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"I wanted to thank you because this group has really galvanized my work.
I've been struggling with this for years, and now I feel so strongly about
doing what I'm doing. All the exercises and discussions forced the issue. It
feels so different than a just a couple of months ago when I was anxious
about trying to do the web stuff, still considering myself a designer. Now
I'm focusing on the production end of things and realizing it is a worthy
skill. It feels very good! I liked your approach of not ever making us feel
badly if we didn't do enough, but rather allowing us to do whatever we
could. I don't feel anxious at all. There's no internal struggle now."
"The buddy calls were also really important to me. My buddy and I hope to
stay in touch and talk more. Those buddy calls really gave me a chance to
talk things out even more. If I took a class that didn't involve any of the
calls, I don't think I would have gotten as much out of it, just knowing
myself. I need the support and push of a group and a facilitator."
Margaret, www.terragrafix.com
"I've been able to focus myself, and I thank you for that. This group helped
me focus on what exactly I need to do and go after. That was a huge problem
I had in the past. I was always wondering: Do I work as a freelancer? Do I
work for a large company? What exactly should I do? Now, because of this
group, I know."
"For me personally, I think your book, The Designer's Guide to Marketing and
Pricing (which I bought way before we had this group) covered some of the
same things. But I think the calls really helped us focus in on certain
things. It would be tough without the calls. In a way, the book already
talks about what needs to be done, but the call bring it to life."
Richard Hainie, www.hayniedesign.com
"The value in this call is the comments-not only from you-but from the other
members. The comments and suggestions are specific to my situation . stuff
that I never thought about before. That's what made this group so valuable
for me."
"Marketing tends to be the last thing I want to do. Unless I have the
accountability of a call, I don't want to look at it. If have to do my
homework for the call, it gets done. A lot of people needing this course are
not spending a lot of time on marketing. That's why they need the
accountability of the calls."
Jason Lee, Jason Lee Design, www.jasonleedesign.com
"Thank you so much
for doing what you
are doing. It has taken me some time to get this marketing thing down,
but it is working! I landed my first signed $10,000 project
with
extra money on the side for other projects and I am working on another
large proposal right now. Also, the book (The Designer' Guide to Marketing
& Pricing) has helped tremendously."
Anonymous Creative
"I
just want to say that the beginning group is amazing. It's exactly what
I had hoped it would be, mainly the kick start I needed to get my butt
in gear and really define what my business is and is going to be. I'm
very happy that I've finally started networking again and that I'm
completing all of the marketing pieces I need to promote my business
effectively. That being said, I couldn't have done this without you and
the group. This has been the best money I've ever spent on a coach or
mentor. So awesome!"
Stephen, www.inkwellnews.com/
"I
am always amazed at how each of these calls manages to be so relevant
to something I'm doing at that moment. Today, thank you for the
perspective that I should continue to pursue the smaller projects because they could
lead to the bigger retainers."
Jim Gorman, www.gorman360.com
I wanted to share some good news with you. We submitted a proposal to
(large medical center), to roll out a new internal brand that has been
developed for them and won the project... We are still working out the
agreements, but I think we'll end up with a retainer fee. We're very
excited! I believe I owe much of our success to what I learned at the
beginning of our class about writing RFPs! As you know I had very
little experience and as a group you helped me get up to speed. Of the
three proposals I wrote in Jan., we won two and the third may happen
down the road.
Stephanie, www.strategicdesignstudio.com
I've
found this group very helpful and always enjoy and appreciate your
insight. I have emerged at the end of this mentoring group with a
clearer sense of what I ought to be doing and with ideas of how to
implement a strategy that works for me and the kind of work I do. And
your voice is always very soothing! Thank you.
Alexandra Howson MA, PhD, Thistle Editorial, LLC, www.thistleeditorial.com
"I realized
something this week. I have fallen in love with my job
again and I think a big reason why is because I feel so empowered and
excited about marketing my business. The process has provided new
challenges, new ways of thinking and I feel so much more peaceful about
how things are progressing with the business when I'm being proactive
about its growth and direction."
Lisa, www.bluemarblecreative.net
"I
landed my first client in my healthcare target market in September.
They were so happy with my work that I also was given the project of
their annual report. I also have two other new clients in healthcare.
This is all a result of regular communication through my newsletter,
attending events and patience. I also relocated my business from a home
office to a studio in a community art center."
Lisa, www.lsydesign.com/
"Working
in one of Ilise's groups was one of the best things that I have ever
done for my business. Everyone was working towards the same goal of
improving their business, while encouraging the others, sharing
insights and giving inspiration. Ilise's fun assignments were
motivating and kept everyone on track."
Kathleen, www.bluebirddesignco.com
"I signed up for Ilise's six-month
Beginning Marketing Group and consistently found her guidance to be
practical, thoughtful, and grounded in the realities of the
marketplace. In the past, I'd met with other consultants found through
small business development programs, but these programs are set up to
advise businesses of a more traditional mold. No one in them really
understood the challenges faced by someone who's self-employed in a
creative industry. Ilise, on the other hand, specializes in advising
solopreneurs, and she knows what she's talking about. Her program has
given me the focus and drive to move my business beyond a plateau I'd
hit and onward to the next level."
Henry, http://action-copy.com
"What I loved about working with
Ilise is her gentle and no bs style of helping independents get on
track with their marketing efforts. Each of her exercises builds on
each other. At "the end" you have a set of tools and momentum to keep
moving forward... She helps you create a map. I also cannot say enough
about how great working with Ilise in a group setting can be. We
laughed a lot and I've made contacts for life."
Deb, www.cococello.com
"I'm
thrilled about the accountability and "step-by-step" nature of the
group. Looking at all the "should-dos" is overwhelming. Breaking them
up into little "can-do's" is powerful and ingenious. And it's just
do-able."
Neil, www.renickerstudio.com
"I
took your newsletter course last December and to date, I've published
seven editions! Matter of fact, I secured a very financially rewarding
training assignment this summer from one of my catalog marketer
subscribers. And other subscribers have told me how much they enjoy the
newsletter. So thanks again for helping me get my newsletter off the
ground. Taking your course was money well spent!"
Suzanne, www.catalog-copywriter.com
"In the email advertising her 3-Month Marketing Plan Group, Ilise Benun outlined a very ambitious agenda and promised that anyone willing to do the work would accomplish everything on the list. I figured if I only learned how to get comfortable making cold calls, I would have gotten more than my money's worth. As the class got going, I discovered that Ilise intended to stick to her promise. I did the work, learned how to make cold calls easily, efficiently and happily...and so much more! I totally recommend Ilise and her Marketing Plan Group to you!"
Patrice, www.acornadvertising.com
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