Are you a freelancer or service-based creative business owner who’s tired of hustling for projects, and looking to create a steady stream of income doing work you love?
Design your creative business to make more income, and more impact, in just 4 months.
Join Justine Clay to re-design your creative business from the comfort of your own home in our virtual group coaching program starting in September 2020.
Tell me if this sounds like you…
- You want and need to get better clients, but have no idea how to find, or connect with them
- As a multi-talented creative, you struggle to communicate what you do and the value you offer
- Your brand message and presentation are not representative of what you know you deliver
- You’re overwhelmed with information and don’t know what to focus on to start getting results now
- You know you need to market yourself, but have no idea where to start
If you’ve ever looked at the darlings of your industry (you know, the ones who get all the great projects, speak at conferences, and are on all the great panels) and wondered what gene they have that you don’t,
I’m here to tell you there’s no difference between you and them.
Here’s what successful creative entrepreneurs know that you don’t (yet)…
- What makes them unique and stand out in the crowd
- Who their ideal clients are, what keeps them up and night, and what they need right now
- The art of creating a message, content, and services that speak to their ideal client’s interests and needs.
- How to cohesively present their work and message
- How to build a thriving network of clients, collaborators, supporters and referral partners
- The powerful rituals, routines and processes that help them move the needle in their business every single day
Learning how to position and profit from your creative expertise isn’t rocket science (thank goodness!), but it is a strategy that you need to understand and take consistent action on if you’re to get the results you want.
If you’re tired of trying to figure it out yourself (really, who has the time?) and are ready to learn how to take your creative business or career from struggling to successful, I have the perfect solution for you!
Introducing…
The Creative Business Bootcamp
group coaching program
Get the top tier clients you want. Make the money you’re worth.
I’m Justine Clay and I’ll be teaching you what successful creative business owners and freelancers know, and do differently.
How do I know this?
When I moved from London to New York in 1996, with little more than a psychology degree and English accent, the concept of being a successful entrepreneur with a passion for marketing and business were as foreign to me as putting maple syrup on your bacon! After a stint waitressing (what kind of a New York story would it be without that?), I landed my first job answering the phone in a design agency. I’m almost 100% certain the only reason I got the job was because of my English accent, but I didn’t care; it was my ticket to somewhere. A year later, I was hired by an up-and-coming creative representation agency where I learned every aspect of positioning, managing, and growing the careers of creative professionals. From spotting great talent and putting together a portfolio that stood out, to making new business calls, writing and negotiating a proposal, and managing a project from beginning to end, I learned that every element was crucial to building a successful creative career.
In 2005, I branched out and opened my own creative services agency, Plum Creative, where I built a reputation within the advertising and design industry for helping retail and lifestyle brands find the perfect talent for their projects and managing the project from beginning to end. With one of my top earners billing $2,000 a day (every day) we were working on great projects and making good money.
And then the recession of 2008 happened.
Almost overnight, the work dried up. I was paying myself out of my savings and the pressure of not knowing how long I’d be able to hang on had my stomach in knots.
As the freelance work situation worsened, more and more creatives were turning up on my doorstep looking for work. I’d spend an hour or two helping them identify their unique talent, define their ideal client profile, re-work their portfolio, and sharing the names of a few people to call. They walked out of my office transformed; lighter, clearer and armed with a plan.
I had an epiphany: I had a gift that I could share with the creative community on a much larger scale. I could teach them to become their OWN agent.
I’ve spent 8 years developing and testing a step-by-step system that will teach any creative professional how to attract high-quality clients, land larger projects, and get paid what they’re worth.
Imagine discovering you have WAY more business smarts than you thought and doing for yourself what you do for your clients. Imagine deciding who to work with, when, and for how much.
Can you feel the relief of finally shaking the confusion that has held you back and coming to your desk every morning knowing exactly what you need to do to attract high-quality clients and move your business forward?
Are you ready to re-write your story and learn the exact steps to charting your success? Here is your next step.
