Marketing Mentor Blog

The Marketing Mix

Read, watch and listen to the latest insights from Marketing Mentor & friends

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How to Use Generosity In Your Marketing - Without Giving Everything Away

How to Use Generosity In Your Marketing - Witho...

Generosity is one of the most powerful marketing tools we have. It’s the mindset with which you approach your business – and your life. And it starts with the genuine...

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How I Built It: Ilo Orleans interviews Ilise Benun

How I Built It: Ilo Orleans interviews Ilise Benun

How I built it: Ilo Orleans interviews Ilise Benun. In today’s episode, we turn the tables and I am interviewed by my very first client, Ilo Orleans, director and producer of...

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Introducing: Two MORE New Marketing Coaches

Introducing: Two MORE New Marketing Coaches

If you truly want to attract more high-paying clients next year, what you need is friendly, experienced business owners who can show you what to do, when. That’s why I’m...

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From “Daunting” to Doable: How Amy Landed Clients with Her First Newsletter

From “Daunting” to Doable: How Amy Landed Clien...

At the start of the year, Amy knew she needed to communicate regularly with clients - but the thought of launching a newsletter felt “daunting.” With a little encouragement, she...

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The AI-Infused Path to More Marketing Wins in 2025

The AI-Infused Path to More Marketing Wins in 2025

Marketing works when you do it right. Getting bigger wins isn’t about doing as much marketing as possible. It’s about doing the right kind of marketing and being consistent. Over...

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Attract More Clients with Better Content: Meet Your 2nd Content Coach!

Attract More Clients with Better Content: Meet ...

If you're ready to attract better clients with great content but need a little boost to get started - help is here! Announcing your next Simplest Marketing Program Coach: Bonnie...

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Why Antonio’s Getting Better Results from His Content This Year…

Why Antonio’s Getting Better Results from His C...

Is “little by little” all it takes to grow your business? That’s exactly what’s working for SMP+ member Antonio Meza this year.

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Marketing Works… When You “Finish” It

Marketing Works… When You “Finish” It

So many creative professionals give up on their marketing efforts because “they’re just not working.” But when your marketing is working, you are often the last to hear about it!...

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Help! My marketing isn’t working!

Help! My marketing isn’t working!

If you need more and/or better clients, but it feels like your marketing isn't working, this episode is for you. Ilise Benun describes what it looks like when it is...

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Are you doing social media manually?

Are you doing social media manually?

When it comes to building WordPress websites, I don’t need much motivation. I dive into the code and come up hours later, hardly realizing time has passed (except for noticing...

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Heal Your Perfectionism for Good

Heal Your Perfectionism for Good

Perfectionism and overthinking slowing you down? It happens to almost everyone... And today, I’ll tell you what to do about it! Watch the second “Minisode” in my new series: “Recipe...

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When Life Gets Busy - Shrink Your Marketing!

When Life Gets Busy - Shrink Your Marketing!

If you want to land more clients that are a great fit for you, you should do at least one thing to market yourself every day. How do you do...

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Your Marketing Isn’t Working?? Here’s Why…

Your Marketing Isn’t Working?? Here’s Why…

Does it feel like you're trying everything to get clients and build your business, but your marketing isn't working? Watch this video to learn why and what to do about...

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Feeling Stuck? How to “Un-Snooze” Your Marketing

Feeling Stuck? How to “Un-Snooze” Your Marketing

It’s OK to feel "stuck" in your business. It happens to almost everyone. But it’s not OK to stay stuck. This month, I’m excited to tell you my plans to...

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Where are they now? with actor/director/film producer, Ilo Orleans

Where are they now? with actor/director/film pr...

For the next installment in the “Where are they now” series, for Episode 512 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, I bring you my first client, actor/director and film producer, Ilo...

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Is your business growing fast enough?  (Take the survey)

Is your business growing fast enough? (Take th...

[Take the 3 minute survey] If your business isn’t growing fast enough… I have a few ideas for you... But first, I have a few questions – here’s the first....

