The Marketing Mentor Podcast

Ilise Benun talks with Kevin Rogers, founder of Copy Chief, (the community and the live event this Oct 23-25) about 2 sides of the "bat-signal" coin: what he calls "bat-signal talent" and she calls "bat-signal content." If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Ilise Benun talks with Greg Corey, founder of Porchlight, about how started as a freelancer and found the simplest niche to grow into a boutique branding and packaging agency. It's the one where you don't have to prove yourself and you aren't starting from scratch. If you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Today's podcast is highlights from a recent webinar Ilise Benun gave for the Graphic Artists Guild on how to identify your value to your dream clients so you get paid what you're worth and can negotiate the best deals for yourself as a creative professional. Find the entire webinar here. And If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Ilise Benun and Robert McGuire of Nation1099.com dig into some of the findings from the Career Freelancer Status Report, including the idea that freelancers seem to reach an income plateau after 5 years and the effectiveness of freelance marketplaces for finding quality clients. Also, sign up for our (free) Q&A Livestream on Negotiating Strategies on Sept. 6. If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Today's bonus episode is a conversation between 2 unemployables: Ilise Benun talks with Emily Leach, Founder of The Freelance Conference, a free conference for freelancers, Sept. 10-14, 2018 in Austin and Corpus Christie Texas. Details at FreelanceConference.com. If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you crave less hype and more candor, this episode is for you. Ilise Benun talks with Dave Salanitro, a designer who had it all and lost it, about what happened, what he could have done differently and what he's learned in the process. If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In this episode, Ilise Benun learns about REACH, a new idea for a business model that provides design services to non profits on a budget and recurring revenue for GDLOFT, a small design firm in Philadelphia. If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you've ever bartered your services, you know it can be tricky. There's an art to it, from deciding whether to do it, to making sure everything is fair and everyone feels valued. In this episode, time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern, and I talk about a recent barter opportunity he pursued and how he made it a win/win for both parties. If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

It's a podcast about podcasting! If you've been thinking about starting a podcast to promote your creative business, you'll learn a lot from my conversation with John Hartwell of Hartwell Studio Works, whose content marketing strategy includes the HSW Sports Branding Podcast. In our interview, he generously shares his strategy, plus nitty gritty details on how he got started with the podcast. If you like what you hear, write a review for both of them, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for my Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you've been dreaming about getting rid of your annoying clients and turning your service business into a product business, this episode is for you. My guest is designer/developer, Justin Putney, who has developed a product called In5, that is an add on to Adobe's InDesign. In our interview, he generously shares tips on what you need to get started if you want to launch your own digital product. And if you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

This episode is the audio from a recent webinar with 2X TEDx speaker, Terri Trespicio, on "How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Reach & Influence (and get clients!)," in advance of her brand new 2-day workshop, Tapped to Speak, in NY June 7-8, 2018. Details at http://bit.ly/mmentortix. You can find the slides here and watch the video here And if you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the latest episode, I spoke with That Speaker Guy Corey Poirier, about the business of speaking, whether it's part of your content marketing strategy or the way you plan to make your living. We covered everything from inspirational vs. how-to content, webinars, online summits and speakers bureaus. If you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the latest episode, Chris Leone of Web Strategies, Inc. generously shares in detail the "highly accountable, highly trackable system" that drives his agency's marketing. He shares not only the guts of their process (which tools they use and which are most effective), but also why they do it the way they do. It's another excellent example of marketers practicing what they preach, essential if you are going to be credible to your clients and prospects. If you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the latest episode, I chatted with Carl Smith, former co-founder of nGen Works about the various business models his agency tried, including the 4 person partnership that founded the digital agency. Smith currently runs Bureau of Digital, whose mission is to provide the support system agency owners never had. If you like what you hear, write a review, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the latest podcast episode, Ilise Benun continues the conversation with marketing professor, Michael Solomon, who literally wrote the book on consumer behavior. Today's topic is the most important currency being exchanged in today's economy (it's not money) and what designers and other creative pros can do about it. Hear more from Michael at the brand new HOW Marketing Live 2018 in Boston on April 30. Details at howdesignlive.com and more HOW Design Live podcasts here. And if you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

It's almost tax time so in this episode, time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern, and Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, talk big picture about how (and why) creative professionals struggle so with money management – and what you can do to improve things. (Disclaimer: no financial advice is offered, just the sharing of anecdotes and experience.) If you like what you hear, write a review and subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you haven't seen my recent talk, The Worst Negotiating Mistakes…and How to Avoid Them, on the Marketing Mentor YouTube channel, here's the audio. Also, as mentioned in the intro, learn more about the "Experienced Newbie Accountability Group" on the Marketing Mix Blog. And if you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you've been wondering whether you are suited to build a business that employs others, or whether you are better off "just you," this interview is for you. For the first podcast episode of 2018, Ilise Benun talks with time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern, of Build a Better Photograph, about what it takes -- and what it means -- to be an "entrepreneur" and how he decided how big to build his business. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the next installment of the Experienced Newbie series of interviews, Ilise Benun talks with Andy Brenits of Brenits Creative a designer who has gone back and forth between self employment and working in house in big name corporations. He's 2 years into his latest stint on his own, taking it seriously and the success has built his confidence. Listen to the strategy that worked for him. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Many creative professionals give away their strategic services because it's intangible and you don't know how to account for it when you price a project. Tiered pricing is a technique that will ensure you get paid for everything you do. In this week's podcast interview, time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern, shows us how he breaks down his process so we can see how much actually goes into a project. To learn how to use tiered pricing, check out Marketing Mentor's Tiered Pricing Kit: How to Earn More on Every Project, which you can find (probably on sale) in the Shop at Marketing-Mentor.com. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

