Category Archives: Marketing

My top 5 takeaways from HOW Design Live

0 comments Business development, Creativity, Marketing

We all like to think our problems are unique, don’t we? If you’re honest, I bet you’ll admit to having responded to a well-intentioned suggestion with “Oh yes, but that wouldn’t work in my business.” Am I right? Here’s what 15+ years of working with creative entrepreneurs (12 of those as an entrepreneur myself) have taught me; we all share the same handful of problems, we simply experience them differently. Here are a few oldies but goodies: The industry is…

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The reason clients aren’t buying what you’re selling (and what to do about it)

4 comments Business development, Marketing, Your unique skill

Have you ever wondered how some businesses or brands just seem to have their finger on the pulse, perfectly anticipating what their clients want and need? What gives? What secret do they know that you don’t? They know that the secret to building a thriving, relevant business is understanding who their target customers are, and building a message, product, and experience to meet their unique needs. More specifically, they know what problems their ideal clients think they have, and they know…

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Why clients aren’t lined up outside your door (and what to do about it)

3 comments Business development, Marketing

Have you ever had the feeling that your business is the world’s best kept secret and, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to consistently get enough clients? We’ve all been there and we’ve all convinced ourselves of why: It’s summer, everyone’s away All the great gigs go to the big-name industry players, I don’t stand a hope against them Cheaper talent is coming in and working for pennies, I can’t compete with them I don’t want to appear…

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6 ways to break the feast or famine cycle + fill your pipeline with ideal prospects

0 comments Business development, Marketing

Whether you’ve been working for yourself for years, or are just transitioning into freelancing or starting your own business, one of the biggest challenges creative entrepreneurs tell me they face is dealing fluctuations in work and income.  One month you’re flush, the next you’re anxiously wondering where the next project is coming from.  And so the cycle continues. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to manage work and income flow, allowing you to channel your focus and…

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The fastest way to establish connection with your ideal clients

0 comments Marketing

I LOVE meeting new creative professionals and business owners; it’s one of the main reasons I do live presentations and workshops.  Each and every person I speak with is passionate, unique and motivated to use their skills to create a positive impact. So why do so many freelancers and creative business owners struggle? Because the world doesn’t know what you do, why you do it, how it benefits them, and what they need to do to work with you.  It’s…

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Stuck in the comparison trap? How to turn competition into inspiration

0 comments Business development, Marketing

Do you ever compare yourself to other artists or entrepreneurs? I know I do. And, depending on the day, it can trigger feelings that range from awe and inspiration to intimidation and defensiveness.  Which do you think feels better? Competition is a fact of life.  Not only is it a fact, it’s a good thing, because it means there’s a market for what you have to offer. But, like all fears, fear of competition has the power to motivate or…

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The Creative Professional’s Guide to Marketing, part 3 – How to use Instagram to grow your business

1 comment Marketing

It’s been a while since my last installment in the Creative Professionals Guide to Marketing Series (you can read parts one and two here if you’d like to catch up/refresh your memory), and that’s because this one is a biggie.  Part 3 is all about marketing tools for visual types and, since most of the creative professionals that I work will fall into that category, I wanted to be sure I gave you a big bang for your buck. Which…

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How much of your expertise should you give away?

0 comments Business development, Marketing

  Do you ever worry about giving away too much of your expertise for free?  Striking the balance between giving something in order to attract new clients and giving away the farm can be a tricky.  Give away too little and you miss an opportunity to engage with a new prospect. Give too much and you feel taken advantage of.  So today I’d like to share a 5 ways you can give and get. 1) Don’t work on specAfter 15+ years…

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The Creative Professional’s Guide to Marketing – part 2

0 comments Marketing

Welcome to part 2 of The Creative Professionals Guide to Marketing series.  In part one I covered why we need to market ourselves, and what the eight key elements of a comprehensive strategy are.  Today I’m going to talk about how to select the tools that suit your personality and communication style best. Marketing is a bit like working out. If you enjoy something, and are relatively good it, you’re more likely to stick with it.  And because success breeds…

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The Creative Professional’s Guide to Marketing – part 1

0 comments Marketing

How do you feel about marketing?  Do you love it? Do you hate it?  Are you open to it, but have no idea where to start? Maybe you were taught that cold-calling and pounding the pavement were only ways to get new gigs. Or perhaps you see others successfully using tools such as social media, but feel intimidated by what you don’t know.  You may already be marketing yourself, but want to build out your strategy.   No matter where…

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