I wouldn’t call that selling (perhaps stalking), but it is engaging with them to see if we might be a fit for their organization and vice versa. Helping – Wherever I could, I assisted people with no expectation of getting paid. I promoted them, curated content and shared it, provided feedback, and gave everything away for free. You have to remember that while I may touch 100,000 unique visitors, listeners, viewers, lurkers, followers, fans, etc. a month… only 30 or so are actual paying customers. That means you have to build a reputation, have some case studies and drive results to some in order to get work. We’ve build a reputation around inbound marketing, measurable strategies, complex SEO for large publishers, and content authority… but some of it started just by helping people fix something dumb on their website.
Asking – Telling everyone what you’re good at doesn’t really work to well when you’re selling. But asking everyone where they need help is a far better approach. Literally, a few minutes ago I reached out to a company that we’ve assisted whose organic traffic is 10 times what it was 4 years Fax Lists ago and asked to meet with them to see where else we could be of assistance. Asking works. Hearing what the prospect or client is struggling with and then seeing if you can work on some solutions for them is the perfect way to get in with a company. Start out small, prove yourself, and then you engage deeper and deeper. Self Promotion – It’s icky… but necessary. If you get congratulated, shared, followed, mentioned, or anything else who you don’t know – that’s a great validation of your expertise. I’m totally unrepentant about promoting what others say about me. I don’t actively solicit everyone to do it, but if the opportunity arises and someone pays me a compliment, I may ask them to put it online.
Look Professional – A proper domain, email address at your domain (not @gmail), office address, professional photography, a modern logo, a beautiful website, distinct business cards… all of these aren’t just business expenses. They’re all marketing expenses and signs of trustworthiness. If I see a gmail address, I’m not sure you’re serious. If I don’t see an address and phone number, I have no idea whether you’re going to be in business next week. Getting hired is about trust and every expense that is externally viewed is an element of trust. Write a Book – Even if the only sales you get are you and your you’re in, you’ve thoroughly analyzed it and have built your own distinctive strategy to working in it. Before I was an author, I couldn’t get the time of day from some conferences or clients. After I was an author, people were offering to pay me to come speak with them. It seems silly, but it’s another element that you’re serious about your industry. Start Your Business – There’s never enough money and no better time to start a business than right now.