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The Marketing Mix
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[Podcast] Experienced Newbies: Your Online Pres...
In my latest podcast interview, I kick off a new series called “Experienced Newbies.” We’ll be following communications professional, Lisa Mullis, as she goes through a mid-career makeover and navigates the...
Watch my CreativeLive course free Monday (7/18)...
Ilise Benun presenting “Command the Fees You Deserve” If you’ve been meaning to watch my CreativeLive course, “Command the Fees You Deserve,” set aside some time Monday & Tuesday when...
It’s not too late to say “Happy New...
Yesterday I got this Happy New Year postcard from Elements Design wishing me a year of growth and success. On Friday, I got this “new year” email message about 2017 trends from one...
Black Friday Bundle is Ready!
It’s that time again — the 2016 Black Friday Bundle is ready! And today only, I’m offering the best price of the weekend. So if you know you want it,...
[Webinar] 3 Easy Steps to Price Your Creative P...
One of the most stressful elements of running a creative business is determining how much to charge. While you want your prices to be competitive enough to attract new clients,...
Revolve Podcast #2: Qualifying Your Prospects w...
Podcast interview with Revolve speaker, Ahava Leibtag of Aha Media For this 2nd episode in my special Revolve Conference series on the MarketingMentorPodcast.com, I welcome Ahava Leibtag, owner of Aha Media Group, a content...
The Harvard Business Review on Freelancing?
Wow, freelancing has come a long way! I was amazed to see this article, How to Become a Successful Freelancer, by Amy Gallo featured on the Harvard Business Review web site. It’s part...
Why your clients won’t pay what you’re “worth”
I admit, I’m not the greatest client. For example, if my PPT deck needs a new look and feel (which it did! See the new one on the right —...
Is Word of Mouth the Best Marketing Tool?
It’s been a long time coming but I finally wrote a rant about word of mouth. So many people glorify it — maybe you too? You think it’s the best marketing tool...
B2B Copywriters: Learn from the Masters in August
If you are a copywriter working in — or considering — the B2B market, check out this new online training. I’m one of 8 teachers, along with Bob Bly, Ed Gandia,...
“Your Self Promotion is Not About YouR...
I know it sounds like a contradiction, but trust me when I say that effective marketing isn’t about you. It’s about them — your ideal clients. Here’s what I mean...
How not to stalk your best prospects
Photo courtesy Shutterstock (Image ID:226765558) I just gave a brand new presentation for Digital Olympus, a free online event. (You can download the PPT at Gettalk.at/Stalking and/or watch the video here and all...
Using LinkedIn Pulse as Your Blog — Conte...
I wrote last month about “finding your people” and to do that, you have to go where they go, to be where they are. Online that’s likely to be on LinkedIn, essentially...
[Podcast] Addicted to Fee-for-Services?
In the latest HOWLive podcast/interview, Doug Powell, past national president of AIGA, defines the client service business model as: “a fairly flat and one-dimensional approach that is largely dependent on...
Top 10 podcasts of 2015
Instead of waistline-expansion, take time before the year ends for brain-expansion! Cozy up and expand your knowledge with our most popular podcasts from 2015. Episode 1, #HOWLive 2015...
Who are “your people?” 3 Ways to Tell – QTMM
I think I’m getting more preachy as I “mature” (watch for my birthday sale in the Marketing Mentor Shop in June, BTW), but I hear myself saying this to almost all my...
Prices on your web site? – QTMM
I get this question all the time. So here’s my answer (adapted from the Tricky Pricing Scenarios and Common Questions section of my new program, AWAI’s Simplest Guide to Copy Projects). Should you put prices on...
Just a reminder: It’s Not About You
It’s a tricky concept but essential, so I’ll keep harping on it. So many aspects of your business are actually not about you. Your elevator pitch is not about you....
What I Mean When I Say, "Your Proposal Is Not A...
You’ve heard me say it before, “Your proposal is not about you.” (BTW Neither is your pricing.) But maybe I haven’t explained it clearly enough yet. So I tried again in my recent podcast/interview...
Start your own freelance business today
If you’re a new freelancer, you’re moonlighting, or you’re in-house but hoping to make the jump—then my brand new 2-week, online course, “How To Start Your Own Freelance Business” is...
Do You Know Your Competition?
When someone signs up for my free mentoring session, I ask them to fill out this getting starting questionnaire which becomes the foundation document for their marketing plan. Usually, it...
What to do when they just want a price
Here’s another question I answered recently through my email mentoring service. Q: I have a prospect that I’ve been keeping in touch with periodically. When we first spoke he told...
Podcast: What do art buyers really care about?
Recently I interviewed Scott Hull, an agent for illustrators who, when you ask what he does, says he, “links creativity to the corporate world." We talked a lot about how...
Interview with the illustration “king” of self-...
Daniel Pelavin is entering his 5th decade as a typographic designer and illustrator. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Graphic Artists Guild’s Reboot, Retool, Refuel conference. He was pointed...
How has your business evolved?
I did a lot of research for my new article on the evolution of a creative business, “From Start to Smart,” (coming out in the September edition of HOW), and...
QR Codes: What the Heck Are They?
We’re away at CFC. Follow the action as it happens with Twitter hash tag #CFConf. Yesterday I asked if your newsletter makes sense to your audience. Here is another great...
Better at “creative” than “pro”?
We’re away at CFC. Follow the action as it happens with Twitter hash tag #CFConf. CreativePro.com is an excellent resource where “creatives go to know.” They recently reviewed our Pricing...
How excited should you be about your market?
Now that most of my clients have chosen target markets, things are starting to happen. Some of them are thrilled to have finally found a market that is responding positively....
How one illustrator is getting business on Link...
I just did an interview with talented illustrator, Tim Read, about the marketing tools that are working for his business. He shares: • Exactly how he uses social media • How he’s...
Some things never change: relationships
There’s a lot of talk about how marketing is changing, especially with all the new marketing tools available. It’s true. The avenues of marketing are in flux. But the one...
Which RFPs should you pursue?
When an RFP comes along, how should you decide whether or not to pursue it? Rather than relying on any subjective feelings you have about an RFP opportunity, it’s a...
Guest Post: Land with a bigger thud
Today we are introducing our first series of guest posts from Jennifer Neal, of K9 Design in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jennifer and I have been working together through the Marketing...