Promoting your own business

[c.l...@charene.net]

What have you found to be the most successful marketing tool to
promote your own graphic design business? I do a lot of networking
with two different groups (my local chamber and BNI) and have sent out
email blasts with special cash $$$ referral programs to clients,
family and friends. I have not had any success with cold calling in
the last seven years. Just wondering what has been successful for
those Linked in?

[Judy]

I am not a graphic designer, I am a copywriter, but I've been in
business online for 10 years and I get most of my business just from
my website. I am very high in the search engines and get a steady
stream of new clients each year. I've written and coded my website for
good SEO and it has paid off for me.

Marketing has to be an ongoing effort. If you haven't yet done up a
marketing plan, I suggest you do so. This can be as simple as planning
some strategy over the next 3 months. I don't usually pay for ads etc,
I use free ways to let people know I am ready to write for them.

I've had some inquiries from LinkedIn but I've never found social
networking helpful in gaining many new clients. I have come to some
nice arrangements with a few web designers where they've helped me
with some of the more difficult things on client sites and in exchange
I've helped them with marketing their web design business.

I do website evaluations for clients, a full one takes me into their
server to see exactly where the visitors are coming from, what
keywords were used to find them etc.

A full web evaluation is $150.00 with a written report and suggestions
for improvements.

If there is anyone in our group who would like an evaluation done of
their website, I'd be happy to do a brief one, this will not include
the full seo checks. I will do a written brief for you with my
comments on how you may be able to improve your site to maybe turn
visitors into buyers.

Just let me know if you'd like me to do that for you, no charge for
our group members.:)

Judy
http://www.creativepurrsuits.com

[c.l...@charene.net]

Judy,

Since I last wrote the question, I have set up a blog. Still need to
design it and figure out what I am going to post but I think this may
be an excellent way to market myself. Plan on adding a link to the
blog on my web site. Someone else also told me that I should add a
"about me" section to my web site for a more personal touch. I think
that was a GREAT suggestion which I also plan on doing. It is hard to
find the time to market ourselves!! If you would like to take a look
at my web site and offer any other suggestions, that would be
wonderful. I have found that the Linkedin crowd has been wonderful in
offering suggestions and support for my business. Got the idea of
doing the blog from someone else on Linkedin!

Thanks,
Charisse
www.ChaRene.net
www.ChaRene.net/blog (still have to design but it is up and running)

> Judyhttp://www.creativepurrsuits.com

[Judy]

Yes, Charene, I will take another look at your site and send you a
brief review with my comments.

And, yes a blog is a good idea, just be sure you have interesting
things to say on it and that you keep it updated frequently with new
posts. :)

I am in the process on working on two blogs but my wordpress skills
suck. I am trying right now to figure out how to arrange categories so
the subcategories show on the side links. I have to take some time to
read up on it. :(

Later,
Judy

On 14 Jul, 08:55, c.lo...@charene.net wrote:
> Judy,
>
> Since I last wrote the question, I have set up a blog. Still need to

. It is hard to
> find the time to market ourselves!! If you would like to take a look
> at my web site and offer any other suggestions, that would be
> wonderful. I have found that the Linkedin crowd has been wonderful in
> offering suggestions and support for my business. Got the idea of
> doing the blog from someone else on Linkedin!
>
> Thanks,

> Charissewww.ChaRene.netwww.ChaRene.net/blog(still have to design but it is up and running)
>