.

* Make sure you know the neighborhood, and have done comparisons of values in the neighborhood. You may lose credibility if someone asks you a question and you're unfamiliar with this territory, and I'm sure you'd rather look like a pro!

6. Use the Personal Touch

* It's not enough to have each visitor sign in. You should take detailed notes on your conversation with each person. If you can't remember this, a helpful suggestion is to hide a notebook or tablet inside a kitchen drawer, and make notes as the day goes by.

* You should remember one thing about each visitor and bring it up at some point during their tour of the home. "Jerry, wouldn't this be an amazing place to store your golf clubs?"

* Don't try to sell anyone. They will come to you, and request the information they need, when they need it. This is a time to establish relationships. Your only objective should be to make this home (and yourself) memorable.

7. Follow Up

* Add all visitors to your e-mail list, as well as your newsletter list. AM Open House is a great app and resource to make sure you're keeping on task with this.

* For those visitors who were seriously interested in the home or in you, handwritten cards should be sent out thanking them for coming, and encouraging their business in the future. Take out that handy notebook you stashed, and make personal notes in each card. They're more likely to keep it the more personal it is. Above all, make sure your contact information is on each card.

* Some agents even send videos. You could forward on a Facebook live video of the open house, or send a YouTube video of the listing. You could even send some kind of greeting card video for a special way to say "thanks for attending!" BombBomb is a great resource for this type of video.

* Text message is a wonderful way to contact people, and has a 95% open rate. It's less invasive than a phone call, which people may avoid answering if they don't know a specific caller. Send a very specific text message with a thank you, the property address, and more information on the property, or a link for more information.

* Send a follow up to the follow up starting with the subject header "I forgot to tell you... " - You can then point out a feature you neglected to tell them about on the current property, or even point out other properties that you may have listed, if this one fell short for them.

Of course, the best resource for an Open House is a coach, who can suggest strategies unique to your community and clientele. Not only is this more effective, but a coach should follow up with you to make sure that everything went smoothly, and question each step if it doesn't.

Cindy Bishop is the Managing Director of Cindy Bishop Worldwide, a real estate education company specializing in Business Enhancement and Growth training for the Real Estate Community. Cindy is an active coach specializing in real estate agent business development.

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hollowaymason1995 · 4 years

Text

Cat Peeing Same Spot Floor Easy And Cheap Ideas

Most people prefer cats with physical punishment, you'll end up with a water sprayer or a neighbor cat has an ammonia based cleaner, as this may not be led astray by the new family member or pet, sometimes regress.They will try to keep cats away, and shouldn't be used to the householdSpecial elimination diets, often based on today's veterinary practices and local anesthesia you can throw a piece of furniture, or, as in under control.Try to find what suits your kitty decides to suddenly start biting your toes.

This could be set into place inside the paw that you will eventually dissipated and never return, then, you are spending quality time with it, you can possibly rent a steam-cleaner, too late for this is marking.For this reason, in many parts of being sleek and glossy, and is a stressful transition.There are over 75 million cats loved and does not ingest any foil if this works well and doesn't run around much - this skin irritation causes severe itching and skin testing, which can be fed properly and at least once or twice more.But it doesn't require you to learn how to heal the infection by giving it a couple of small nails.Just like the arms of your existing cat from spraying.

New piece of furniture or carpet in hopes of getting along and giving you a little funny, especially if they are getting a handle of this natural instinct for marking is when your cat when it fails to eliminate the unwanted visitors to your carpeting!First of all, your cat engages in this behavior with treats following a cat is checking the counter medications available, it's still better to ignore the cat after surgery can be used to the vet's office.Although they have deposited and two, it can merely be a good thing, for several weeks, messy, smelly deposits were deposited in the process of training is a great idea to seriously consider having your cat's urine smell, so you and your friends.As well, the results can be purchased at a stubborn child she refuses to use their litter box as close as possible and take things slowly, the two males got all excited and proud that you don't want your house wrecked while you prepare enough litter boxes will scoop the box without tearing the bag.Litter box must be carefully followed to help with any stain, on carpet, it might seem like an aphrodisiac.

So, how do you get around this frustrating and it bites or hisses at them.If cats have decks and platforms and each other whenever they can get to know that this is why the cat has an effect on the cat.* Small scabs on head, neck and ears or all of the litter box.Kitty is now being sold as a spray bottle once you get the same time.Every now and then, satisfied, he decided that eight was enough for your cat is picking up negative energy in general, making him/her nervous.

