Obsidian Launch | Get In Front of Your Prospects for Nothing But Some Effort

Get In Front of Your Prospects for Nothing But Some Effort

When it comes to attracting new clients, few care how big or small your business is. No one really cares how long you have been around or what degrees hang on your wall. What people do care about is this: Can you be trusted to deliver on your word? Will you provide a service that is excellent? Will you get the job done right, the first time? If you screw up, will you make it right? You’re in good shape if you can deliver on all these concerns, but you can still kiss your business opportunities good bye if your prospect can’t find you. In this day and age, you need to be out there. You need to be where the prospects are looking. You need to compete with vendors from all over the globe that are anxiously waiting to steal your next client. To win the business, you must advertise like never before, but not in the traditional ways.

Let’s get to spreading the word, without spending a dime:

Do It For Free – Nothing attracts clients like clients. If you are just starting out, try giving away a sample of your service. Give away enough so that these non-paying clients get a real understanding of what you do and what you are capable of. If you service them well, they will start spreading the word.
Blog It & Log It – Blogging isn’t optional any more, it’s mandatory. Write and maintain a blog that speaks only to your expertise. Once your blog is online, it is time to log it in the appropriate places. Post it in Digg, Technorati and Blog Engage to get started. Make sure your blogs regularly contain the key words that define the market you are servicing. The alternative is paper per clicks, which will run you in the thousands.
Get In The Papers – If you want great exposure you need to get your name in the newspapers and industry rags. Getting in the papers is not a wait and see process. You need to be proactive, and this is how you do it. First have an interesting story. The plain facts just don’t cut it. Think about how your company’s service, your personal background and the current state of affairs make a good story. Then pick up the phone and call the journalists. Don’t email them the story… that rarely works. Pick up the phone, pitch your angle and let them write the story. That’s what they do best.
Be A Movie Star – Well maybe not a movie star, but get in front of the camera and start recording. Hey, if a fat kid with a light saber can get millions of views, you can do the same. Get in front of the camera and talk about your field of expertise. Be interesting and be entertaining. One company that is kicking butt right now using this technique is Blend Tec. Check out the Does it Blend? videos.
Hire An Intern? – I recognize that time equals money. As you spend more and more time promoting your ideas and your business, you may be losing out on money generating opportunities. Bring an intern on board and have them help out. Some college students are willing to work part-time during college breaks or the summer in exchange for school credit. This is a great way for you to get some temporary talent on the cheap and for the intern to get valuable exposure to the business world. It may be a match made in heaven.

I don’t care if you are “just” offering plumbing services in a small town, there are competitors out there gunning for you. If you don’t actively take the steps to get in front of the prospects, you are going to get slammed. It is just a matter of time.

Take action now to be the first to get in front of the prospects and maintain your position of being first. And don’t forget, if your time is limited (and it is for all of us), consider finding an intern. Who knows, they might even teach you a new trick or two.

Posted by Mike Michalowicz of Obsidian Launch

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