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How to Handle Rejection with Ilise Benun

How to Handle Rejection with Ilise Benun

In this new Q&A style episode (#511) of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, you’ll learn what to do (and say) when a prospect “rejects” you, how to stay motivated to do...

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How (and Why) to Lean Into Imperfection

How (and Why) to Lean Into Imperfection

As a creative freelancer or entrepreneur, embracing imperfections humanizes you - making you more desirable in this AI-saturated world.

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Who to Reach Out to and How (+ AI Surprise!)

Who to Reach Out to and How (+ AI Surprise!)

Total tactics in today’s episode of the Marketing Mentor Podcast. Ilise Benun answers common questions from the SMP+ Outreach Club including “how do I know if a prospect is right...

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3 Hallmarks of an Effective Newsletter

3 Hallmarks of an Effective Newsletter

Treat these tips as a checklist each time you write an issue to keep readers engaged without overthinking it.

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How to start a marketing newsletter (plus a few excellent examples)

How to start a marketing newsletter (plus a few...

If you know you should have a marketing newsletter but don't know where to start, this one's for you! A marketing newsletter is the most effective content marketing you can do as...

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Why Every Creative Freelancer Should Have a Newsletter

Why Every Creative Freelancer Should Have a New...

Most potential clients won’t look through their calendar to find you in their moment of need. Instead, they’ll reach out to whoever they remember. Especially if they already know and...

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How can you show up in Google searches?

How can you show up in Google searches?

Has a friend ever asked for a book recommendation, and you’re happy to give it — because you are an avid reader and have a lot of knowledge to pull...

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How to scuff up your content with Gigi Rosenberg

How to scuff up your content with Gigi Rosenberg

If perfectionism is getting in your way, this episode of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is for you. Public speaking coach, Gigi Rosenberg, shares ideas about how to leave perfectionism behind...

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Can you trust AI? Here's what I think...

Can you trust AI? Here's what I think...

Whether you're an AI skeptic or you just don't where to start when it comes to finding clients with AI, Episode 507 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is for you! It's an...

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9 Ways to Get Your Content “Un-Stuck” with AI

9 Ways to Get Your Content “Un-Stuck” with AI

If you’re not creating your own content because you “don’t know what to write about”... Should you consider getting AI to write it? My recent LinkedIn Poll about using AI...

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Does Your Content Sound Like You?

Does Your Content Sound Like You?

One of the best ways to attract high-quality clients is to create content that speaks to their needs, in language they understand. That can mean adopting certain industry terms you...

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Craft Top Notch Client Marketing Personas with AI – for Free!

Craft Top Notch Client Marketing Personas with ...

When we target our audience, it’s all about connecting with them. We want them to feel seen, known, and comfortable doing business together. One of the best ways to do...

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How to be "you" in your content marketing

How to be "you" in your content marketing

Episode #505 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is a sneak peek into the monthly “Office Party” for the Simplest Marketing Plan, where I shared a new definition of content marketing and...

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4 Ways to Embrace Being “Lost” in Marketing - Tips for Freelance Creatives

4 Ways to Embrace Being “Lost” in Marketing - T...

I was traveling in France and Spain last month and, of course, the day I got lost in Paris was the same day my phone service went down. Suddenly, as...

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Tips for Better Meetings with Linda Secondari

Tips for Better Meetings with Linda Secondari

More meeting magic! In the latest episode of the Marketing Mentor podcast, Meeting Maven, Linda Secondari of Studiolo Secondari, shares the 3 types of meetings, a few alternatives to meetings that...

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Here's what can happen when you pick a niche...

Here's what can happen when you pick a niche...

I'm so proud of Conrad Winter.  He's a copywriter who 5+ years ago chose a niche (transportation and logistics) and has been committed to it ever since -- so much so...

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What to do if you have too many meetings

What to do if you have too many meetings

Overwhelmed by meetings? Sick of ‘getting stuck’ in meetings — emerging hours later and having your whole day derailed? If so, the latest episode of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is for...