Join
The Creative Business Bootcamp
group coaching program
A system for building a creatively fulfilling and profitable service-based business or career
What you’ll get:
- 8 live virtual group coaching sessions
- 7 Facebook Live sessions where you can ask questions and get feedback between sessions
- A recap and recording of each group coaching session
- A 30-minute one-on-one laser coaching session with Justine
- Assignments and resources to help you apply what you learn directly to your business
- Access to a private membership site
- Access to the private Facebook group with on-going conversations
- Support and feedback from industry peers
- Assigned accountability partner
- Special guests: web designer/developer and creative business expert Jill Anderson will be joining us in session 5 to share insights and best practices. And in session 6, Branding, marketing, and design expert, Melissa Lind will be sharing best practices for growing your Instagram following.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Kick off
“Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” —Zig Ziglar
To help you get the most out of this experience, we’ll kick off with an exercise designed to get your creative and strategic juices flowing and to define a specific goal. The result; you’ll come to our first session together prepped and ready to make big things happen!
Session 1: Define what makes you stand out in a crowded marketplace
At the end of this module you will be clear on what unique gift YOU bring to the world and how that talent benefits people who genuinely want and need your services.
You will learn:
- The difference between a generalist and a specialist (and why you want to be the latter)
- What truly makes you unique (it’s probably not what you think!)
- Who else is in the marketplace and the gaps YOU are uniquely equipped to fill
Session 2: Create your ideal client profile
If you try and be all things to everyone, you become nothing to no one. At the end of this module you will know exactly who your ideal clients are, what they struggle with or aspire to, what they need right now and how YOU are uniquely equipped to help them.
You will learn:
- The traits of an ideal client
- What your ideal client aspires to or struggles with
- The benefits your clients get from working with you
- Who YOUR ideal client is
Session 3: Craft a compelling pitch that converts strangers into “I need to work with you” prospects
By the end of this session you will know how to confidently and quickly communicate what you offer, what’s in it for your ideal clients, and what they need to do next to work with you.
You will learn:
- What blocks you have around speaking about yourself
- How to communicate what you do in an authentic, non-sales-y way
- How to craft a natural and compelling pitch that will serve you in any situation
Session 4: Find your ideal clients in large numbers and build a thriving network
It’s time to come out from behind your computer! In this session, you will learn where to find your ideal clients in large numbers, how to network naturally and effectively, and build a thriving network.
You will learn:
- How to re-frame the concept of networking so it’s easy AND fun
- The 4 essential elements of a thriving network
- The art of give, give, get
- How to connect in an authentic, natural way
Session 5: Build a marketing strategy that attracts your ideal clients to you
By the end of this session you will be clear on what marketing activities align with your natural strengths, how to streamline your efforts and get better results in less time.
You will learn:
- How much time you should spend on your marketing (and how to fit it in!)
- The eight elements of a marketing strategy
- Which online and offline tools are most aligned with your natural skills
- How to create regular content that resonates with your audience
Session 6: Create a plan for your website
Does your website function more as an online portfolio than your number one marketing tool? It’s OK, you’re not alone. In this session, you’ll learn how to create a website that compels and converts without compromising your artistic integrity.
You will learn:
- The real purpose of your website
- The action you want people to take
- How to use copy and images to engage and inspire action
Session 7: How to package your services to sell
By the end of this session you will have an outline of services that help your ideal clients quickly recognize you are the solution to their problem and self-select before you even speak with them.
You will learn:
- What your ideal clients really need
- How to edit and tailor your services to meet those needs
- How to present your packages so your clients self-select before you even speak with them
Session 8: Pulling it all together
Remember that specific goal we mentioned in the kick off session? As we come together one last time (in this capacity!) you will share with the group what you discovered, what you did, and the actionable steps you will take now, and moving forth.
Onwards!!
