Marketing Mentor Blog
The Marketing Mix
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Should you pick a niche? Yes! 4 Good Reasons to...
I know that most creative professionals shy away from specializing because it limits the scope of the work you could do, and that’s true. It does. But the alternative...
[Podcast] #324 Alan Seiden: From Awkward Techie...
One of the many things I love about getting older is that people come back into your life and we get a chance to look back together and laugh at...
Build Your List Without a Lead Magnet — Here's How
Enticing people to join your email list with a piece of content, such as a cheatsheet, an ebook, or a free webinar, is a common practice in email marketing. These...
Should you give free advice?
I got this message from a colleague the other day: Quick question (if that’s ok - i don’t want to ask for free advice since this is your livelihood!)...
Should You Follow Your Heart, Really?
"Follow your heart and the money will come." I hate this saying. Mostly because I know from experience, mine and that of others, it's not true. My friend, and...
54 Niches for Copywriters
Yesterday, my friend Tomas published a new "copywriter edition" of The Niche Notebook. Dive deep into 54 examples of niches actually picked by copywriters—complete with links to each copywriter's website...
[Podcast] #323 Michael Solomon on Price as a Sh...
In my second conversation with author and marketing professor, Michael Solomon, of michaelrsolomon.com, he explains how to use your price as an indicator of quality and attract the clients who value your services....
[Event] Get Better Clients Bootcamp -- for Phot...
The Get Better Clients Bootcamp was such a hit at HOW Design Live in May that we're taking it on the road! Next stop is PhotoPlus Expo on October 25,...
[Videos] Networking tips (and more!) from #HOWL...
When I was at HOW Design Live in Chicago in May, I stopped by to have a short, short (I mean less than 1 minute!) video chat with the folks...
[Podcast] What to Say When Promoting Your Creat...
“Relationships are everything when it comes to marketing…. Whatever tools you use, the most important thing is developing relationships.” That's a quote from my recent interview as a guest on The Digital...
Is your client breaking boundaries?
I don’t think anybody starts a business because they want to get walked all over. Most people do it because they want to make the rules and be in charge....
"I will not start a project without an agreement"
You know what can happen if you start working on a project without an agreement? Sometimes it works out okay, and sometimes not so much. I got this message from...
Has This HappenedTo You Too? (QTMM 7/13/17)
I recently had an amazing opportunity fall into my lap. This gig seemed so promising -- and lucrative too! They flew me across the country for a meeting. They seemed...
[Podcast] #322 3 Simple Steps to Price Your Cre...
No matter how long you’ve been self employed, it never hurts to get a little refresher on pricing. So today’s podcast is the audio version of a webinar I gave earlier...
Watch my CreativeLive course free Monday (7/18)...
Ilise Benun presenting “Command the Fees You Deserve” If you’ve been meaning to watch my CreativeLive course, “Command the Fees You Deserve,” set aside some time Monday & Tuesday when...
Red flags? Just say no.
If you don’t want the project, say: I’m not the best fit for this project. If the project isn’t your cup of tea but might be someone else’s, say: I’m...
Are you betraying the artist within?
Enjoy this excerpt from a recent interview I did for JC Candanedo's new series, "I Wish I Had Known," on the Grey Pistachio Blog. Most creatives are very good at their craft...
The Key to Winning Your Dream Clients
I can never say it enough: The key to growing a business and getting your dream clients to come to you when they have a need is building strong, trusting...
The Best Marketing Tool? A “Free Chat”
One of the best things I’ve borrowed from Ilise’s marketing strategy is the “free chat” or consultation. A free consultation is a great way to gather info about possible projects...
Podcast Week: #1 Silencing The Inner Critic wit...
This week on the blog, I’ll be featuring all podcast interviews — some me interviewing others, some others interviewing me — perfect for any vacation or long-weekend listening you might...
[New] 3 Simple Strategies for Content Marketing...
Most creative professionals I talk to have no problem with the idea that they need to promote themselves. The big obstacle is figuring out what their content should be -- that stops...
[Podcast] #321 Gigi Rosenberg on Making a Livin...
If you struggle with the choice between trying to make a living from your art or just making a living so you can do your art, this episode is for you. ...
It took 5 years & 59 un-newsletters to land thi...
In case you didn’t believe me when I said my un-newsletter saved the day, I have further proof that newsletters are freaking wonderful. A client I worked with more than...
I’m sick of back-and-forth emails
Does this sound familiar? Them: When can you talk? You: I’m free at 2 PM tomorrow and 3 PM Thursday. 2 days later: Them: Let’s do 3 PM Thursday....
Are you being strategic with your email newslet...
Don't know what to put in your email marketing newsletter? That may be because you're not thinking about it strategically enough. Yes, of course, you can use it to show...
[Video] How to Get Better Clients -- 4 Qualitie...