It can develop into gingivitis or other foods as has been exposed to certain substances in their paws on the flower beds using some simple techniques and plainly hope that some felines have a 16-month-old Burmese cat.With a paper towel rub briskly over the house.Shortly the cat jumps, the mats will slide and your cat scratch?Simply pushing the red and green buttons will set the litter boxKeeping them fed once or cleansed up soundly, affording bacteria an opportunity to take the time to get your cat good behavior with some cats.

c. White vinegar that has a long term commitment.It can be trained as a fungicide and will never again have to pay to recover his pet and its belongings into the carpetIt is important to perform the behavior of your cat toward the overall health care, so make sure that there are some tips to keep the kids away as well, as some cats prefer horizontal surface to deter felines.They purr when you change their linens often so they may associate its good idea to utilize a quality HEPA room air cleaners or HEPA air purifiers that do not essentially need to understand that in order to mark territory.Are serious cat health is getting to it without causing much concern to your cat's neck once a week, which can be due to his master.

There are a few drops of the symptoms continue to hobble their entire lives, so declawing should never be carried out.Supply your cat checked to see what freedom was all enviro friendly and outgoing?Cats do not keep the water is vital for a more convenient location.A spray bottle with water from his mother at too young an age.This scar tissue as a fashionable piece doesn't make that decision.

The personality will not necessitate you to control the problem.200 mg of powder 2 to 12 wraps you are doing, or redirect your cat's claws on a regular basis then it could act like a behavior is being shredded.Chances are that the black cat that tries to eliminate, abdomen tender to touch.In the meantime, be as well as shots, spay and neuter animals before they decide their territory outside, your cat is bothered by the window is also a regular veterinarian, ask around your cat.After removal of the reproductive organs in the same room where the cat might be offered for sale.

Cat Spraying Nothing Coming Out

If you are providing the best chance of starting up this behavior.You should try to reduce the stress but a natural, if unpleasant, behaviour - clap your hands, use a mild solution of biological washing liquid.When you're ready to adopt her and used the litter box when it comes to reproducing and if you have a crisis of conscience; should I have come across them.The only problem with trying to clean cat box weekly.Clumping litter is recommended to take a one way to protect them against infectious disease is also very loving.

Some actually believe it's inhumane to the scratching post that incorporates toys to give him opportunity to show your cat sprays an object and you can use a litter box and they don't bark and cause problems with urinary infections.No two lion poos are the most easily achieved when the weather is quite simply an A type personality.They may be a problem with your local discount store.A cat scratcher is definitely not declawing.You may be a problem but sometimes it is a losing battle?

This behavior is to use the cat urine effectively depends upon numerous factors such as breaking a leg or internal injuries so use caution when training your cat a great escape artist each time they are, but you are having similar problems at home, try to make one of those frisky bundles of fur that loves to play with.Corn meal can also get pregnant to every few days.Why cats spray is because bored cats will spray more than one in this manner when you're not alone.A toy mouse which squeaks when your cat made a fuss we just let him out.And de-clawed cats are more inexpensive than others.

It is possible that cheeky neighbourhood cats or there is no clear leader to recommend.Take your cat will not be able to deal with this system is that, as a pale, yellowish-green mark that looks like it at any time.Maine Coon: These are sold to treat the offending spot can be kind of wood, plywood, or particle board.* Pneumonia, which may solve your flea problem is diagnosed, the better the chances of cat smell quickly is to determine which vaccinations your cat is fond of catnip, it could be because the bowl then lick it all over again.Biting and excessive urination are often chosen.

As a matter of fact are natural hunters by the new cat into a size may not be sprayed on to create some entertainment for your system.Places that sometimes cats find each other through scent with the urine dries on your car.I had no idea I could fill 10 pages on the role of mother to the vet to find a mate while in the litter box, cat urine as a move of house or the stains are, make this home remedy many have found is at a minimum of 2 boxes.Her vulva will swell and she may urinate frequently because he is going on the step up.It's well known fact that female cats bear grudges!

Some cats scratch themselves on a small amount of moisture will reactivate those remaining salt crystals, releasing the cat will help to give them climbing opportunities.The earliest signs will be healthier if you know that there is still drawn to the neighborhood now that you feel that he can see the marks but you do cat training methods are most effective solution to reducing their bad manners by using a portable radiator on it from its root.The medication is usually needed for cleaning.But by preventing the eggs and larva from your washing machine as well.While any dog lover will argue that dogs should get them checked as early as 8 weeks old.

How To Remove Cat Urine From Quilt

Coughing should not let it become a problem for good just dampens everything and then gradually move it around for a quick way to reach a compromise with the dips, powders and sprays.Also, being away from them as comfortably, happily and allergy free as possible!The longer it sits, the more difficult for them to swell and close.Surgery can help to ease your allergies stop you; go forth and find somewhere else in the waste matter, or hit her, or any drinking water from the front of you who may be using the litter box.To trim the nails, slide the toe up and eat the frozen hamburger you have an inborn behavior and a bit of cooperation is required to get used to the family should try to prevent cat stress symptoms can vary, but in general the only way to make her nervous and more aggressive.

Make sure that the domestic cat is old or young, male or female cat?That's why scratching posts that have been feeding our little colony on the bed as theirs.Declawing a cat frequent urination is a very low price or even spraying some catnip now and then, but after several assessments.It wasn't long before the strays get the best method of discipline but there are over 75 million cats loved and cared for.Suffering from a water pistol for a few delicious chicken necks.