But there’s more!
bonus #1:
Access to the Private Facebook group
Can you do this program alone? Sure. But isn’t it nice to know you don’t have to? Join your fellow entrepreneurs in this private Facebook group and share feedback and support every step of the way. We’re stronger together!
bonus #2:
Craft a compelling story that builds the “know, like and trust” factor with your ideal clients
Clients do business with people, they know, like and trust, and well-crafted personal story can tip the balance significantly in your favor. In this bonus worksheet, you’ll learn the 3 essential elements of a great story and how to craft yours.
bonus #3:
45-minute private laser coaching session with Justine
In this one-on-one session, we’ll focus on a specific challenge or goal for YOUR business and strategize solutions to help you move forward.
bonus #4:
Best practices for transforming your website into your #1 marketing tool
Our special guest, web designer/developer and creative business expert, Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design, will be joining us to share her best practices for transforming your portfolio website into your #1 marketing and sales tool. You won’t want to miss this!
bonus #5:
Best practices to build your Instagram following
Our special guest, branding expert and Creative Business Bootcamp superstar, Melissa Lind of Dwelling Creative will be joining us to share how she used Instagram as a part of an integrated marketing strategy and took her following from a couple of hundred to 11K+ engaged followers. Whatever marketing strategy or platform you choose, you’ll be sure to walk away with TONS of insights and ideas.
Ready to join the Creative Business Bootcamp group coaching program?
Join Justine Clay to re-design your creative business from the comfort of your own home in our virtual group coaching program, starting February 2020.
Got questions? I’d be happy to jump on a 15 minute call with you to see if this program is right for you. Just send me an email at justine@justineclay.com and we can set that up.
10-Day Money Back Guarantee
If you change your mind before February 21, 2020, just send us an email and we’ll refund your money. No hard feelings or questions asked!
I am committed to helping purpose driven, motivated and resilient creative professionals fulfill their vision and mission in life. And because this is a group program, I want you to know that you’re right for this program.
This course is right for you if:
- You’re a service-based freelancer or creative entrepreneur, looking to attract more of the high-quality clients and projects you want.
- You have the vision and are willing to do the work, but you don’t know the steps necessary to go from a dream to a reality
- You’re tired of hustling and are looking to be more strategic about how your find clients
- You know you need to invest in your business, but you can’t afford one-on-one coaching right now
- You want to find meaning in your work, add value to the world and be compensated well for what you do
- You know you’re not charging enough, but don’t know how to position or price your services
- You recognize you need to invest in yourself and your business and are ready to do the work
The course is not for you if:
- You’re looking for someone to fix your business for you
- You keep buying courses, but don’t follow through with any of them (then complain when nothing changes)
- You say you want change, but you’re not willing to invest your time, energy and resources to make it happen
- You have a product-based business. While Justine works with product-based businesses in a one-on-one capacity, this group program is geared towards service-based businesses.
Got questions?
Here are some answers to questions I hear most often:
The program is designed to support you for as long as you wish to be supported. Due to the fact that it’s a group, and the in-depth quality of our work, we do require a commitment minimum of 6 months to the program.
My goal is to curate, nurture, and support a diverse group of creative kindred spirits. If the program just isn’t for you, of course, you are free to leave. That said, if you’re not ready, willing and able to commit for a minimum of 6 months, this might not be the right program for you. If you do choose to leave, there will be a waiting period of 11 months before you can return.
I’ve found that for most people meeting every 2 weeks is the sweet spot for giving you enough time to do the work, but not so long that you lose momentum.
The group has a maximum 10-14 people. This keeps the group intimate while including enough variety to ensure you benefit from the expertise, experience, and feedback of your peers.
I specialize in working with creative professionals of all disciplines including art directors, creative directors, interior designers, design directors, designers, graphic designers, website designers, photographers, copywriters, writers, illustrators and video producers and directors.
While I specialize in working with creative professionals, my system works for any professional whose mission is to share their unique talent with people who have a genuine need for it. My ‘non-creative’ clients, who include IT professionals and a Systems Architect, are just as successful as the traditionally creative ones. It’s really a question of if the program and process resonate.
