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The Marketing Mix
Read, watch and listen to the latest insights from Marketing Mentor & friends
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Cold emails worked on me!
Freelancers often reach out to introduce themselves and see if I can give them work. While I’ve gotten plenty of cold emails in the past, I never responded. The timing was never...
[Podcast] #383 Attract Ideal Clients & Repel Ti...
If have had trouble picking a niche, or maybe you've picked one and just aren’t sure if it’s the right one, you’ll enjoy my conversation with Pamela Slim. You may...
Simplest Marketing Planner: December Extras (20...
On December 5, 2019 I gave the 12th (and last) session of "Office Hours" in 2019 for the final installment of the Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. But don't worry -- there is a Simplest...
[Podcast] #382 You, a Book Coach? with Jennie Nash
Have you ever heard of a book coach? It’s a relatively new thing, but it is definitely a thing – and a thing that has evolved out of the changes in...
I hired someone who does what I do
As my pile of work grew, I realized I needed someone to take things off my plate. Yet, whenever I would get behind with work, my mind would tell me: It’s...
[Podcast] #381 How to Make Your Marketing About...
Adam Fairhead of Fairhead Creative is a kindred spirit, albeit younger and with a British accent. He approached me earlier in the year to be on the MarketingMentorPodcast.com and he’s...
Simplest Marketing Planner: November Extras (20...
On November 7, 2019 I gave the 11th session of "Office Hours" for the 11th installment of the Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet to: simplify marketing...
[Case Study] 5 Lessons from a Photographer Who ...
By Aaron Dougherty, Aaron Dougherty Photography. I’d like to think that my photography business has grown these past seven years because of my hard work and client-focused mindset. But when I...
Ghosted by a good prospect? [QTMM 10/31/19]
I know this has happened to you... A good prospect reaches out -- someone who knows you, maybe even a past client -- about what seems like a really good...
[Podcast] #380 3 Steps to Identifying Your Valu...
Note: This article is a companion post to Marketing Mentor Podcast #380 with Lisa Mullis of Paraphrase Communications. Lisa is a copywriter and designer who helps service-based entrepreneurs look, sound,...
Writers: Stumped about your portfolio?
The free report I offer subscribers is Get Your Website Done: 12 Actionable Steps for Designers. Recently, I presented a Writers’ Edition of this topic to the Atlanta Writers Club. While most of...
[Podcast] #379 How to Build a Simple Marketing ...
If you’re tired of coming up with new marketing ideas all the time and you want a simple system that (almost) runs on its own, this episode is for you....
Networking follow up: what to say! [QTMM 10/2/19]
So you're following the Simplest Marketing Plan, doing your "strategic networking" (meeting "your people" in person) and you have indeed met some promising people. You even managed to collect their...
Simplest Marketing Planner: October Extras (201...
On October 3, 2019 I did the 10th session of "Office Hours" for the 10th installment of the Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet to: simplify...
[Podcast] #378 How to Build Long-Term Relations...
If you're tired of the relentless need to constantly fill your pipeline with one-off projects, this episode is for you. I spoke with Ben Callahan, President of Sparkbox, a Dayton, Ohio-based web...
The Best Media Story She Had Ever Heard!
If you think you're too small or too insignificant to benefit from PR (public relations), think again. I almost forgot about the tiny paragraph in New York Magazine that...
Need to finish the year strong?
I saw a display of “holiday cheer” creamers at the supermarket yesterday. Seriously? Peppermint Mocha is a little premature in my book, but it doesn’t change the reality that it’s mid-September and fourth...
[Podcast] #377 How to Use Lists to Reduce Stres...
Are you a list maker? I am, but I try not to overdo it. I do have a list of questions about lists, which I had the opportunity to ask...
[Video] Want to work with companies doing good?
Being your own boss means that you get to choose who you want (and don't want) to work with. But if you don't have your marketing machine in place, it...
Simplest Marketing Plan: September Extras (2019.9)
On September 12, 2019 I did the 9th session of "Office Hours" for the 9th (and updated) installment of the Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet...
How to cultivate a healthy "marketing mindset"
What I love the most -- hands down -- about teaching creative professionals how to promote their services -- the thing you love most to do -- is to watch the "marketing mindset"...
[Podcast] Here's how I handle the money convers...
While I'm prepping for Hurricane Dorian (which seems to be weakening -- fingers crossed), check out this brand new podcast interview I did with Kyle Carpenter on the Clients from...
[Podcast] #376 To Do List Too Long? Here's a so...
What would happen if you threw away your "to do" list? Andy Brenits of Brenits Creative shares his strategy for getting things done (and identifying what doesn't need to be...
[Event] Want to hang with your freelance peeps?...
I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at #FREECON19! This action packed, 3-day conference is happening October 27-29th in sunny Austin, TX -- and guess what?! You’re...
