1.
Put your picture on your business card, your stationary and every piece
of paper that leaves your office. People are 80% more likely to recall
your name if they have a picture to associate with it! A photo on
your business card automatically sets it apart from 90% of the cards out
there.
2.
Make your business card a sales tool. Make it into a coupon; offer a discount
or a small gift; stash a card in with the check when you pay your bill.
3.
Keep a handful of business cards with you wherever you go. You never know
where a client will come from. Dash off a "thank you for the excellent
service" note on the back of your card and leave a card with the tip at
a restaurant.
4.
Spend your money with those who already LOVE you. Reward your good clients
with a discount or a small gift every time they use your service. Laureen
Persson, a certified massage therapist, gives a bottle of water after every
massage. Reward repeat customers with a discount or a punch card. Market
yourself to those who have done business with you, then reward them every
time they send you a lead. At the very least, a phone call or a thank you
note. Better: chocolate, flowers or movie tickets. REALLY reward them when
the lead becomes a
client--dinner, theater
tickets, gift certificates.
5.
Spend your money with those you know. Create relationships with businesses
you use: give them leads, promote their business. They will promote you
in turn. Create a WIN-WIN atmosphere.
6.
Get to know the people at the paper. Create name recognition through press
releases. Send your PR to the right person. Make sure it's newsworthy:
when you sign a new account, get a new project, or complete a project.
You're building name recognition with the reporters as well as the public.
7.
A newsletter can be your best marketing piece. Avoid company or canned
newsletters--they end up in the trash. Put lots of personality in your
newsletter as well as information and news your customers can use. Try
to have a photo to illustrate each segment.
8.
Take your camera with you everywhere you go. Take pictures of you doing
the things you love, with the people you love. Then use those pictures
in ads, flyers, newsletters and postcards.
9.
A personal brochure can open the door. Create a front cover that says "pick
me up" and include a personal biography. Selling is emotional so include
your family, your hobbies and why you are in business. Make it say "this
person is just like me" through your personal code of ethics--what you
stand for. Include testimonials from past clients and well as key benefits.
10.
Affiliate with organizations which promote service and networking: Chambers
of Commerce, local networking groups, the American Business Women's Association,
the Women's Network or Zonta International. Volunteer for projects
you love. It doesn't matter if it's Partners, Wishes Are Horses, Alternatives
To Violence, The Boys and Girls Clubs or your church. Invest your most
precious asset: your time. You will not only feel GREAT about volunteering
but you'll build relationships to last a lifetime, in both your business
and your
personal life.
