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Forum - 3 areas of work, can't make them pay...
3 areas of work, can't make them pay...
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 16:36 — Sounds-and-images
I have been working for myself for four years. I am a musician, composer and photographer. I have had small successes, but some of those avenues have dried up.
I have performed at Holiday Shows, though I mostly do educational workshops and performances in schools, talking about Australia and the Aboriginal people, these would also be suitable for corporate events and marketing. (once gigged at a branch of First Choice Travel as they sponsored I'm a celebrity. I am one of a handful of professional didgeridoo players in the UK.
I also have my own non-commercial studio for music composition, telephone hold music, music for adverts etc. I have done demo's for a number of TV ads.
I am also a photographer and have a large library of arty type images that would be good for office walls etc, and recently photographed a car for a manufacturer, though again the department that the shoot was for was not my point of contact and they went with images of another car with a special coating..
I am now at a point where I can't afford to advertise or hire someone to get some sort of turn over going. I have been trying to do my own, but realise I don't have the gift of the gab etc and really could do with some advise on what I should or could be doing.
I recently had press coverage and BBC radio coverage, but only one thing has come of it. I am on Myspace, Flickr, Twitter and have my own website.
again a proper shopping cart would be useful, but cannot afford to have someone put one in for me etc..
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I don't think you are alone in your desire to promote your business economically. I think the globe is full of entrepreneurs and small business owners who want the same things and expect social networking can help.
Personally, I don't think that there is a better way for an entrepreneur to grow their business than by word of mouth in their local areas. This may mean combining publicity events with a basic marketing plan such as:
1) Host a Holiday Mixer: invite your friends to invite their friends and you can give them a sample of your talents with video slide shows on the walls of your photos. You can also display your work at the event similar to a modern museum.
2) Do a press release
3) Announce the event online to all your social networks, create a blog and website (if you don't already have one)
4) Network with others where you can combine resources such as creating an association and pull all into membership and market collectively.
5) Plan a basic marketing strategy: using a calendar list what you want to do and when to promote your business: a mailer, post cards, canvas business areas (meet and greet potential customers with outside sales calls), telemarket (make phone calls to a prospective target), social media (take time to explore the Internet and connect).
6) Improve your professional profile: review the collateral you have: business cards, website, stationary, a video, a CD with samples of your work, your print ads, your website, blog and pull yourself up on Google or another search engine and see how easy it is for potential customers to find you. - If you can't find you most likely your customers cant either.
www.marketinggurugirl.blogspot.com
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