In the beginning ...
Well, I've finally jumped on the blog wagon. This little corner of the web is about marketing and promoting independent professionals and small businesses. I'll be sharing some thoughts, ideas and resources about getting the word out and getting the phone ringing.
There's some background on me in the sidebar at right. But, suffice to say, I've been doing this stuff since around two days before dirt was invented. During that journey, I've had a chance to work on both the client side and the service provider side as a marketing manager for a large publication, an in-house art director for a cosmetics company and the Director of Production & Promotion for another publication. And then there's the design and marketing consulting I do under the moniker of Tortorella Design.
If you're like a lot of smaller enterprises or one-person shops, you're pretty good at what you do. If you weren't, you wouldn't be eating too often or paying for a roof over your head. But, although you're good at your core services, you're probably not so hot when it comes to marketing and promoting yourself and your business.
Ever try going to sleep when you're wondering where your next project is coming from? It's not an easy way to take off to the Land of Nod and you end up spending way too much on antacids. That dough is better spent planning your marketing efforts and then working your plan.
Lots of business owners think marketing is all about touting themselves and their wares. "Hey! Look at me!" It's not. Marketing is all about your clients or customers. It's about helping them to achieve their goals. It's about helping them look good. You know they need your services. Marketing is about guiding them, educating them about your service offerings and how they're just right to fix your prospects woes.
There are loads of great sites out there to help you along your merry marketing way. Here's a few of my favorites:
Ilise Benun's Marketing Mentor
The Art of Self Promotion
Ilise has lots of great resources for marketers. Her e-newsletter is also excellent. Marketing Mentor is a marketing coaching program through which she helps folks meet their marketing goals.
MarketingSherpa
MarketingSherpa features articles and info about B2B, B2C, PR and a few other acronyms. Definitely one to bookmark. Plus they have several e-newsletters that cover a variety of marketing topics.
Bob Bly
Bob is a well-known copywriter with a focus on direct response and high tech. He's published several books and his site is jam packed with great articles about writing, blogging, marketing, advertising, and the list goes on.
Get Clients Now
CJ Hayden's site is a great starting point for those needing some marketing muscle. Her Resources section features an e-newsletter and several marketing-oriented articles.
Well, that's my start to this blog thing. I'll be adding more links as the days go on. Please post your comments about your marketing woes or wins, what topics you'd like me cover and such. I'll roll up my sleeves and get to blogging.
There's some background on me in the sidebar at right. But, suffice to say, I've been doing this stuff since around two days before dirt was invented. During that journey, I've had a chance to work on both the client side and the service provider side as a marketing manager for a large publication, an in-house art director for a cosmetics company and the Director of Production & Promotion for another publication. And then there's the design and marketing consulting I do under the moniker of Tortorella Design.
If you're like a lot of smaller enterprises or one-person shops, you're pretty good at what you do. If you weren't, you wouldn't be eating too often or paying for a roof over your head. But, although you're good at your core services, you're probably not so hot when it comes to marketing and promoting yourself and your business.
Ever try going to sleep when you're wondering where your next project is coming from? It's not an easy way to take off to the Land of Nod and you end up spending way too much on antacids. That dough is better spent planning your marketing efforts and then working your plan.
Lots of business owners think marketing is all about touting themselves and their wares. "Hey! Look at me!" It's not. Marketing is all about your clients or customers. It's about helping them to achieve their goals. It's about helping them look good. You know they need your services. Marketing is about guiding them, educating them about your service offerings and how they're just right to fix your prospects woes.
There are loads of great sites out there to help you along your merry marketing way. Here's a few of my favorites:
Ilise Benun's Marketing Mentor
The Art of Self Promotion
Ilise has lots of great resources for marketers. Her e-newsletter is also excellent. Marketing Mentor is a marketing coaching program through which she helps folks meet their marketing goals.
MarketingSherpa
MarketingSherpa features articles and info about B2B, B2C, PR and a few other acronyms. Definitely one to bookmark. Plus they have several e-newsletters that cover a variety of marketing topics.
Bob Bly
Bob is a well-known copywriter with a focus on direct response and high tech. He's published several books and his site is jam packed with great articles about writing, blogging, marketing, advertising, and the list goes on.
Get Clients Now
CJ Hayden's site is a great starting point for those needing some marketing muscle. Her Resources section features an e-newsletter and several marketing-oriented articles.
Well, that's my start to this blog thing. I'll be adding more links as the days go on. Please post your comments about your marketing woes or wins, what topics you'd like me cover and such. I'll roll up my sleeves and get to blogging.
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