The Marketing Mentor Podcast

Here's the 5th Audio Article written by Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com and read aloud by the author, "5 Steps to Finding the Right Clients." Listen to learn the secret to closing a deal with new clients by ushering them through a step-by-step qualifying process that weeds out the tire-kickers. Follow this tried-and-true formula to find the clients you really want to work with.

In today's podcast, The Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, chats with Heather Lloyd-Martin, SEO Writing expert and teacher of SEO copywriting, about what designers and writers really need to know about SEO plus the art of writing pages that both convert well and connect with web site visitors. Find more on the blog: http://marketing-mentor.com/blog and at seocopywriting.com

Here's the 4th Audio Article written by Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com and read aloud by the author, Closing the Deal: From Proposal to Contract. Listen to learn when to talk money, how to present your proposal, when to follow up and what to do if you don't get the gig. Find actual sample proposals in the Marketing Mentor Toolbox.

Here's the third in a new series of "audio articles" written by Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com and read aloud by the author. There is more and more video being used by creatives to market their services, which makes sense. Because when it comes to showcasing your talent, seeing is often believing – and stills don't always do the trick. Bring a little movie magic to your self-promotion strategy with these tips. Read the article and see the videos referenced here: http://www.howdesign.com/articles/film-school-create-self-promo-videos/"

Battling big egos and unfair deadlines? You're not alone. For small agencies and solopreneurs especially, one bad client can mean big problems, draining your resources and even harming your carefully built culture. In this podcast, Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, helps you spot the 4 red flags you should be watching for, plus 3 actions you can take for each. Watch the video presentation given at the Ad Age Small Agency Conference here.

Here's the second in a new series of "audio articles" written by the Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun and read aloud by the author. "Content marketing" is the latest buzzword, but should you be doing it? The answer is yes, but only if you do it right. Follow this guide to create a content-marketing plan that will lead to more exposure and better projects for your firm or freelance business.

Here's the first in a new series of "audio articles" written by the Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun and read aloud by the author. The Art & Science of Pricing covers the basics of pricing for creative services, including the tools you need to price profitably (instead of desperately) as well as the intangibles that make up the "artistry" anyone can master. For more like this, check out The Pricing Bundle in the Marketing Mentor Toolbox.

The answer, according to Jake Jorgovan, web designer and intrepid freelancer, is an unqualified YES! In this interview with Ilise Benun, he shares how he kick started his business using oDesk + what and who online marketplaces are best for. For more like this, check out www.Jake-Jorgovan.com

In this post-HOW Design Live/Creative Freelancer Business Conference podcast interview, Laura Foley (@LMFDesign & lauramfoley.com) generously shares so much, including what she learned from Jason Blumer about pricing her services and how she immediately used the 3-tier pricing structure to win a new project -- at the highest price.

In Part 2 of their conversation, Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame of Small Business Advocate, to discuss one of the most popular sessions from CFBC with Doug Dolan, A Field Guide to Bad Clients.

In Part 1 of their conversation, Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame of Small Business Advocate, to discuss one of the most popular sessions from CFBC with Doug Dolan, A Field Guide to Bad Clients.

Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, talks with Corwin Hiebert about how to create a Business Action Plan, which is much simpler (and can be better for creative professionals) than a traditional business plan. Listen to this taste of his session at the 2014 CFBC/HOW Live, Creating a Business Action Plan. Details and sign up for the event in May in Boston here: http://bit.ly/1eNEI0v

Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, chats with Doug Dolan, communications strategist, writer and creative director about a cast of bad clients from the coin counter and the buck passer to the web searcher and the game changer, in preparation for his CFBC/HOW Live session, Solving Your Biggest Creative Problem: The Client. Details and sign up for the event this May in Boston here: http://bit.ly/1eNEI0v

Started by Jen Lombardi, Kiwi Creative (a small design firm outside Cleveland, Ohio) is now a firm of 6 people - and this growth was intentional. This is what Jen discusses with Ilise Benun of Marketing Mentor, in this episode of the HOWLive/CFBC 2014 Speaker podcast series. Details and sign up for the event this May in Boston here: http://bit.ly/1eNEI0v

In this week’s podcast interview, Marketing Mentor Ilise Benun chats with Alina Wheeler, author of “Designing Brand Identity” on the latest survival strategy for the soul: Reinvention. At this year’s CFBC/HOW Design Live (2014), Alina will be sharing the process she’s used to reinvent herself, as well as lots of examples of people to use as role models for reinvention."

If you want to survive as a creative professional, you need to be one who understands business, especially the things in business that trump aesthetics. But how? That’s what Ilise Benun of Marketing Mentor discusses with Douglas Davis, in this week’s installment of the HOWLive/CFBC 2014 Speaker podcast series. Details and sign up for the event this May in Boston here: http://bit.ly/1eNEI0v

In the next installment of the HOWLive/CFBC 2014 Speaker podcast series, Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com chats with Jason Blumer of BlumerCPAs.com about the highly subjective art of pricing (especially value-based pricing) for creative services, plus many other topics he’ll be covering in his CFBC session this May in Boston. Details here: http://bit.ly/1eNEI0v"

In this week’s podcast interview, Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, chats with Ed Gandia, of the International Freelancers Academy, about time-sucking clients and the things we procrastinate (i.e. tasks we hate, don’t do well and shouldn’t be doing in the first place). Details for his popular “Effortless Productivity” program (which starts Feb. 27, 2014) here: http://bit.ly/145e6UR

We all know that preparation is important -- but most people don't take the time to do enough of it. And the consequences often sting, especially when you're working with corporations whose culture often involves (and demands) lots of preparation. In this podcast, Dana Maciagli (in preparation for her HOWLive/CFBC 2014 session, Behind the Corporate Curtain!) shares with Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun the importance of preparation, lots of specifics on exactly how she prepares, and how this preparedness has fueled her success, both in the corporate world and now, as a freelancer!