[Podcast] #375 Learning to love the money conve...
If you are like most creative professionals I work with, you hate talking money. Whose responsibility is it, anyway? Yours, if you want to be perceived as a professional, that...
How to get testimonials
Like it or not, what others say about you is more credible than what you say about yourself. That’s why testimonials are so important. But what’s the best way...
Simplest Marketing Plan: August Extras (2019.8)
On August 1, 2019 I released the 8th installment of the brand new Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet to: simplify marketing so you'll actually do it help you...
[Podcast] #374 How to Write Ridiculously Good E...
If you’ve been following me lately, it would be hard to miss my ranting about email newsletters, sharing some excellent examples and my latest about why you should never say, "Can...
When you add someone to your email list, say th...
Heads up, this is a bit of a rant. (If you prefer, listen to it here.) I need to get something off my chest. I know I've been harping on...
How to put more "you" in your marketing. Watch ...
Out of sight, out of mind -- that's more and more the reality these days. So if you do nothing else, please use an email newsletter to stay top of...
[Podcast] #373 Asking for Help = Business Growt...
Last month, I got this message from Danielle Z. Hughes, a strategic copywriter I've been coaching: I was talking to a friend yesterday who is very stuck. She has analysis paralysis...
When is a 1-page estimate enough?
A designer in one of my small coaching groups was working on a proposal for a big project recently and a question came up about how long the proposal should be. Fellow group...
[Podcast] #372 Tom Ross of DesignCuts.com on Le...
If you’re not sure how to bring your creativity into your marketing, today’s episode with Tom Ross is for you. Tom is host of 2 podcasts, including the Honest Designers podcast...
Simplest Marketing Plan: July Extras (2019.7)
On July 1, 2019 I released the 7th installment of the brand new Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet to: simplify marketing so you'll actually do it help...
Why I loved dance class
I love to dance. Legend has it that I was born dancing, although that’s not exactly true. But it is true that I spent almost all of my spare time...
Follow Up Without Giving Up [QTMM 6/21/19]
Here's what a new client wrote to me this week: "Thanks for your patient prodding." It wasn't the first time. Not long ago someone else thanked me for my "patient persistence."...
[Podcast] #371 How (Exactly) to Use Generosity ...
Do you give strategy away? Many creative professionals do, probably because you don't see yourself as a "strategist." But that's not what I mean by generosity. If you’ve watched any of my recent...
Negotiation = Confrontation?
If you are like most creative professionals, you hate talking money with clients. The thought of negotiating makes you sweat. You may even believe there’s something wrong with negotiating,...
[Podcast] #370 Podcasting as the Ultimate Marke...
Here’s what I love about having a podcast... It’s the ultimate nexus of the 3 most effective marketing tools -- the ones I’ve been teaching this year with my Simplest Marketing...
Reclusive and loving it
I decided to look into a co-working space. I found one in an industrial complex attached to a law firm. Very corporate. I took a tour and the cubicles and...
How to avoid re-negotiating when the scope creeps?
I love attending WordCamp Atlanta because every year, I learn something new. I have new experiences and consistently find things to think about in a different way. Plus, I get...
Simplest Marketing Plan: June Extras (2019.6)
On June 1, 2019 I released the 6th installment of the brand new Simplest Marketing Plan for 2019. This planner represents my best effort yet to: simplify marketing so you'll actually do it help...
[Podcast] #369 Should you do Facebook ads?
Last week, I got an email message from a young guy offering himself up as a guest on the MarketingMentorPodcast.com Now, I get a lot of these and I don’t reply...
How to "Connect with Pain Point Content"
One of the ideas I've been developing lately is how to use "pain point" content to connect with your ideal clients. That's what my new talk for the Creative Freelancer Track...
HOW Design Live 2019 Highlights and Recaps
WOW, what a great event (again) in Chicago this year. One of the themes of HOW Design Live was "HOW design can change the world." All of the speakers were...
5 Takeaways From The Creative Freelancer Track ...
With permission, I am reposting this from Julie Cortes of juliecortes.com I’ve always wanted to go to the HOW Design Conference … probably since I was a young pup right...
Best Email Newsletters = Less "News" and More "...
Last week at the AWAI Bootcamp, I had a bit of a revelation during Ann Handley's Opening Keynote. She said something I wish I had thought of! So I...
HOW Highlight #1: Breakfast with "my people"
WOW, what a great event (again) in Chicago this year. HOW Design Live brings people together to learn and connect. And that's just what 10 Marketing Mentor clients did last...
How I think about offering guidance (on a Sunda...
On a Sunday morning, I think about the work I do as "helping creative people become autonomous and thrive. And that usually involves marketing." It is not exactly life and death,...
What would you call it?
Since 2012, I've been working closely with web designer, Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design (read the case study here), building her business, step by step, to the point where she's been "booked...