This is the big idea – my message – from the Get Better Clients Bootcamp, held in Chicago as part of the 2017 HOW Design Live: You must make space...
How to "get more work" out of a client
How can I "get more work" out of a client? I cringe when I hear this question from a client. Why? Because that's exactly the wrong question to be asking. Yes, I...
[Podcast] #320 Bryn Mooth on Self Confidence & ...
You are in for a treat because today today’s podcast is an interview with one of my favorite people, Bryn Mooth, former Editor of HOW Magazine and now a thriving...
Messages to Designers of the Future
For the first time, I'm still in Savannah for the Savannah College of Art & Design graduation and the Graphic Design Department's "Secession" awards ceremony last week. I was thrilled...
Two More Fave Speakers from #HOWLive 2017
Last week I posted tweets and pics from 2 of my favorite speakers at HOW Design Live 2017. This week I'm posting two short excerpts from Maureen Adamo's beautifully written and...
How to Get Better Referrals QTMM 5/25/17
Does your mom understand what you do? If not, you’re not alone. I hear from a lot of designers and writers that their mom (or other relatives) don’t really get...
[Podcast] Experienced Newbie #4 - Entering the ...
Episode #319 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast: another "experienced newbie" tries something new "on the side" and on the 1 year anniversary of Maryland-based, Brand Joint, has a lot to show...
Two Fave Speakers from #HOWLive 2017
I'm almost back to normal following this year's amazing HOW Design Live in Chicago. It was 5 days of non stop networking and learning -- my 2 favorite things to...
[Video] Mike Rohde for HOW Design Live@SCAD, Se...
On April 28, I welcomed Mike Rohde, veteran print designer and the author of two bestselling books, The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, for this year's 3rd HOW Design Live @...
How A Niche Evolves (hint: slowly)
If there's one thing I know from personal experience, it's that having a niche (a.k.a. target market, specialty or focus) is one of the surest ways to justify higher fees,...
[Podcast] Experienced Newbie #3 – Building Your...
On Episode #318 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, I spoke again with Lisa Mullis of Paraphrase Communications, who is on her journey of mid-career reinvention. In this conversation, she shares details...
#HOWLive 2017 in a picture
HOW Design Live was amazing this year. This about sums it up! Next year we'll be in Boston, April 30 -- May 4, 2018. Save the date!
Last Day for Early Bird Pricing: Summit on Cont...
Monday, May 8 is the last day to get early bird pricing for the Summit on Content Marketing, which will be held May 22 -- June 2, 2017. Wait? What...
Clients: What to do once they say yes.
I’m interested in working with you. Oh boy. I remember when I was new to freelance, this statement would make me feel excited and terrified. I was excited to...
Tweets from Get Better Clients Bootcamp at #HOW...
"We live in a 140 character culture." Debbie Millman kicked off the Get Better Clients Bootcamp yesterday with that statement in her session about "Cultivating the Right Mindset" to "win"...
My newsletter saved the day
Is doing a newsletter really worth it? This is question I get a lot. The answer is undeniably, unequivocally YES. Here is yet another reason. You might recall a few...
6 Tips to Build (or Reboot) Your Email List
This is the next in our still relatively new series called Experienced Newbies, by and about creative professionals who are making mid-career transitions and building a new career on the foundation of their past...
[Podcast] On Making It Easier to Toot Your Own ...
On Episode #317 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, author and marketing professor, Michael Solomon, shares his tips about how to make it easier to toot your own horn by being objective...
3 Reasons You Don't Have a Contract
In my recent podcast interview with Caitlin Pearce of Freelancers Union, we outlined 3 of the reasons why creative freelancers don't use a contract when engaging a client. You don't have...
How to Get On James Sommerville's Watch List
Last month, we held the 2nd HOW Design Live @ SCAD (Season 2) interview with HOW Design Live 2017 speaker, James Sommerville, who started as a pavement artist in the U.K.,...
[Podcast] New Standard Contract for Freelancers...
On Episode #316 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast, Ilise Benun chats with Caitlin Pearce of Freelancers Union (join for free if you aren’t already a member) about the new, free...
My project was dragging on forever…
One of my projects was dragging on. The client was agonizing over her direction. Time kept passing. Phone calls would get rescheduled. Her edits were swaying drastically from the original...
Ready to Learn All About Content Marketing?
If you've been hearing about content marketing for a while now and trying to fit it into your marketing process, then it's time to focus on it and learn from...
101 Online Courses + 76 Best Business Books + 7...
I do love a round up of resources and some of my favorite experts have posted round ups lately. So here's a little round up of their round ups: 7...
Watch Live This Thursday at 6 PM: Pum Lefebure ...
This Thursday, I am honored to be interviewing Design Army co-founder and chief creative officer, Pum Lefebure, live in Savannah at the SCAD Museum of Art for Episode 2, Season...