| You may be in business for yourself or as a small | | | | at the conference was the senior editor of Fast |
| company, but no matter what, especially if you just | | | | Company. Then with some perseverance and some |
| started this business, you need publicity! It's great | | | | skills from a marketing company that I also "hired", |
| that your spouse or best friend believes in you. You | | | | eventually the article was printed.Not everyone has a |
| may even have total strangers tell you what a great | | | | huge "public relations" account to pull from, so you |
| idea you have. Some may tell you they wish they | | | | must get creative. This can't be that hard for you, |
| had thought of it themselves or had the guts to try | | | | after all you created your job didn't you? It's time |
| it. You know you can do your job well, you know | | | | you put your skills to work in marketing. Join new |
| you could make money at this. But as hard as you | | | | clubs and organizations. Volunteer for something |
| work, you have little income to show for it. So how | | | | totally unrelated to your field of work. Go to church |
| do you get the word out? And at what price?First, | | | | socials, neighborhood meetings, your kid's school |
| no matter what career you have chosen, be | | | | functions. Send news releases, articles, coupons, to |
| professional. Most likely you have educated yourself | | | | companies and media via email or fax. Put yourself in |
| in this field, put in long "precious" hours and invested | | | | as many "free" website listings as possible. Create |
| funds that you really can't afford to lose. You | | | | your own free or low cost website. Give discounts |
| deserve respect from other professionals, but you | | | | to current clients that bring you more work |
| must work at maintaining your credibility. Therefore, | | | | (incentive!). Use endorsements from happy |
| as a dedicated worker, you should direct your energy | | | | customers. Donate some form of your work to a |
| to always looking, acting and proving the part. You | | | | charity fundraiser (Professional Organizers may offer |
| represent all persons that have the same job as | | | | a "free" office organizing). Get business cards, |
| you.Secondly, (this correlates directly to what I just | | | | magnets, even your answering machine that all say |
| said) any form of publicity that you as an individual | | | | your name, business, phone, and website - create a |
| may receive, will impact all people in your profession. | | | | catchy logo or motto.The key is not to be shy. |
| If you can show that you can help someone better | | | | Believing in yourself and what you do, is all it takes. |
| their life, whether through a product or service, | | | | Promote yourself by doing a great job. That will bring |
| people will look for that product and service again. If | | | | in business for you directly and enhance your |
| people in your line of work get a bad reputation, how | | | | particular career's reputation as a whole. Remember, |
| do you think it will affect you even though you have | | | | you are a professional, it's time you show it off. You |
| a good one? On the other hand, you may find that | | | | can spend as much or as little cash as you want on |
| people are drawn to you simply because they | | | | publicity. Obviously the big bucks can get you a big |
| "heard" good things about the field you are in.Great - | | | | campaign, but if it costs your entire profit, what have |
| that seems simple enough. But exactly how do we | | | | you gained? And I have no doubt that time, although |
| market ourselves - and more importantly what's it | | | | it is "free", has a price for you. You must decide if |
| going to cost? Some publicity will cost money; almost | | | | something that has potential to bring in business is |
| all will require time and effort. How much you want | | | | really worth your time and effort. Often, the things |
| to put forth is totally up to you. Last summer I had | | | | we do or people we meet that we least imagine |
| an article in Fast Company Magazine. That article not | | | | would benefit our business, do. Keep an open mind |
| only shed light on my particular career (Professional | | | | and a positive attitude. That's the answer to the |
| Organizers) but it generated an appearance on | | | | question.© Barbara Hemphill is the author of |
| CNN-FN Market Call on a segment titled "Maverick of | | | | Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and |
| the Morning". Getting publicity in the media whether it | | | | Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of |
| is print, radio or TV can be quite expensive. Many | | | | Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The |
| assumed this was "free" publicity, and although they | | | | mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help |
| are correct in the fact that I never paid for the | | | | individuals and organizations create and sustain a |
| article or the television special directly, it did cost me. | | | | productive environment so they can accomplish their |
| I took the time to attend a conference in San | | | | work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing |
| Francisco, which was over two years ago now, at | | | | space, information, and time. |
| the cost of $2000. The networking contact I made | | | | |