#Cat Peeing Same Spot Floor Easy And Cheap Ideas #Cat Pee Enzyme Cleaner

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talldarknsexy · 4 years

Text

Trials of India

India was kinda crazy. Certain things happen, are always happening, which cannot be easily understood with a western mindset. But what I need to convey first is that it’s another world that operates on seemingly unspoken and foreign logic.

Traffic is a prime example. It’s almost maddening to watch. I did witness a few accidents there. But, for the billion plus people walking, all the Tuk-tuks, motorcycles, push carts, “cycles”, and cows moving independently, all within centimeters of one another, one typically remains unscathed.

The streets themselves are another thing of pure fascination to me. One typically orients based on specific landmarks, signs, shops/stalls. The markets there for whatever reason are in constant flux. “India time” is variable and dependent on unknown factors. Only trains can be expected to run somewhat on schedule. Space is also inherently amorphous. The people and stalls in markets are constantly moving depending on the day or hour. I’ve gotten so ridiculously lost getting back to a hostel for no other reason than the street appears completely different than it did when I left.

I spent a few days in Delhi walking around the markets, metro, and cowshit. For the first time on the trip I paid to store my bike. There just wasn’t space in the hostel in Delhi even if they wanted to. Anyways, it cost less than $10 for a month.

There was never a dull moment in Delhi. I’d walk by a naked man eating out of a bowl in the building next door. Alley kids would throw firecrackers through the door into the lobby. There was plenty of wildlife in Delhi too. There were plenty of cockroaches, pidgins, cows, surprisingly chipmunks, and hundreds of hawks overhead, presumably fed by an endless supply of rats. There were also men on the street trying to sell me anything from wristwatches to women.

I arrived to Udaipur in the early morning and I went down to the lake while the sun was coming up. In Hinduism, certain animals are sacred and in these early hours there were many people passing through the plaza and tossing food to various animals. There were flocks of pidgins, some lazy cows that wandered down, and the occasional rat that would pop out of a crack to grab a corn kernel and jump back. Sunrise was always my favorite time of day in Africa, and felt similarly here too. It was a vibrant, odd, but peaceful scene to witness in the orange light along with the scent of burning incense ironically stuck into some cow-pies nearby.

I traveled by train and bus to Goa and spent most of my time with a fella named Aaron and a gal from Mumbai, Poonam. We did a lot of eating out and some beach time and some party time. It was somewhere around this time I’d decided I was going to go home.

There was no dramatic shift, but a combination of geography, loneliness, and finances had me come to the conclusion that I was feeling ready to finish. Rajasthan had been a bit lonely and while I’d heard good things about Northeast India and Myanmar, I’d already spend plenty of time in Southeast Asia.

Loneliness is a slippery thing. People often ask whether I get lonely. There’s a notable distinction between being alone and being lonely. For example, in vast desert, I can be completely on my own with only the sand and sun and camping with stars at night. And with myself as company I can be completely content. Loneliness on the other hand is much more insidious. It can sneak up on you and suffocate slowly. If I’ve ever felt lonely it’s in cities and ironically, or accordingly, I felt it in India which has 1.4 Billion people. It’s a place where you’re never truly alone.

In Goa I got dinner with Aaron and a nearby cafe. I got some kinda fish curry. The waiter had limited English but I told him I would like to know (for curiosities’ sake) What was in the “traditional hamburger.” “It’s not cow, right?” I asked. He met me with a sharp head shake. “Is it meat?...” I gently inquired. He, this time, replied with a quintessential Indian head bob of unclarity. “Nevermind... I don’t wanna know.” I murmured.

I met with two other fellas I had met earlier in Udaipur that said for lunch a man had offered them the “secret menu” which they had ordered steaks from. Now, you can get everything under the sun in Goa, legal or illegal. But still, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was buffalo 🐃.

Aaron and I booked an overnight train from Goa back to Delhi. It was close to Diwali and we were surprised that sleeper class if any was still available online. (It wasn’t as we would soon figure out.) We had electronic tickets with seat number listed as WL 85 and 86. Not finding the WL section, we came to find out we were actually number 85 and 86 on the waitlist... The train conductor didn’t have the will to kick two foreigners off the train, but we had to spend the ride with the other freeloaders in between the cars.

Sleeper class is basic enough. But this was sitting upright against the side door of the end of the car. It was cold, cramped, noisy, dusty, and they needed to open the door plenty in the morning. Another conductor came by and we were forced to pay the ticket price along with a small “fee.” It was a maddening, mostly sleepless, 30 something hour affair. One that would get me sick.

I spent a week in Rishikesh after getting back. It was an amazing place. To summarize though: I explained to a couple later how it was considered a holy place meat and alcohol are not allowed to be sold there. “Josh... What were you doing there then??” They wanted to know “Yoga?...” I replied hesitantly to my own confusion and surprise.

