Feb
12
Written by:
Jess Hartmann
2/12/2009 8:23 PM
Economies go in cycles. They always have and they always will. Some of us have not yet been affected by our economic slowdown, some are just begining to feel it and some are just plain out of work. So the question is will you be held victim to the ebb and flow of the economy or will you go against the tide? As independent editors and video professionals, most of the time we prefer to focus on the creative side of our business and leave the promotion of our business for last. But in times of slowdown, sales and marketing are just too important to leave for chance. Don't be caught without a book of business to choose from. Here are a few tips to help you get it going again, even during these difficult times:
- Think about why you are different - What makes you or your company unique. Write it down. Start with a sentece like "I am different because.....". "I am unique because.....". "I am the only company I know of that.....". This should really get you thinking about why you do wat you do and your passion around it.
- Connect with your network (of people) and get referrals. Yes, it's obvious but we most of the time don't do the obvious. Get out your address book and call your friends, your acquaintances, and your past clients. This is the best source you will ever find for leads and referrals. If this doesn't come naturally to you, write down a few sentences before you start, just like a script. "Hey John, this is ____ . It's been a while and I'm doing a little follow-up to see how things are going over there". "I just completed a little business planning and settled on focusing the next year on_____which is what I think we do best. Do you know of someonw who might need our services or someone that might be able to give me a referral?
- Set some goals. Yes, particularly when this kind of activity doesn't come easy, you need to set some measurable goals and then measre them. For instance, say you are going to commit to making 5 of these calls each day. Write down the goal and then each call you make, record it. Now, set an appointment on your calendar for the end of the week (1/2 hour) to review your results (don't let yourself off the hook). Remember, promoting your business doesn't happen all at once but by one phone call at a time. If you begin building a pipeline of activity, opportunities will come your way.
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