Marketing Mentor Blog
The Marketing Mix
Read, watch and listen to the latest insights from Marketing Mentor & friends
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“Creator” mode and more new stuff on LinkedIn
Are you overwhelmed by all the things you can do on LinkedIn? Not sure what the heck “Creator” mode is? Podcast #428 is a conversation with LinkedIn Trainer, Beth Granger, who answered...
Word of Mouth vs. Referrals: What's the differe...
Episode #427 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is a conversation with Michael Roderick about the difference between word of mouth (a dangerous way to market your business) and referrals, and...
3 Phases of Your Creative Business: which are y...
In this short video from a recent Office Hours (which is the most popular element of The Simplest Marketing Plan), I shared a brand new idea about the 3 phases...
Are you procrastinating? Or is it "sagacious de...
Here's a guest post from Marcella Allison, founder of Titanides, a private online community of female entrepreneurs, copywriters, and marketers. She was inspired by a comment I made at the end of my training...
Handling the tricky situations in your creative...
If you struggle with the tricky client situations that come up as a self employed creative pro, podcast episode #426 is for you. In Part 2 of my chat with copywriter, Deidre Rienzo,...
Do your headshots match your face on Zoom?
Guest post by Jill Anderson: I’ve used Zoom for years and nobody ever wanted their camera turned on. Now, it’s all cameras all the time! While it’s nice to see...
One of your clients' biggest pain points is....
In this clip from the August Office Hours, book designer, Lauren Wickware, shares a lesson she learned recently about one of her clients' biggest pain points: they are having trouble...
The Five-Minute Pity Party
10 years ago, copywriter Deidre Rienzo, saw other creatives blogging about how they were "just so busy they had to say no to clients." And she couldn’t imagine ever being...
Accelerate Your Freelance Business Tomorrow…by ...
Slowing down…nurturing your inner self…treating your business as a place to experiment and try new things…discovering the marketplace through intentional practices…and caring about people—these are the core ideas that have...
How to ask for more (money!) with Jennifer Barrett
How can you never leave money “on the table” again when negotiating? It's simple: ask for more -- but this seems to be one of the hardest things to do. So that's the...
8 Questions to Ask (BEFORE you write a proposal)
Did you know that your proposal is a marketing tool? And its job is to persuade your prospect -- in your absence -- that you're the perfect fit? The only...
If you do nothing else, do this to market your ...
How to grow your creative business with one marketing tool by making it a daily habit -- it's that simple!
Which marketing tools really work?
Attend the Creative Freelance Summit on July 20-21 and in 2 half days, you’ll learn exactly what you need to have in place to set the foundation for the clients...
Beware: Scam on graphic artists
Several Graphic Artists Guild members have been the targets of a sophisticated scam. Please be alert that outreach from potential clients may be a scam, and do your due diligence...
Going from Creative to Therapist with Tiffany B...
In Episode #422, Going from Creative Professional to Therapist, I chatted with Tiffany Butler, who spent 20+ years as a designer, copywriter and project manager, but often played the role of...
How to raise your rates as a creative freelancer
If you've got clients (especially "starter clients") who should be paying more, check out my newest ebook, Worth It: How getting good at the money talk pays off. In this...
How to fearlessly leverage your network (like S...
In Episode #420, with author, speaker and Ayurveda-based health and mindset coach, Sweta Vikram, learn why it pays to mine (and leverage) your LinkedIn network. When it was time to promote her new...
NEW: Creative Freelance Summit July 20-21, 2021
How do you find good clients? You know, the ones who value your expertise enough to pay you what you’re worth? That’s the question we’ll answer in this new virtual...
A simple idea to grow your email list
Podcast #419 is a conversation with Tim Huelskamp, CEO of 1440 Media, about a simple strategy his company used to grow their email newsletter list from very small at the beginning...
5 Simple Campaigns to Get Your Ideal Client's A...
Of the 3 marketing tools in the Simplest Marketing Plan (strategic networking, high quality content marketing and targeted outreach), that last one -- targeted outreach -- seems to be the...
The 2 Questions That Trigger All the Fears at O...
Podcast #418 with Terri Trespicio digs into the 2 questions that trigger all the fears at once. If you panic or freak out when a prospect or client asks you...
Natural ebb & flow vs. nasty feast or famine?
If, when things slow down, you think, "Oh my God, this is the beginning of the end," this video is for you. Ilise Benun shares a few simple thoughts about...
Creating passive income: Easy or not?
Guest post by Jill Anderson: Dream of making money while you sleep? Want to create a product that generates passive income? This all sounds delightful … until you actually...
How to Handle "The Feast" with Danielle Hughes
Podcast #417 is my second conversation with Danielle Hughes of More Than Words Copy about what to do when your marketing is working so well that you’re getting more good work from...