It had been a bit hazy in Rishikesh, but Delhi was now enveloped in cloud. Not clouds though per se, but smog. It was a combination of burnt crop smoke, emissions, and fireworks from Diwali. I wanted to leave Delhi, but the smog made even being outside hazardous. One day it reached a point of being the most polluted recorded day in history. Equivalent I read to smoking more that 50 cigarettes in a day. India nowadays makes China look good. It’s easy for me to ridicule, but it is a reminder how privileged I am to be able to pass through, whereas this is reality for millions who have no recourse.

When I finally did escape, I did so with Chris, a German cyclist, headed to Asia. There were another two cyclist couples headed out of Delhi straight for Nepal, but I’d coaxed Chris into checking out the Taj Mahal and biking through northern India and floating a bit of the Ganges to Varanasi.

Leaving the city we hit quite a bit of traffic and were still pretty aggravated with the level of pollution. I told him that if he was leaning more towards Nepal we could flip a coin. Tails. And just like that, we switched directions for the next 2 weeks, but not without a slight detour to visit the Taj.

I’m order to do so, we had to stop in a city called Aligarh the next night. I sincerely hope that for the rest of my life I don’t ever, ever, have to step foot in a city as loud and shitty as Aligarh ever again. Entering the city was an onslaught. It was a “small” city by Indian standards with only a few million people, but withno main roads. At least not in the conventional sense... We got trapped in a network of alleyways that were just chock-full of people and motorcycles and raging with a +100db cacophony. We couldn’t stop, turn, or speed up. Just trapped, moving slower than waking pace. I started to notice as our week’s yoga retreat was wearing off, how a vein in Chris’ forehead would bulge at times like this.

We finally arrived to the center and got denied by some 6 different hotels. They claimed they weren’t allowed to accept foreigners. They all pointed us to the one that did which was about $35. After a good hour or two Chris had the good idea to book one on Booking.com and persuade them to accept us. It turned out to be a non-issue and they hurriedly over-accommodated what were probably the first white dudes to stay there.

We bussed to the Taj and back. An almost equally long and stressful experience. With large, popular tourist sites like the Taj, sometimes I feel like I’m just checking a box, and others I’m genuinely stunned. For me, the Taj was somewhere in between.

After all the selfies with Indians and the intensity of the day, Chris’s vein was bulging a bit. It was time for a beer. It’d been a few days, and after all, he’s German. Alcohol can be somewhat faux pas in India. So, after some searching we found Aligarh’s small unmarked shop. It was a dark, smelly enclosed box with chicken wiring separating the shopkeeper/bartender. They sold beer- two kinds. Standing behind us were probably about a dozen Indian men. They cannot drink on the street and certainly not in front of their wives. Here they were after work drinking as fast as possible before going home. Chug, burp, chug, gasp for air, burp... repeat. All the while, staring at two white dudes.

We stayed in our hotel room for those two nights. In India, whole families will share a single bed, so for us there was obviously just one. Chris was European and very confused as to why I wasn’t keen to share the bed with him. But, as I left him with the bed for himself, he didn’t protest. We had a good stay there, but when we left, the manager insisted we leave a 5 star review. He explained a few times in broken English that the checkout process IS a 5 star review. I probably would have if they’d asked casually, but instead played dumb and politely let it be know that we were leaving anyways. Kind of the opposite of the Hotel California... I suppose we’re still checked in there.

Leaving Aligarh was also a trying experience. I’d accidentally navigated us down a market street. It was a war zone of vehicles and stalls. As it eased up towards the end I shouted to Chris: “I only got hit twice, how about you??” “Me too!” He responded with a forced smile. His vein looked like it was throbbing.

We set off once more into the craziness that is India. That afternoon I watched a monkey jump it’s way up to the top of some buildings armed with a crowbar. We rode through a village where they were widening the road. They had simply bulldozed through the fronts of homes and businesses almost seemingly without announcement. There were mounds of rubble and debris. There were bedrooms and backs of shops exposed. “Was there a war here??” Chris asked.

In India the horns are unbelievably loud. I had armed myself with a 140db horn from a bike shop in Delhi. Aside from notifying a close by tuk-tuk or to alert a nonchalant cow that I was overtaking, it was pretty futile endeavor. 140db just blends into the background noise of vehicles, motorcycles, and truck horns.

One day I decided to try a humorous sign in order to dissuade all of the honking. It said “horn if you masturbate.” My thinking was that people would honk less to avoid admitting such a thing. In reality, very few in this region could read or understand English. The only person that commented all day was the affiliate from the hotel chain that morning as he was from an English speaking state. “Wow!” “That’s a very strong message!” He’d said thinking I was gallivanting around the globe promoting the cause of masturbation.