If you hate pricing, you'll love this week's podcast, in which Ilise Benun talks with Ed Gandia about the nuts of bolts of how to do tiered pricing, a pricing strategy that solves most of the pricing problems so many creative professionals struggle with. This interview was also the impetus for the Tiered Pricing Kit: How to Earn More on Every Project, which you can find (probably on sale) in the Shop at Marketing-Mentor.com. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

This week's podcast is perfect for introverts and other people who hate "networking." Listen now especially if you have an event coming up that you're a little bit nervous about attending. You'll learn the language to use to start a conversation, get someone's business card and how to remember names, an essential and learnable skill. Also how to use the content you create as a networking tool. Download the PPT from this session (and more) at: GetTalk.at/networking. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor. And I hope to see you at HOW Design Live 2018 in Boston, April 30-May 3. Details here: http://howdesignlive.com/

In the 4th episode of Season 2 of the "Revolve Conference Speaker Podcast Series," Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Cheryl Smithem of Charleston PR, who will be speaking on The Essential PR Basics: Should I Send a Press Release? at The Revolve Conference, where design and creativity meet marketing and design. The big event will be held Oct. 26-27, 2017 in downtown Charleston SC. Details here: http://revolveconference.com and more Revolve speaker podcasts here.

In the third episode of Season 2 of the "Revolve Conference Speaker Podcast Series," Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Business Coach and Brand Strategist, Thomas Heath, whose topic is Increase Engagement with Storytelling Videos, at The Revolve Conference, where design and creativity meet marketing and design. The big event will be held Oct. 26-27, 2017 in downtown Charleston SC. Details here: http://revolveconference.com and more Revolve speaker podcasts here.

In this episode, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, talks with Katie Lane, lawyer, negotiation coach and blogger at Work Made For Hire, about how to overcome the particular challenges faced by creatives and by women when it comes to negotiating the best deal for yourself. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing

In the second episode of Season 2 of the "Revolve Conference Speaker Podcast Series," Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Dan Mall of Superfriend.ly, whose topic is "Should Designers…" at The Revolve Conference, where design and creativity meet marketing and design. The big event will be held Oct. 26-27, 2017 in downtown Charleston SC. Details here: http://revolveconference.com and more Revolve speaker podcasts here.

Here's the 3rd interview with "experienced newbie," Lisa Mullis, of Paraphrase Communications, in which we discuss the pros and cons of comparing yourself both to others and to yourself in your previous career. Plus an update on how she's doing now 7 months into her new venture. Read more from this series on the blog and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor

In the first episode of Season 2 of the "Revolve Conference Speaker Podcast Series," Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Katie Kern, VP of Media Frenzy Global who will be speaking on How PR is Being Reimagined at The Revolve Conference, where design and creativity meet marketing and design. The big event will be held Oct. 26-27, 2017 in downtown Charleston SC. Details here: http://revolveconference.com and more Revolve speaker podcasts here.

In interview #11 of the popular series of chats between Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com and time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern of BuildaBetterPhotograph.com, they define multitasking for self employed creative professionals, how to handle client demands (and their maddening lack of responsiveness) and why Michael walked away from a $60K project. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In this episode, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, talks with an old friend, Alan Seiden of The Seiden Group, about how he left an unsatisfying job to start his own consulting business. Now he manages big projects, charges big money and does marketing with a flare. He's even garnered a bit of celebrity status in his focused niche. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

In the second conversation with author and marketing professor, Michael Solomon, of michaelrsolomon.com, he explains to Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, how to use your price as an indicator of quality and attract the clients who value your services. And if you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Pricing your services accurately and talking about money with confidence are essential to success. In the audio version of this recent PaperSpecs webinar, Ilise Benun distills pricing into 3 simple steps. It's an excellent refresher for any self employed creative. And if you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews author and artist coach, Gigi Rosenberg about how to balance the desire to make art with the need to make a living and how to tell who's a competitor and who's a potential collaborator. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

It's already 6 years since Bryn Mooth left her cozy full-time job as Editor of HOW Magazine to strike out on her own as a freelance food and wellness writer. I caught up with her at HOW Design Live and had a chance to hear how she has used what she learned to build a 2nd career doing what she is passionate about. See more at Writes4food.com and brynmooth.com. And if you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

