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Marketing Your Consulting Services.pdf - epiheirimatikotita.gr

Marketing Your Consulting Services.pdf - epiheirimatikotita.gr

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Send Con<strong>gr</strong>atulations Watch the newspapers and keep your ears open for opportunities<br />

to con<strong>gr</strong>atulate your clients and colleagues. Many newspapers have a<br />

daily or weekly column featuring people who received promotions or other recognition.<br />

Cut out the article and place it in a card with a con<strong>gr</strong>atulations note from<br />

you. I usually do not write on the article in case the person needs one more copy<br />

to send to Aunt June. We also have a supply of chocolate stars and glass stars that<br />

accompany a “You’re a real star!” message.<br />

Considerations:<br />

• Create your own ideas for con<strong>gr</strong>atulations.<br />

• Never, never pass up an opportunity to con<strong>gr</strong>atulate someone; often it’s more<br />

important than remembering a birthday.<br />

• Tuck some star-shaped glitter in a con<strong>gr</strong>atulations card to create a mini celebration.<br />

• Try something other than stars, such as miniature champagne bottles filled with<br />

bubbles or a party horn with a message like “You should toot your horn!”<br />

Send or Give Gifts Gifts are always fun for everyone to receive. Stay alert for ideas.<br />

I tend to shop all year long for everyone. If I find something for someone, I buy it<br />

on the spot. This saves time (since I’m right there) and I rarely need to scramble<br />

at the last minute.<br />

Considerations:<br />

• Be sure to include money in your advertising budget for gifts.<br />

• Choose carefully for whom and for what occasion you will present gifts.<br />

• Toy stores are <strong>gr</strong>eat places to search for adult gifts.<br />

Accept Pro Bono Work Providing work for clients who cannot afford your services<br />

is a way to give back to society and also market your services. We should all do<br />

these things because they are good for us and the world, but if one of your reasons<br />

is to enhance your marketing, choose your projects well. They should be noncontroversial<br />

to the clients you are trying to attract. I’ve done pro bono work for<br />

the Women Marine Association, American Society for Training and Development,<br />

a small college in Virginia, and a battered women’s shelter. In each case I received<br />

one referral as well as that warm feeling of having done something good.<br />

Tools of the Trade: What Works; What Doesn’t? 81

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