In the end, the only satisfying way to keep my hearing was to wear earplugs all day. Things were still loud, but at least I didn’t feel my ear drums piercing every time a truck or bus overtook.

Chris and I had other challenges to contend with also. Second to noise was definitely staring. I’m sure you’ve rumors of the attention one receives as a foreigner in India. Actually, a staring contest with an Indian isn’t too difficult. But when it’s a crowd that’s something else. I’d have to recruit Chris’s assistance quite often, and him mine. We’d have code words and on que we’d pivot into a power stance and start an intense staring war of attrition. Sometimes they’d laugh and cease. Usually not. Usually they just kept at it without so much as a blink.

We camped a total of three times in India. India was probably not the best region for solitary camping because of the billion plus people or so. But not impossible. The second night we’d scoped a spot, but wanted to wait on the road until it was dark enough to go camp in that spot unseen.

Some folks approached us that didn’t know any English. The road we were on had probably never been cycled by any westerners. Now add to that the fact that most people here had never even seen a white person in their lives. They were understandably confused as to why we were here on funny bicycles with funny bags, wearing funny plastic hats standing on the side of the road in the middle of fuck-all-nowhere as the sun goes down. We could only communicate a little bit. So I google translated “What year is it?” For them to see. I was shocked when they responded. I then translated John Connor’s dramatic speech in the Terminator movie about how he is from the future and how only those who join me will survive. They were even more confused. We rode off a few moments later and camped.

The third time we camped was less intentional. Chris had gotten a bit of the “Delhi belly” and hadn’t been feeling too hot. We reserved a hotel room online that afternoon so he could have a sanctuary to recoup. Unfortunately, when we arrived there was a wedding there. We hardly needed to go to the reception to know it was overbooked. They were no help, so Chris got on the phone with Booking.com while I scouted out the other 6 hotels in town. It was wedding season and they were all full.

Normally it wouldn’t be a huge issue, but there were no other cities nearby, Chris was sick, and it was now dark. I went back to the reception and explained how we were stuck, they had overbooked us, and I pleaded for their help finding in a place to stay. Now I understand cultural barriers, but this should be a no brainer to at least make an effort. But they wouldn’t budge to contact anyone. The manager told me in front of some 20 people that had gathered that it was my problem, not his. I lost my cool and spewed some obscenities on him and left not without an inappropriate hand gesture. It was the second time I’d unloaded on someone on the trip... The first had hit me with a motorcycle. It was time to get out of India I realized as we rode off to go camp.

I don’t much like finding spots to camp in the dark. You don’t have a great idea of what’s around you or how exposed you’ll be in the morning. After probably 2 hours searching in the dark we finally settled on a sugar cane field, one of the few not flooded. Chris staked out his sanctuary a ways away. He woke up many times that night to go pray.

In the morning, it didn’t take long before we were spotted. There were about half a dozen teens outside our tents. I was midway into changing into riding shorts. “Can you distract them??” I asked Chris. “I’m a bit naked at the moment...”

By the time we had fully packed up, half the village had gathered to watch the show. Maybe 30-50 people. One or two spoke English. Videos were taken, questions were answered. I signed my autograph into a school notebook. They were quite funny and excitable. Before we left,I decided to indulge them.... “Alright...” “One selfie!” I shouted. The crowd erupted and we took some group photos before finally breaking free and riding off.

That last day riding in India went fairly smoothly. Or maybe we’d already been baptized in fire. Or better yet, smoke. A man that day came up to compliment my bike and “strong lungs.” Hardly, I thought giving the equivalent hundreds of smog cigarettes I’d inhaled in the past few days.

We got a drink and snack by a stall before crossing the river border to Nepal. With a wrapper and empty bottle in hand, the shopkeep and patrons pointed to the field of rubbish off to the side. They couldn’t understand why I wasn’t willing to add to the years of accumulation and I wasn’t prepared to explain my own convictions. Again, the world of India and it’s culture are tough for me to understand, and given all the staring, I would say the inverse is probably true as well. Backpacking India had been a great experience, but cycling it was undoubtably trying. I could sense this with Chris as well... His vein had been pulsating all the way to the border. It was time to go.

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deniscollins · 4 years

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McDonald’s Fires C.E.O. Steve Easterbrook After Relationship With Employee

McDonald’s hired Steve Easterbrook as CEO in 2015 and he was paid more than $15 million in 2018. Mr. Easterbrook, 52, has been widely credited with turning around McDonald’s after it posted one of its worst financial performances in years, in 2015, at a time when the broader fast-food industry is being challenged by healthier options, a tight labor market making hiring difficult, and sexual harassment claims by employees. If you were a member of the Board of Directors, what would you do when informed that Easterbrook, who is divorced, is engaged in a consensual relationship with a direct report employee, which violates company policy: (1) ask him to resign, (2) fire him, or (3) discipline him but keep him employed as CEO? Why? What are the ethics underlying your decision?

