This post is written by Ilise Benun, marketing coach for creative professionals, and the mind behind Marketing Mentor - the go-to resource for creative pros who want better projects with bigger budgets.
Once you’ve chosen who to pursue, it’s time to connect with them. These connections are the keys to growing your business and finding new clients. This can be done in many different ways. Here are a few of the most effective:
Networking
Relationships are everything when it comes to business. Networking is the tool that allows you to develop the strongest relationships.
Try to attend at least one event per month where you can meet real prospects. Joining a trade association is the best way to do this.
If there are no local events for you to attend, you might have to travel or connect virtually. Either way, be patient. This takes time, but is fruitful if you do it properly.
Make sure your profile is up to date and speaks to your best prospects. Then leverage your existing network by connecting with everyone you have ever known and some you’d like to know.
The more people in your network, the more access you’ll get to others. It makes sense to build it and to accept invitations from others.
Also, join groups on LinkedIn that are related to your target markets. The icons and group names will show up on your personal profile, thereby enhancing your positioning.
Video: 6 Excellent Examples of LinkedIn Profiles of Designers
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Video: 6 Excellent Examples of LinkedIn Profiles of Agency Owners
Warm email prospecting
Start by using email to introduce yourself to people you want to work with. Take the time, though, to find a shared connection, so you can approach them with a personalized message and a reference they will recognize (that’s why it’s warm and not cold).
That connection could be a mutual contact or simply the fact that you love their brand and want to work with them. Then, your message will seem just like it’s written for them, because it actually is!
Follow up with a phone call, followed by snail mail. Don’t worry if only one or
two out of ten prospects actually respond. That’s normal. Just stay in touch unless they tell you to stop.
Let it sink in a bit.
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