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Need Higher-Quality Clients? Try This AI Prompt...

Need Higher-Quality Clients? Try This AI Prompt...

To get an AI to find you clients that fit you, you have to tell it what you mean by quality.

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Content Marketing about Mothers

The Mother of All Content Marketing

Eleven business owners use moms to inspire content marketing blog posts. Ilise Benun, the Marketing Mentor, challenged members of the Simplest Marketing Plan program to get creative with their marketing.

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The Throughline in 3 Creative Careers with Loren Sherman

The Throughline in 3 Creative Careers with Lore...

How will you look back on what you’re doing in your business today? Will you be full of regret or grateful and satisfied? On the day he sold his 23-year-old contract...

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Dealing with Bad Client Behaviors? Here’s What to Do…

Dealing with Bad Client Behaviors? Here’s What ...

Clients, like dogs, are creatures of habit. So whatever habits you establish - good and bad - become your reality.  So, yes, you can train some clients.  But some clients...

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How to Hear What The Market is Telling You

How to Hear What The Market is Telling You

If you listen to the market, your ideal business will find you. And it’s through listening this way that you will get clarity on the kinds of clients you want...

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AI IQ Quiz Answers - No Peeking!

AI IQ Quiz Answers - No Peeking!

Did you take my AI IQ Quiz to find out how much you know about AI? Check out the answers below to see which questions you got right...

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Is "Word of Mouth" A Legit Marketing Method?

Is "Word of Mouth" A Legit Marketing Method?

Word of mouth feels like a legitimate marketing method - when it's working. And it’s nice to be busy without having to find clients. But if you want predictable income,...

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One Creative Pro's Take on AI: Deborah Brozina

One Creative Pro's Take on AI: Deborah Brozina

For the 500th episode of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, we're kicking off a new series of conversations: One Creative Pro's Take on AI.  Yup! We're talking about AI – artificial...

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Why Aren’t Clients Finding You?

Why Aren’t Clients Finding You?

Getting discovered by clients seems fantastic. Just make yourself look as attractive as possible, then sit back and wait! But unless you love the sound of crickets, there is a...

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Thanks, Mom

Thanks, Mom

My mother couldn’t have known that the name she chose for me well before the dawn of Google would be one of my best online marketing tools. But it is....

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Where are all the good clients?

Where are all the good clients?

If you’ve been wondering where all the good clients are hiding…. ...you're not alone! Take this 3 minute survey and you've get an invitation to my live webinar, "Potential Clients...

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Case Studies for Creative Professionals with Casey Hibbard

Case Studies for Creative Professionals with Ca...

One of the most effective but underutilized marketing tools for creative professionals is the case study. Casey Hibbard, who calls herself a success story specialist, shares her expertise. So if...

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Mastering Client Retention: 5 Lessons Learned

Mastering Client Retention: 5 Lessons Learned

Here's another guest post by content writer, Sharlet Brennan, who is a member of the Simplest Marketing Program. She just signed 3 clients and even though she's super busy, she took time to...

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How Do You Manage Expectations When Doing Client Outreach?

How Do You Manage Expectations When Doing Clien...

Most creative freelancers have unrealistic expectations about what will happen when they reach out to potential clients. They are so focused on what they want, without even knowing it. Try...

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marketing strategies for creative professionals

Ilise Benun's Content Marketing Strategies for ...

Elevate your brand with effective content marketing strategies for self-marketing, authority, and credibility. Read about Ilise Benun's Simplest Marketing Plan as she shares her secrets on the Businessology podcast show. Explore more on...

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how to handle scope creep

6 Tips to Handle Scope Creep (from my dog, Fanny)

If you struggle with scope creep, this solo episode is for you. Today, thanks to my dog, Fanny, I bring you 6 of my tips to handle scope creep, plus...

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Can I get clients using LinkedIn

Should You Use LinkedIn Premium's AI Writing As...

Using LinkedIn Premium AI Writing Assistant and other AI tools can help you get started composing messages for client outreach. Here's what you need to know.

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