Misstep Number One – Not doing anything

This typically is due to a few factors. First, a lot of designers think, “If I do great work, the phone will start ringing off the wall.” Sorry, odds are it won’t. You might produce a killer piece that your client is ga ga over. You expect them to tell the world about you. The usual truth is that they may be happy, but life happens when the project ends, they get busy and forget about you until they need your services again. That is, unless the designer down the street is a better marketer.

Another reason is thinking it’s just too expensive. Sure, it can be, but savvy guerrilla marketers invest time and intelligence, rather than money, with excellent results.

One big trap is doing a lot of planning, but never implementing. This is simply a type of cloaked avoidance. People feel like they’re doing something, but in reality, they do nothing, often because of a fear of failure.

Finally, one of the biggest reasons is simply not knowing where to start. It seems overwhelming. Well, that’s why you’re here. Over the next several posts and beyond, Team BoDo will show you where and how to start … and then how to keep the momentum going to grow your practice.

Until the next
Marketing Minute
all the best,
nt

Over the next 10 posts (on Tuesdays and Thursdays), here in Marketing 101 on BoDo, I’ll be addressing 10 common mess ups graphic designers make when trying to build their practice. Simply put, don’t do these. Leave that for the other guy or gal.

• Misstep Number One – Not doing anything
• Misstep Number Two – Not having a plan
• Misstep Number Three – Not focusing on a niche or specialty
• Misstep Number Four – Not understanding your audience
• Misstep Number Five – Placing all your hopes and dreams in one activity
• Misstep Number Six – Nervous rabbit syndrome
• Misstep Number Seven – Not having a referral system in place
• Misstep Number Eight – Not marketing to current clients
• Misstep Number Nine – Not leveraging the power of your business and personal network
• Misstep Number Ten – Forgetting that even though you’re a Graphic Designer, you’re really in the business of marketing … for both your practice and your clients.
• Winding down the 10 Top Marketing Missteps Series

Until the next
Marketing Minute
all the best,
nt