Yes! There is an opportunity to ask questions during session, in the Facebook group, and directly with me via email between sessions. If you have a question, it will be answered.
As a member of the program you get access to discounted 90-minute one-on-one coaching sessions (you pay $350, instead of $600).
This program has been created specifically for creative professionals who have, to some degree established their creative business or career, and are looking to be more proactive, more effective, and grow. They are willing to put aside any pre-conceived ideas and fears and do the work. This program won’t work for people who don’t have a somewhat established freelance career, business or idea, skeptics, complainers or people who make excuses not to take action. I’m invested in the success of each and every person who works with me, so it’s important that we’re aligned on our vision and what it will take.
All of our sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. The dates will be as follows:
Group Coaching Sessions - 90-minutes (12-1:30pm EST)
Session 1: 3/16
Session 2: 3/30
Session 3: 4/13
Session 4: 4/27
Session 5: 5/11
Session 6: 5/25
Session 7: 6/8
Session 8: 6/22
Session 9: 7/6
Session 10: 7/20
Session 11: 8/3
Session 12: 8/17
Session 13: 9/7
Session 14: 9/21
Session 15: 10/5
Session 16: 10/19
Session 17: 11/2
Session 18: 11/16
Session 19: 11/30
Session 20: 12/14
Session 21: 12/28
Absolutely! Upon joining us, you will be given access to a membership site where you will find find a welcome and orientation video, recordings of each session, a Resource Vault with actionable worksheets and videos to help you apply what you learn directly to your business at your own pace. You will also get a program workbook to support your in turn your ideas and dreams into strategy and ACTION!
Absolutely! Businesses are living, breathing things that require us to tend to them, nurture them, and change as necessary. In my experience, one of the best investments we can make in ourselves and businesses, is finding the right support, tools and community to foster growth. Come back, bring your knowledge, experience and expertise and grow with us!
Yes! My top tips are:
- I will pair you up with someone in the group who you will check in with regularly to support and hold one other accountable.
- Show up for the live group coaching calls. They’re a great place to get feedback, ask questions, stay motivated, and get unstuck.
- Do the work to implement what you learn.
If you do the work, you can expect to:
- Gain a clarity and confidence about what you have to offer and position yourself uniquely within a crowded marketplace.
- Transform your mentality and approach from hustling freelancer to savvy creative business owner
- Possess and entirely different way of asking better questions, finding the resources to support you, and solving problems.
- Be more strategic, confident and proactive in your creative business
- Experience, first-hand, the magical benefits of community and peer support and feedback
- Gain a crystal-clear understanding of your ideal clients’ needs and how you are uniquely positioned to help them.
- Attract better quality, higher paying clients, while the less-than-ideal clients effortlessly drift away.
- Create a pitch that naturally and clearly communicates what you do to potential clients and referral partners.
- Understand which marketing tools are right for you and create a marketing plan that doesn’t feel like ‘selling’ or ‘work’.
- Learn how to package your services to resonate with your ideal clients and sell
- Create content that engages and draws your ideal clients to you.
- Work on more creatively fulfilling projects.
I understand by let me re-frame that thought for you. Up leveling your business, clients and pricing involves challenging long-held beliefs and assumptions and shifting your mindset; both of which are difficult without guidance, support and accountability. Investing in support that will help you make these transformative and lasting shifts is a big deal and should make you think twice. You’re on the brink of a big leap. That said, I will NEVER advise someone to work with me if it will put them in financial jeopardy to do so.
Yes, to make this as cash-flow friendly as possible, I charge a monthly investment of $500, with no upfront payment required. Your credit card will be automatically billed each month.
Apply to join The Creative Business Bootcamp group coaching program today and take the first step to building a thriving creative business.
Join me! I’m excited to help you build the creative business you dream of!
Ready to join the Creative Business Bootcamp group coaching program?
Still undecided? I’d be happy to jump on a 15 minute call with you to see if this program is right for you. Just send me an email at justine@justineclay.com and we can set that up.
Please remember, this investment may be considered a tax-deductible expense.