Do What You Love and Market It on a Shoestring

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First of all, lately I haven't been visiting most of my favorite blogs for three reasons, all of which involve love.
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The first two reasons are the recent and fantastic and exhausting company of Mr. Ryan age 4 and Not-So-Baby Drew, age. 2.
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The third reason is that my dog Stella is pretty sick. She is very weak and has trouble standing, along with some other troubling symptoms. Last night at 1:30 am JB and I took her to the Emergency Animal Hospital 20 miles from here, in the dark miserable rain. Today she is slightly better and we are slightly more hopeful.
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(What an introduction for a post about Marketing. Just keeping it real..... :^)
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So about marketing. I've taught a few courses on marketing in general and for artists in particuliar, emphasizing low cost, no cost, low budget ways to get noticed and increase customers. I have 16 'tips' in all and here are the first five:
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1. Giveaways: People love free items, especially items that they can use to gain knowledge or improve their lives. If you are a watercolorist, you might write up and give away a 'how to watercolor' brochure, or chart showing how to use complimentary colors, or a free membership to your annual newsletter. Once you begin giving away authoritative information, people will begin to see you as an expert in your field. And when they have an interest or a need, they will think of you.
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2. Create News: Want to get your name and news in your local newspaper? It may be easier than you think. If you don't have any news to report, create some. Maybe you are helping a special needs student. Or maybe you've won an award or received recognition or been selected for an art show. Local magazines and pennysavers and newspapers are often quite interested in business news of this sort and this will help you get free publicity. You'll need to know how to write up a succinct one or two paragraph press release, and then email it to targeted news or art or business editors. Chances are good your news will be published.
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3. Events: You can attract the attention of a crowd or the media (free publicity again) by staging a one-time special promotional event. If you are yoga instructor, you could offer a one hour free introduction to better health through stretching. If you have written a children's book and it's springtime, you can offer lunch with the Easter bunny. (Hang up flyers around town and send in information to your local newspaper). Get the idea?
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4. Charity Tie-ins: Are you launching something new? Trying to increase your visability in a certain segment of your community? Offer your services or product to one or more charities as a raffle prize or for use at a fund raising event. You'll receive lots of exposure among people who buy tickets and attend the event, plus they just might tell their friends.
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5. Contests: First, find a contest theme that ties into your business. A caterer might offer a cupcake tasting contest in the lobby of a movie theater. A photographer might offer a young model contest or recognition for the best high school photograph of a sunset. An Etsy artist might offer a painting or a knitting contest and give ribbons to the selected winners. Do contests attract attention? You bet they do! All it takes are a few well placed signs, a small press release announcement or two, and the world will spread among the people you want to reach.
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I'm guessing these suggestions are intimidating or overwhelming?
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Yes: they are UNTIL you do one or two and discover it will be fun and rewarding.
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If I were still in the business of offering consulting services to people who are or want to be self employed and need marketing help, at this point I would be announcing a contest or creating an event or arranging a give away with the prize being two free hours of marketing help from me. (Note: I'm not still in the business!)
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And guess what? I would be confident that there would be interest in my offer.
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Right?
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If you're looking to increase your customers or your income or your love of whatever, I encourage you to think about what YOU have and want to offer.
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Meanwhile, I'll be back one of these days with eleven more suggestions.
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Love
kj