planning

Where Ya Headed, Buddy?

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ROAD TRIP 1 (Revenge of the Baby Boomer)

I hear this question a lot during interviews: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Well five years might as well be fifty. At the pace our society and technology are going we need to shorten that down to a maximum of two years.

If you haven’t asked yourself this question now (end of year) may be the best time. Time to start planning your goals for 2010 and maybe even to 2012. For me this includes not only my personal life but one for the photo business as well.

If we fail to do so it will be as if we are on a road trip with no destination in mind. All of a sudden you have to pull over for a pit stop and realize you have no idea where you are, where you are going, how to get back, and are out of fuel with no way to pay for it.

Plan your journey to get to where you want to go.

8 Ways To Establish Yourself

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drawing up the plans (Doors & Windows)

During this rebrand process, I am reminded about what works or what needs to go back to the drawing board. By changing my brand from something established to something new takes work. Maybe you are starting out or maybe you need to find a better way to build the wheel. Here are a few things I have learned along the way…

  1. Reach Out- Now that you’ve made relationships online with followers, “friends” and contacts, go meet them. You know, shake their hand, hear their voice, look them in the eyes. Discover a local meetup or an active user group. There is strength in the sharing.
  2. Branch Out – However, if you only hang out with people that have similar interests how does that help you get new business?  Your colleagues are not going to share the work load they secured for themselves. It is critical to spend face time with your peers, but if you really want to market yourself and get more clients, you have to look outside of your usual group.
  3. Testify!- Those of us who can make a good living out of what we do will build up a great reputation and so can you. Don’t be afraid to ask for a  testimonial after a job well done. Chances are, your client will be happy to do so if you’ve established a good relationship with them. If they liked your work, get it in writing. Have you ever read the customer reviews on Amazon.com? These are invaluable to your purchase decisions and so are the client’s testimonials to the prospective customer you haven’t met yet.
  4. References Upon Request-Always ask your client too, if they know others who could use your services. In my work as a photographer, the best referrals are the images displayed at workplaces, homes, desktop wallpapers and even social media sites. However, I always ask the client to refer me to their network. I am always happy to meet new people and meet their needs.
  5. Earn Clients, Gain Friends- I’m discovering this a lot more lately myself. After a job well done, cash the check and move on, right? Wrong. Pick up on customer cues when they discuss their lives. Establish a rapport or common ground. Share your life if possible. Follow up with these details by a simple email or commenting on their Facebook status. These subtle, constant reminders of your interest as well as your body of work will go a long way in the future. 
  6. Go To Market- If you want to build your brand and establish yourself as a professional, we have to know you exist. Get a brand, a logo that matches you and your talents. Have your services phrased and memorized to respond to the question that always comes up: “So, what do you do?” Market yourself. You need a business plan. What tools will you work with to put your name out there? Invest your time & money with multiple outlets. Print, media, social web, whatever. Don’t forget to establish a means of measuring the effects of your marketing. What is the return on investment (ROI)? Are you effective?
  7. Not Just Personal. Its Business- Get a business plan. A plan of action. Take care of the details. Maybe you are the person that just wants to do the job and that’s it. All right, but either take care of business or hire a business manager. Are you a freelancer or an entrepreneur?  This is critical. Decide that first. Your decision will affect how you do business. You can be both but take care of business. What is your time worth? Will you be able to put money in savings if you are undercharging for your work? Are your expenses covered? Can you make a living out of this? It takes the fun out of work but it will keep you working. FYI, I hate this part and it is a weakness. It is also something I will resolve to do better.
  8. Go Ahead, Show-Off  Make it a priority of your marketing plan to have your work readily available to prospective clients. Build a portfolio or a website. Offer downloads or samples of your work. Brag, gloat and wave it around like a flag. We make decisions based upon what we see. So let them see it. Make sure it is updated and relevant too. If you cannot do this, don’t do anything. Prospects are turned away because they feel like you’ve just wasted their time. 

This is not an exhaustive list by any means. I am just sharing what I have learned from experience as well as communicating with other like-minded individuals. Got some more tips? What are your experiences? I’d love to hear them. The comment section is all yours!