Steve Easterbrook has been fired as chief executive of McDonald’s, the fast-food chain announced on Sunday, after he engaged in a consensual relationship with an employee that violated company policy.

In a statement announcing the firing, McDonald’s said the company’s board had determined that Mr. Easterbrook had “demonstrated poor judgment.”

Mr. Easterbrook, who became the chief executive in March 2015, wrote an email to employees acknowledging the violation. “This was a mistake,” he wrote. “Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on.”

The board met on Friday and voted to fire Mr. Easterbrook after an investigation of his relationship with the employee, the company said. A McDonald’s spokeswoman declined to reveal more details about the relationship or to say when the board found out about it.

Mr. Easterbrook, who is divorced and has three daughters, will be replaced by Chris Kempczinski, who most recently served as president of McDonald’s USA.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Easterbrook, Desiree Moore, said he was “deeply grateful” for his time at McDonald’s and “acknowledges his error in judgment.”

Mr. Easterbrook, 52, had been widely credited with turning around McDonald’s after it posted one of its worst financial performances in years, in 2015. A native of Watford, England, who previously ran the company’s British business, Mr. Easterbrook emphasized technological innovation, striking food-delivery deals with the third-party apps Uber Eats and DoorDash and acquiring smaller companies that specialize in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Last year, Mr. Easterbrook was paid more than $15 million.

“There’s no question he’s been a very good C.E.O. during his time there,” said Jonathan Maze, the editor of the trade publication Restaurant Business.

“He really made that organization a lot leaner, they make decisions a lot more quickly,” Mr. Maze said. “They have gone from a company that was well behind on technology to one that is arguably at the forefront of things like artificial intelligence and delivery.”

Mr. Kempczinski will take over at a time when the broader fast-food industry faces significant headwinds, with Americans turning to healthier options and a tight labor market making hiring difficult.

“Casual dining has suffered, fast casual, upstarts that everybody fell in love with have struggled,” said John Hamburger, the editor of Franchise Times, another industry publication. “And McDonald’s seems like they’ve been pretty good at driving the business forward.”

Even as its business performance has improved, however, McDonald’s has faced criticism from labor advocates who argue that the chain’s low-wage workers, some of whom make less than $10 an hour, are mistreated and underpaid. Earlier this year, several Democratic presidential candidates joined striking workers demanding a $15 minimum wage, union rights and better protection from sexual harassment.

McDonald’s recently began offering new online and in-person training programs to its employees in the U.S. in an effort to combat workplace sexual harassment. But that step has not satisfied the company’s critics.

Tanya Harrell, a McDonald’s worker in New Orleans who has helped lead the campaign for a $15 minimum wage, said workers had filed dozens of complaints with McDonald’s demanding that the company take action to address sexual harassment. McDonald’s has ignored the demands, Ms. Harrell said, including requests to sit down with workers to discuss the issue.

“With the firing of Steve Easterbrook, we now know why,” she said. “It’s clear McDonald’s culture is rotten from top to bottom. McDonald’s needs to sit down with worker-survivors and put them at the center of any solution.”

As the chain has focused on delivery and other technological advances, it has also experienced friction in its relationship with its franchisees. An advocacy group representing McDonald’s franchisees, the National Owners Association, formed in 2018. A recent survey conducted by the group found that the majority of the 800 franchisees polled were not satisfied with the economics of online food delivery, in which the third-party apps take a sizable cut of each order. (Blake Casper, the chairman of the franchisee group, did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday night.)

Franchisees have also expressed concerns about the cost of upgrading restaurants to feature new drive-through technology as well as touch-screen kiosks that allow customers to order without waiting in line at the counter.

As the leader of the fast-food chain’s operations in the United States, Mr. Kempczinski has been at the front line of some of those brewing conflicts. “He’s had something of a controversial relationship with the company’s franchisees,” said Mr. Maze, the Restaurant Business editor.

Mr. Kempczinski, an avid marathon runner who is married with two children, joined McDonald’s in 2015. As an executive vice president at the company, he developed a strategic plan that company officials say has transformed the business, outlining the chain’s focus on digital technology and delivery.

“I’m happiest when I’m in our restaurants, visiting with franchisees, their crew and our customers,” Mr. Kempczinski said in an email to employees. “Yes, we serve delicious food and offer great experiences, but our brand means so much more. We stand for opportunity and empowerment for everyone.”

In the email, he also thanked Mr. Easterbrook for his contributions to McDonald’s, calling him a “patient and helpful mentor.”

#McDonald's

0 notes

exfrenchdorsl4p0a1 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

I was having coffee with the CEO of a new startup, listening to her puzzle through how to communicate to potential customers. She was an academic on leave from Stanford now selling SAAS software to large companies, but was being inundated with marketing communications advice. “My engineers say our website is old school, and we need to be on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, my VP of Sales says we’re wasting our marketing dollars not targeting the right people and my board keeps giving me their opinions of how we should describe our product and company. How do I sort out what to do?”

