Article Title: Market Your Way to Professional Success Author Name: Joanne Victoria Contact E-mail Address: mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com Word Count: 721 including signature box Category: Marketing Copyright Date: 2004 All Rights Reserved Worldwide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Publishing Guidelines: Thank you for publishing this article in its entirety, including
resource box. When possible, please notify me of publication by sending either a website link or a copy of your ezine upon publication via email to mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Market Your Way to Professional SuccessIt’s never too early to start saying thanks to your clients, vendors and referral sources for what they contribute to your business or practice. Everyone loves to be appreciated and acknowledged, so start now and do something every month.
Keep in contact with your clients and vendors by sending articles you have written or that would be of interest to them. Add a little "How are you?" note to these people and keep lines of communication open. Include current information about any new value-added products or services, such as a newsletter, or tele-class you will be presenting.
Marketing your way to success doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to do it.
Communication and relationship are keys to marketing. Attending numerous networking meetings may be worthwhile to some, but that strategy doesn't work for everyone because, as someone once told me, people who love you will always refer business to you.
Create a list of Advocates, or supporters, who will think of you first when it comes time for your special area of expertise. This list could be up to, but certainly no more than, twenty-five people.
You could also have a separate organizational list, such as companies where there is more than one person you know.
The people who are your Advocates or supporters are ones who require nurturing. Send them an e-mail, e-zine, note, or article at least once a month.
Create an external management team to help you achieve your success. This could include your attorney, your own mentor or consultant, your accountant and other like minded people who you can trust. This is key, people you trust to tell you truth
Gather your external management teams in an informal meeting such as breakfast or lunch. Advise them of your upcoming plans, get feedback and give acknowledgement for all their support and advice.
Check in with former clients to see how they are doing. Be willing to provide free information to these people. Generosity is its own reward. If you keep a timer on your desk, you can be sure of keeping conversation brief as well as focused. Then, send them more information. Follow up in about two weeks to see how seeds of your generosity have blossomed.
