You’ve created your business plan, come up with
an awesome business name, created a great web
site, joined all the industry specific networking
groups you could afford, designated a corner of
the house as your office, got business cards and
brochures printed out—which you’re handing to
everyone you meet. Now you’re just waiting for the
phone to ring and people to line up at your door,
begging to be your client. Right? I’m afraid not.
People are putting a lot more emphasis on
buying from someone they trust, know and have a
relationship with. As you are probably thinking,
it’s easier said than done. And you’d be thinking
right. Plus, relationship-building takes time.
That’s why you must do all you can to be visible
RIGHT NOW!
You’re probably saying “But Cristina, I have
my site, cards, brochures and all those
memberships... I AM visible!” The secret lies
in regularity and consistency.
Ask yourself: What am I doing consistently
and regularly each day to get my name out there?
“Each day?” You ask. “But I have
clients to take care of and a life.” Yes, it’s
true, but you also have a business to run. That’s
why I’ve come up with 3 options to help get you
started.
NO-COST VISIBILITY STRATEGY #1:
Start a blog and add content- and keyword-rich
text. Be professional and informative. Don’t make
it an advertising page for your services, it’ll
turn visitors away. Link your blog from your
website and vice-versa.
NO-COST VISIBILITY STRATEGY #2:
Write an article every week. Post it on your
site and submit it to article submission sites.
While you’re at it, send it as a newsletter to
your contacts and network, add it to your blog,
and certainly add your best articles to your
marketing kit.
NO-COST VISIBILITY STRATEGY #3:
Give
a free 1-hour teleclass every month on a subject
that will greatly interest or benefit your target
market. Advertise it in your newsletter, add it to
your e-mail signature, post it on your website,
and submit it to online calendars (lots of
networking groups will let you post your event,
even if you’re not a member), send it to your
joint venture partners to advertise it to their
contacts. You can use it as a way to touch-base
with those you haven’t contacted in a while—catch
up on their business, invite them to your event
and ask for referrals. Record your teleclass (fees
are usually applicable, but it’s quite affordable)
and post the audio file on your website, or offer
it as a gift for signing up for your newsletter.
Remember, the goal is to gain visibility, build
trust and develop relationships by constantly and
proactively reminding “the world”—specifically
your target market—that you are out there. There
is only so much a website, business cards and
brochures can do.
What are the ways you daily get yourself known?
No matter how big or small it is, just work at it
everyday. An amazing thing happens when you market
yourself consistently—you start getting calls from
unexpected places.
Copyright. Cristina Favreau. All rights
reserved.
