This year has been full of changes for our family and business. I spent a lot of days worrying about the transitions of a cross country move, how to reestablish myself in a new area, and where the heck my new wedding clients were going to come from as I maintained my existing Modern Lifestyle and Urban Couture Kids and Seniors photography clients.
To say that it was a seamless transition would be a total lie. I spent so many hours in front of the computer researching and tweaking and re branding and and and... well, it was just exhausting. Sometime over the summer I ran across a mini book by Sarah Petty that would change the way I thought about my clients and my business and really set me on the path to move successfully into a new market and a new products. The Boutique Experience really mapped out where I wanted the rest of 2010 to move forward {you can check out my post about it
here}.
So when the opportunity was presented to spend some time via phone chat with Sarah last week to ask anything I needed advice on, I jumped at the chance. She is open and honest and an amazing force in marketing.
2011 is coming full force and I have big dreams. I had a couple of questions for Sarah that I knew would set me on the course for success according to my goals. She was so helpful, I thought I would share a couple of my questions and her responses in hopes of passing some knowledge on to someone else that may be struggling with the same things I am.
Q. How can I create a presence and awareness in my new community without a marketing budget that translates into new clients and referrals?
A. Start with existing clients even if they are no longer in your area. Gifting to your existing clients will get them talking about you and will generate referrals.
Also, create marketing pieces, prices and packages that are beautiful and EASY to understand for potential clients that inquire will start their experience with you and get them talking.
Co market with other businesses with the same target clientele. Creating a personal relationship with them and working with them to create a marketing campaign or event to benefit THEIR business will in turn help yours. Always give! It never works if you are the taker, but if you are genuinely interested in investing your time to help them, it will be reciprocated.
Find out what their needs are and offer to help fill them.
In relation to breaking into the local wedding market, vendor referrals are key! If you build a solid relationship with local vendors, one relationship at a time, you earn their trust and they are more willing to refer.
Q. How can I use being new to my community as an advantage vs a disadvantage to grow in 2011?
A. The advantage is that you are new to the area. You can go out and network in an entirely new arena. Approach local schools and ask if they have any upcoming events to donate to. Make a killer display piece and find out how you can cater to them and their needs. This may get you in front of tons of perspective clients.
Relationships are key and genuinely building and fostering those new relationships is going to be strongest advantage in a new market.
I love the advice Sarah shared with me and will be implementing it as we move in 2011. I am also attending the free
JoyStart Your Year event starting tomorrow!! It is sure to be amazing. I can't wait to hear Brian Tracy speak about goal setting and achievement! That is something high on my 2011 resolution list!