So you want to be a guest blogger...
As I hope you know by now, content marketing (creating useful content that speaks to the needs of your ideal clients) and targeted outreach (introducing yourself in a hyper-personalized way to tell...
Where does your content come from? (Free Summit...
Here's how to think about "what to write about" + sign up for the free blogging summit that starts May 3 with 15+ top experts increasing your traffic, supercharging your brand...
Blogging For Your Business Summit (May 2021)
If you’re seriously ready to rock your blog, work your social media, or kill it with your email marketing, then don’t you wish you could be a fly on the...
Improve Your Money Mindset
I loved my recent conversation with Laura Gale and Rachel Mazza on the Business of Writing Podcast about the "money mindset" needed to be successfully self employed, from busting through mental...
Do You "Think Like a Breadwinner?"
In Episode #416, I talked with Jennifer Barrett, a financial expert and author of the new book, "Think Like a Breadwinner," about the role of confidence in making money and...
To all the things we can (and can't) control
The truth is, a lot of what works when it comes to marketing is a result of timing and serendipity -- in other words, things we can't control. However, there are things we...
Why you should never tell a prospect your hourl...
This post is a two-fer: a rant about why you should never give your hourly rate to a prospect and Podcast #415, in which I chatted with Corina Ludwig, President...
10 tips to get your creative business off the g...
Guest post by Deidre Rienzo: I’ve been doing a lot of yapping lately about how I need to work less, charge more, and say no. Ten years ago, I read...
A Virtual Event for Creative Freelancers in April
Thursday, April 22 at 10:45 AM ETfor Freelance Business Week (#FBW2021) Show Me The Money On behalf of the Freelance Exchange of Kansas City, I'll be presenting my popular, "Show Me...
Marketing Yourself with Heart & Soul -- yes, it...
Podcast #414 is a conversation with Andy Didorosi, Head of Marketing for Basecamp, who shares his ideas about how to bring your heart and soul into your own marketing, and...
Follow up = Desperate?
You have lots of reasons for not following up, even when it's an outstanding proposal for a project you really want. But what actually gets communicated when you don't follow up is...
No, I can’t do that.
Guest post by Deidre Rienzo: While I was pregnant, a few women told me, “Oh, you can work while the baby sleeps!” Some also told me I wouldn’t want to...
Creating in Uncertain Times
On the "Getting Work to Work" podcast, the host, Chris Martin, asked me, "How can creative entrepreneurs and creative professionals plan, create and connect in uncertain times?" Here's what I said:"You know,...
How to build confidence by marketing yourself!
In Podcast #413, you'll learn how content begets confidence with Helen Conway, a former lawyer and judge who now coaches lawyers on wellness issues.
What kind of accountability works best?
When it comes to marketing your creative services, we all need accountability. I offer something for everyone. But sometimes, none of it is enough! However, there is one kind of accountability that...
Out of the blue? Really?
Marketing is not a mystery. And it works when you do it. So why then do so many of my clients (and maybe you) continue to feel like projects come...
Popular niches for 2021 with Pam Foster
Podcast #412 with Pam Foster is for you if you’re struggling to find your niche. It may help you find yours, it may help you simply relax about the whole...
What I’m replacing, and what I’m embracing.
Guest post by Jill Anderson: Are you tired of piling things on your plate — without taking anything off? Me too. We all do it. And maybe 2021 is the...
What makes a subject line effective?
When crafting the subject lines for your prospecting email messages, here are some guidelines to follow if you want to do it right (and now sound spammy, salesy or markety!
10 Minutes a Day on LinkedIn with Melanie the M...
In Podcast #411, Melanie Deardorff and I talked all about how you can integrate LinkedIn into your daily life to uncover opportunities you don’t even know are waiting there for you....
A simple way to stand out on LinkedIn!
If you want to stand out on LinkedIn, use the sound of your voice. Read on to learn how and, of course, see lots of excellent examples.
How to get out of a slump with Michael e. Stern
Podcast #410 is for you if you love learning. I talked with podcast fave, veteran creative professional and photographer, Michael e. Stern, about how he's been using new skills to...
Is your “welcome” packet unwelcoming?
Guest post by Jill Anderson: How to send files.The best way to get in touch. What color t-shirt to wear when you send files. :) These days, there can be...
Things I’m replacing in 2021
Guest post by Deidre Rienzo: First, let me say it’s hard to focus on work with everything that’s happening in the world. If you’re struggling to focus, or sleep or...
What “passive income” really means with Jill An...
Podcast #409 is a chat with Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design about the reality of what it took to develop her first product, The Client Onboarding Toolkit.
Ancient Wisdom to Start a New Year on the Right...
Despite the tumult of the first week of the year, I am feeling very reflective and quiet. Here's what I'm reading and listening to at the moment, including my favorite passages...