Your presence affects your prosperity.
It’s that simple.
Despite the dour economy, you can not only keep your current clients but you can make more money by attracting new business and building new relationships. Call it a mixed bag of traditional PR, sprinkled in with Social Media and plain old-style networking.
It’s not one aspect of this marketing mix or another. When you use all three approaches (and toss in paid advertising or direct mail), you gain velocity in the marketplace. The key is to always market, market, market.
When you are consistently proactive and visible to mass numbers of people who have buying power, you will not only withstand this difficult economy, but you will thrive.
Countless business and nonprofit professionals here in San Antonio and across the country tell me they are “the best kept secret.” My immediate response is, “You don’t want to be a secret! It’s time to let the cat out of the bag.”
Here are 5 fast and affordable tips to increase your visibility, credibility and revenues:
1- Focus on your expertise and how it impacts the public. Write a tipsheet or short article (formatted like this one!) to position yourself as an expert in your field. Address the pain/problem of the public and offer solutions. Then post the information on your blog, website, e-zine or Facebook profile. E-mail copies to your clients and prospects. Let them know you’re thinking about them and can help.
2- Learn the power of technology. You don’t have to be online 24/7 to supercharge your marketing and visibility. It’s critical to understand how Social Media, blogs and other technology can be an integral part of your marketing plan. Make a commitment to learn about online opportunities. Sign-up for a free teleseminar or webinar, take a class at a local school, or ask a college student to provide some quick tutoring. If you dedicate 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening to social networking, you will reap the benefits of your investment. It won’t happen overnight. Be committed that this is a long-term investment of your time, brainpower and energy.
3- Speak. Volunteer to provide a free presentation at your local Rotary Club, church, library or professional association. This is an excellent way to get in front of a group of potential customers who are interested in your topic. You’ll be able to help people while building your credibility and name recognition. A few weeks before the event, send out a calendar listing or promo to your local business journal and newspapers.
4- Pay attention to the news. Read the papers, watch and listen to the TV and radio news. Develop relationships with reporters so when they need a source in a particular field or industry, they will contact you and quote you. Send them press releases, letters to the editor and calendar listings.
5- Get out from behind the computer. As helpful as Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and technology can be, we must still leverage the “human factor” of business. A cold keyboard can not replace a warm handshake. Determine where your ideal clients spend their time and go there. Attend a few networking events, conferences or trade shows every week or month. Face-to-face connections, smiles and human conversations are priceless.
When you decide to be proactive and use a strategic combination of public relations, Social Media and networking, your presence will increase. So will your prosperity.
(Photo Credit: akasped)
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I could not agree more with the final paragraph.
It is a combination of factors and the integration of seemingly disparate elements even within the online effort alone – SEO, SEM, reputation management – what will ensure the overall success of our presence and our increasing influence.