In my private coaching sessions with clients, I have noticed a phrase that keeps coming up frequently: Don’t be the best kept surprise! If you don’t have clients, you can only do the amazing work you do. You can only find clients by being out there. No matter how brilliant your business offerings and achievements are, if no one knows you, you will not be able share your unique brilliance to the rest of the world.
How do you get there? We are glad you asked.
Create and send an E-Zine
It is time to start an e-zine. You don’t need to make it fancy. However, it should reflect your brand to clients and allow you to “touch them”.
It is important to stay in touch with your subscribers via e-mail. You and your subscribers will build trust and “know, like and trust” through consistency and follow-up. Although the main reason for sending an electronic newsletter is to provide value to your subscribers, it’s also important to do some (gasp!) self-promotion. self-promotion.
This is something that many people have difficulty with. However, it’s something you owe your clients and prospects to help them understand what you can offer. They cannot read your mind and see beyond the business curtain. If you’ve never promoted in an e-zine before, I recommend starting small with 10-20%.
Promoting Yourself
It is important to tell people what you are doing. They can’t read you mind or see into your business without your permission. Are you being asked to speak on behalf of a group? Did you receive an award? Your assistance helped a client reach a certain level. Are there any notable accolades you have received recently?
Your profile will be raised in the eyes of your readers by sharing a few promotional details. This helps establish you as the person you expect to be! Don’t be afraid to do some self-promotion, provided you provide great content.
Be Found Online
You don’t have to keep your business a secret if you want it to be known. Have a strong online presence to share your business with everyone. Without a website, your business is not really there. You can go further by creating a blog and profiles on LinkedIn and Twitter. If your work is suitable for the video world, you might consider creating a YouTube channel. Although social media can seem overwhelming, it is possible to make your business stand out. It can increase your subscribers and make you an expert in your field. It can even help you find paying clients. That’s how you get out there!
Speak… and speak often
Public speaking is a great way to make yourself an expert in your field. You can do this in person, via teleclasses or webinars. There are many groups that are looking for speakers. As a marketing tool, you can give a talk for free or get paid. Hosting your own webinars or teleclasses is an option. You could also be a guest expert for others. There are many ways to give a speech. Talk about being out there and not being kept secret! This is the best way to do it. If you don’t have any fear of public speaking, then tell it from the mountain.
Offering Options
You can also offer prospects and clients multiple ways to access your services. Your services may be primarily one-on-one. But think about other ways that you can offer value to your clients and prospects. You might be able to package your expertise and reach more people via teleseminars or workshops. You will be able to share your knowledge with others, even if you offer private services at a higher cost.
Specials
This is an opportunity to give a special to your prospects and clients if they don’t know what you offer. Specials can be offered to only certain groups or to subscribers to your e-zine. This creates an exclusive feel to your offers. It makes people feel special because they can receive perks or discounts simply for listening to you speak to them.
Now, it is your turn to consider this: How will you get there? You and your business must not be kept a secret!