Many freelancers make the mistake of marketing only when they need the business -- losing untold dollars they could be consistently pocketing. Following are some cost-effective ways to increase sales by keeping your name constantly in front of customers.
Today's blog post (www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com) discusses free and low cost ways to get the word out about your creative/editorial business -- all the time!
1. Blogs: Although blogs have been around for a while, they have really gained popularity in the last 3 years or so. Large and small businesses are finding that blogs are a great way to personalize their company.
You can post company hirings, recent projects/jobs, solicit feedback from customers -- the uses of this unique form of communication can be a boon, especially to freelancers because when you are small, the need to connect with customers is extremely important.
Remember, behind every bid/job posting is a real, live person. Connecting with them in a personal way can make them feel like they "know" you/your company. This kind of connection leads to gigs/jobs.
Although you can use company newsletters to accomplish the same thing, customers are used to them being more formal in nature. So, make a personal connection with your customers -- blog away.
Cost: Free (see blogger.com)
Visit the InkwellEditorial.com job boards today!
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/postjob.htm: Full-time listings. http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm: Freelance listings. ****************************************************************************
2. E-mail: Publish a company newsletter; send periodic sales/discount notices; send helpful/interesting articles about your industry that will somehow improve your customers' lives.
The point is to stay in contact on an unobtrusive, yet consistent basis. If you don't, when customers need your service they may have forgotten you exist. To do this, you must put visitor sign-up boxes on your website (you do have a website, don't you?) inviting potential customers to subscribe. Over time, this is one of the most cost-effective marketing methods you can use.
Cost: As little as $15/month (eg, ConstantContact.com).
3. Postcards: If you have a little more money to spend, postcards are excellent marketing tools. They are inexpensive to mail (Only 23¢ each as of this writing). Online companies like VistaPrint.com make it quick and easy to print and mail postcards quickly and professionally.
Color printing is nowhere near as expensive as it used to be. You can log on, design your postcard using templates or your own personal artwork and have it delivered in as little as 3 days. In about a week, you can have thousands of customers flocking to your website and/or calling your business.
Cost: Approx. $125 (based on ordering/mailing of 250 postcards from VistaPrint.com for $49.99; mailing cost $57.50; and miscellaneous S/H cost.)
Cost-effective marketing is limited only by your imagination. So, stay in constant contact so that you will be first on the list when customers want what you are offering.
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Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming Soon: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************
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