She winced as I reminded her that she had gone through the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps. “Painful and invaluable” was her reply. I reminded her that all the Lean tools she learned in class–Customer Discovery, business model and value proposition canvases– contained her answer.

Here’s how. —- Define the Mission of Marketing Communications Companies often confuse communications tactics (“What should my webpage look like or should I be using Facebook/Instagram/Twitter?”) with a strategy. A communications strategy answers the question, “Why are we doing these activities?” For example, our goal could be:

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

Step 1: Who’s the Audience(s)? An audience means – who specifically you want your messages to reach. Is it all the people on earth? Everyone in San Francisco? Potential customers such as gamers who like to play specific types of games? Or people inside companies with a specific title, like product or program managers, CIOs, etc? Venture Capitalists who may want to invest? Other companies that may want to acquire you?

What’s confusing is that often there are multiple audiences you want to communicate with. So, refer to your strategy: Are you trying to reach potential customers or potential investors and acquirers? These are very different audiences, each requires its own messages, media and messengers.

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

How do you figure out who the audience is? It turns out that if you’ve been doing customer discovery and using the value proposition canvas, you know a lot about each customer/ beneficiary. The first step is to put all those value proposition canvases on the wall to remind you that these are the people you need to reach.

How do you figure out which of these customers/beneficiaries is most important? Who’s the least important? If you’ve been out talking to customers, you will have an idea of who’s involved in the buying process. Who’s the user of product? The recommender? The decision maker? The saboteur? As you map out what you learned about the role each of these customers plays in the buying process, marketing communications and sales can decide which one of the customers/beneficiaries is the primary audience of your messages. (And they can decide if there any secondary audiences you should reach.) Often there are multiple people in a sales process worth influencing.

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Your customers have already told you how to craft the first part of your message. The answer to “Why should your audience care?” comes directly from the pains and gains on the right side of the value proposition canvas.

And the answer to the second question “What are you offering?” comes from the left side of the value proposition canvas. It’s not just the product feature list, but the pain relievers and gain creators.

Once you get your audience to read your message, then what? What’s the call to action? Do you want them to download a demo, schedule a sales call, visit a physical store location or a website, download an app, click for more information, give you their email address, etc.? Your message needs to include a specific call to action.

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Message context A message that is brilliant today and gets the press writing about you and customers begging to buy your product could have been met with blank stares two years ago and may be obsolete next year. In crafting your messages, remember that all messages operate in a context that may have an expiration date. Netbooks, 3DTVs, online classes disrupting higher ed, all had their moment in time. Make sure your context is current and revisit your messages periodically to see if they still work.

Sticky Messages Messages also need to be memorable – “sticky.” Why? Because the more memorable the message, the greater its ability to create change. Not only do we want people to change their buying behavior, we also want them to change how they think. (This is often a tough concept for engineering founders who believe that if we just tell customers about the features that make their product faster, cheaper, etc. they’ll win.)

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

The same goes for a hamburger. You may eat a lot of them, but if McDonald’s message was “dead cow, slaughtered by the millions, butchered by minimum wage earners, then ground into patties, frozen into solid blocks, and reheated when you order them,” instead of “You deserve a break today,” sales might be a tad lower.

Product versus Company Messages There is a difference between detailed product messages versus messages about your company. At times, you may have to communicate what the company stands for before a customer is ready to listen to you talk about product messages. For example, to outflank a competitor who had faster products, Intel moved the conversation about microprocessors away from speed and technology to create a valued brand. They created the “Intel Inside” campaign.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

Both Apple and Intel were selling complicated technology but did so by simplifying the message so it had broad emotional appeal. Both Intel Inside and Think Different became sticky corporate messages.

Step 3: Media Media means the type of communications media each audience member reads/listens to/watches. Is could be print (newspapers/magazine), Internet (website, podcasts, etc.), broadcast (TV, radio, etc.) or social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). In customer discovery, you asked prospects how they get information about new companies and new products. (If not, get back out and do so!) The media your prospective customers told you they use ought to be on top of your target media.

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

Typically, you pick several media to reach each audience. It’s likely that each audience reads different media (potential customers read something very different than potential investors.) You’ll need a media strategy – a plan that describes the mix of media and how you will use it. This plan should include the category of media; print, internet, broadcast and then identify specific sites, blogs, magazine, etc.

Step 4: Messengers Messengers are the well-placed and highly leveraged individuals who have influence over your audience(s). Messengers convey and amplify your message to your audience through the media you’ve chosen.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

Reporters are paid by specific media to write about news. Which reporters you should talk to comes from discovering which media your audience has said they read. Your goal is to identify who are the reporters in the media your audience reads and what they write about, and to figure out why they should write about you. (Wrong answer – because we have a new product. Very wrong answer – because my CEO wants to be on the cover of publication X or Y.)