On the 1-year anniversary of her new branding firm for the brand new cannabis industry, Jenn Culpepper of Brand Joint, shares how they got their first client and which marketing tools are most effective as she grows her new business. If you like what you hear, subscribe on iTunes and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Here's the second interview with Lisa Mullis of the new firm, Paraphrase Communications, sharing details about how she is re-building her online presence and email list (almost) from scratch. Read more from this series on the blog and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor

In the next episode sponsored by Twenty20.com, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews author and marketing professor, Michael Solomon, of www.reachyourconsumers.com about how to be objective and authentic in your own self promotion. Plus, you can support our sponsor by starting your own 5-photo trial account now at Twenty20.com/mmpodcast

Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, chats with Caitlin Pearce of Freelancers Union (join for free if you aren't already a member) about the new, free and easy-to-use contract building tool they developed in partnership with And.co to help the self employed protect themselves from non-paying clients. (This episode is sponsored by Twenty20.com – get photos that don't suck by starting your own 5-photo trial account now at Twenty20.com/mmpodcast)

In the next in a series of episodes sponsored by Twenty20.com, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Wendy Merrill of AreYouGrowingSmart.com about how to overcome fear of self promotion. Plus Wendy shares the LinkedIn content marketing strategy that gets her a stream of new clients. Start your own 5-photo trial account now at Twenty20.com/mmpodcast

In this special podcast, Ilise Benun asks Jamie Saunders, Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Neenah Paper and Packaging, all the questions you wish you could ask your ideal client about promoting your work, including, "Is it BS when you say, "stay in touch" or "send me something?" (This conversation is excerpted from the "3 Steps to Your Ideal Clients" webinar and is just a taste of the Get Better Clients Bootcamp, taking place in Chicago on May 2, 2017. Details here.

In the first in a series of episodes sponsored by Twenty20.com, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Robert McGuire on how he overcame obstacles to subcontracting to build his content marketing agency using freelancers. Download his free "freelancer agreement" template. And start your own 5-photo trial account now at Twenty20.com/mmpodcast

When JC Candanedo of greypistachio.com heard Part 1 of this new series, he responded immediately and wanted to share his experience of changing careers in his 40's, competing with photographers half his age and developing confidence by bringing his experience from the first career to bear. Read more from this series on the blog and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Ilise Benun chats with Danny Iny, author of Teach and Grow Rich, & founder of mirasee.com (formerly Firepole Marketing) about how to grow a scalable business, who should (and shouldn't) spend time building an online course and which courses do well (and which don't). If you like what you hear, sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.

Ilise Benun starts a new series of conversations with communications professional, Lisa Mullis, as she goes through a mid-career makeover and navigates the challenges of building a new firm, Paraphrase Communications, on the foundation of her past experience and presenting it transparently. Watch the Marketing Mentor Blog for Lisa's companion posts too.

The Graphic Artists Guild needs the help of all creative professionals, creators and copyright holders. Make your voice heard by taking the survey to help keep copyright laws strong for you. Let the Library of Congress know that we need a Register who understands the value of copyright, recognizes the need for the Office to be modernized, and has the support of the creative community. Learn more: https://graphicartistsguild.org/news/we-need-your-voice-on-the-next-register-of-copyrights

Ilise Benun chats with Jeff Sauer of Jeffalytics, the brains behind the JumpStart Podcast and former agency owner-turned-consultant specializing in making sense of analytics data, about how creatives can set themselves apart and achieve better results for clients by positioning themselves as "data-driven" creatives. Check out his podcast too (and his interview with Ilise) at https://www.jeffalytics.com/ilise-benun-podcast/

Here's another excerpt from Ilise Benun's new marketing plan, The Marketing Blueprint: How to Connect the Dots of Your Marketing. It's called, How Not To Stalk Your Prospects and Still Get the Project: What to Say When Walking the Fine Line of Follow-up When You Really Want the Project. You'll learn exactly what to say when reaching out to get the attention of your carefully selected prospects, which may feel like stalking but isn't! Details about the 2017 Marketing Blueprint here: http://www.marketing-mentor.com/collections/marketing/products/2017-marketing-blueprint

If you're doing some marketing but still struggling with feast or famine because your ideal clients aren't knocking on your door, it could be that you're not connecting the dots of your marketing -- yet. That means you have the right mindset and use the right tools in a way that supports your positioning message and speaks to the right people -- loud and clear -- at the right time! In this special podcast, Ilise Benun reads aloud from her latest, The Marketing Blueprint, and shows you how to connect the dots and integrate your marketing to get better clients with bigger budgets. Find details about the 2017 Marketing Blueprint here: http://www.marketing-mentor.com/collections/marketing/products/2017-marketing-blueprint

In episode #9 of the popular series of meaty and chatty conversations between Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com and time lapse filmmaker, Michael e. Stern of BuildaBetterPhotograph.com, they both share strategies for how to intercept self defeating attitudes and behaviors so you can do the best possible job for your clients. If you like what you hear, sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor here.

In this conversation, Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com chats with one of her star students, web designer/developer for creative professionals, Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design, about how to end a client relationship that isn't working, without burning bridges. To find out how Jill focused and grew her business 17% with content marketing, read the case study here