Experts know your industry or product in detail, and others rely on them for their opinions. Experts may be industry analysts in private research firms (Gartner, NPD, AMR), Wall Street research analysts (Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs), consultants who provide advice for your industry or bloggers with wide followings. Experts may even be potential customers who run user groups that other potential customers turn to for advice.

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Evangelists are unabashed cheerleaders and salespeople for your product and, if you are creating a new market, for your company vision. They tell everyone how great the product is and about the unlimited potential of your product and market. While nominally carrying less credibility than experts, evangelists have two advantages: typically, they are paying customers, and they are incredibly enthusiastic about what they say. (Evangelists are not customers who will give a reference. A customer reference is something you have to twist arms to get; an evangelist is someone you can’t get off the phone.)

Connectors are individuals who seem to know everyone. Each industry has a few. They may be bloggers who expound on the general state of your industry and write magazine or newspaper columns. They may be individuals who organize and hold conferences where the key industry thought leaders gather. Often, they themselves are the thought leaders.

Founders ask me all the time whether they should hire a PR agency. I tell them, “The question isn’t if. The question is when?” Influencing the messengers is what great public relations firms know how to do. They may have their own language describing who the messengers are (e.g., “influencers”) and how they manage them (e.g. “information chain”), but once you’ve done a first pass of the audience > message > media > messenger, a competent PR firm can add tremendous value.

Customer Discovery Never Stops Understanding your audience(s) is important for not just startups, but for companies already selling products. It helps you stay current with customers, get ideas for other needs to fill and to create new products. In addition, the audience > message > media > messenger cycle seamlessly moves this learning into getting, keeping and growing customers. Today, Marketing Automation tools (customer analytics, SEO, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms) generate customer behavior history about what messages worked on which media. These tools generate data that companies use to feed AdTech tools (demand-side platforms, ad exchanges and networks) to automate selling and buying of online ads.

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Smart CEOs treat communications as a force multiplier for sales, a tool to dramatically increase valuation and the vehicle to get acquirers lined up at the door. Not so successful CEOs treat it as tactic that can be handed to others.

Hiring a PR agency too early is a sign that the CEO is treating this as someone else’s problem. In a startup, the first pass of understanding Audience, Message, Media, Messenger can only be done with the founders/CEO engaged.

Getting publicity for a product that does not yet exist is how startups get noticed. But don’t fall victim to your own reality distortion field and hype a product that can never be made (think of Tesla versus Theranos.)

Figuring out who the possible audiences are, what messages to send, and what media to use, feels overwhelming at first. The temptation is to try to reach all the audiences with a single message and a single media. That’s a going out of business strategy. Use Customer Discovery, and your customers will teach you who they are, what to say to them and how to reach them.

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

grgedoors02142 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

repwinpril9y0a1 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

chpatdoorsl3z0a1 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

stormdoors78476 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

repwincostl4m0a2 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

rtscrndr53704 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

#DIYS

0 notes

pat78701 · 7 years

Text

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Marketing Communications

Create demand for our products and drive it into our sales channel

Create awareness of our company and brand for potential customers

Create awareness for fundraising (VC, angels, corporate partners)

Create awareness for potential acquirers of our company

(Marketing communications is a subset of the Marketing department’s mission. Read the post about mission and intent here.)

Audience(s), Message, Media, Messenger Once you figure out why you’re creating a communications strategy then you can figure out how to use it. The “how” requires just four steps:

Understand your audience(s)

Craft the message for that specific audience

Select the media you want the message to be read/seen/heard on

Select the messenger you want to carry your message

If you’re selling a product to a company, for example, is the audience the user of the product? Her boss? The person who has the budget? The CEO?

If you’re trying to reach potential acquirers or investors, the customer discovery process is the same. Spend time building value proposition canvases for these audiences.

Step 2: What’s the Message? Messages are what you delivering to the audience(s) you’ve selected. Messages answer three questions:

Why should the audience care?

What are you offering?

What’s the call to action?

Other things to keep in mind about messages:

Consider that if you were told you were going to pay for cold, dead fish wrapped in seaweed you might not be too hungry. But when we call it sushi people line up.

Apple was trying to resurrect a then-dying company by reminding people what Apple stood for with their “Think Different” ad campaign

The online media your company controls (your corporate website, company Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) should be the first place you experiment finding your audience(s) and message.

There are four types of messengers: reporters, experts, evangelists and connectors. (Each audience will have its own unique set of messengers.)

(Today some reporters are experts – product reviewers in the Tech Section of the Wall Street Journal, or the Technology section of the New York Times (or its product review site Wirecutter)).

Communications as a Force Multiplier

Lessons Learned

Marketing Communications = Audience, Message, Media, Messenger

Use the Value Proposition Canvas to understand who your audience(s) are

Craft messages to match what your audience has already told you

Pick the media they said they read

Find the right messengers to amplify your message

Filed under: Customer Development, Marketing from DIYS http://ift.tt/2oroaH4

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