In this podcast, Marketing Mentor client, Tiffany Estes, of Whole Brain Creative, describes to Ilise Benun, her step by step process to choose and approach a select few of her existing clients about a retainer arrangement for more stability in her business and less anxiety in her life.

In this first podcast of 2014, Marketing Mentor, Illse Benun, interviews her client, marketing consultant and creative director, Jim Gorman of Gorman360. Their wide-ranging conversation covers everything from Jim's uber-confident and clear, 3-storey elevator pitch to an in-depth discussion of 3 of his winning proposals, with which he won 4 retainer clients in his target market: the aviation industry. (And you can see one of the proposals discussed in the new Designer's Proposal Bundle Volume 2).

Do you know how to set and achieve goals? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to joins Jim Blasingame to recommend goal setting best practices, including using small steps, as you begin the New Year.

Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame of Small Business Advocate to explain that networking is the most important part of marketing, plus the kind of people you need in your network.

Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame of Small Business Advocate to discuss getting your customers to take an active role in your business, plus why peer, colleagues, mentors & even competitors should be part of your network.

In this interview with Marc Harmon from Creative Grit Media, learn how to market your business using an organized, step-by-step process -- like the one in the new, 2014 Marketing Plan + eCalendar.

Are your attempts to communicate with customers successful? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to recommend practicing self-analysis before and after talking with customers to evaluate your performance and success.

Are all of your conversations with customers successful? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to discuss common communication challenges we all have when trying to influence and serve customers.

Ilise Benun talks with creative freelancer, Nick Matarese of Delaware-based, The Creative Barn, about how he went from not knowing where his next project was coming from to signing a 2-year contract with a dream client in just 5 months (actually less). In this very candid and informative interview, he shares (among many other things) why he says "we" when his business is really just him and exactly what he did to identify his target market and pursue (and secure) the dream clients he wanted to work with. It's all about the attitude and he's got the right attitude!

Ilise Benun talks with Ed Gandia of the International Freelancers Academy on pricing for creative professionals. Ed shares his strategy for demonstrating value to support your prices and tells exactly how he raised his rates to an existing client, always a tricky thing to do.

Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how online and offline networking can support one another.

In today’s podcast, Sarah Durham of BigDuckNYC.com (a favorite speaker on pricing at CFC 2012) talks with me about how she integrates her own unbillable time into her pricing.

Copywriter, Sonia Quinones, first time attendee of the Creative Freelancer Conference (and HOW Design Live), is one more creative professional who, only one month after the event, had already landed a project as a result of the networking she did at the Matchmaking Happy Hour with InHOWse Design Managers. The event essentially paid for itself since the project fee more than covers her conference costs, not to mention the potential for more work with this new client in the future. Listen to her describe how it happened and how she discovered her best keywords through this experience too. It's not too early to sign up for next year's event in Boston, May 12-16. Details here: www.howdesignlive.com

In today’s podcast, Deidre Rienzo interviews Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, about how she organizes her day. From Post-It Notes, to dog walks, to getting up early, find out how Ilise balances flexibility with structure to stay productive.

Ed Gandia interviews Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, for his B2B Launcher podcast about her newest networking tricks, including how to choose the right event to attend, how to prepare to make the best of your time, plus a few secrets for standing out, getting noticed and increasing your chances of starting a dialogue that can continue after the event.

Join Ilise Benun and Mark O'Brien (CEO of Newfangled) as they offer a Crash Course in Positioning and Content Marketing for Design Firms.

Does your pricing strategy need a profitability boost? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to replace your hourly rate pricing strategy for professional services with a value-based strategy that focuses on the results of your work.

Ilise Benun talks to Jim Blasingame about the upcoming, 6th annual Creative Freelancer Conference (June 22-24 in San Francisco), and shares examples of the business practices attendees will learn.

In the latest podcast/interview in the Creative Freelancer Conference Speaker Series (the big event is right around the corner, June 22-24 in San Francisco), Ilise Benun speaks with Jezra Kaye, author of “Speak Like Yourself, No Really,” and together they dissect each word of her session title: “Promote and Present: How to Speak Persuasively to Current and Future Clients, In Person and Virtually” and in the process, answer 3 common questions about speaking in public. (Details about the event here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com)

In the latest podcast/interview in the CFC 2013 Speaker Series, Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com talks with writer and strategist, Alisa Bonsignore about how she went from newbie creative freelancer to speaking at the event this year. She also shares tips on the art of saying “no” (including the actual language) and how she’s developed the self confidence to know what she’s worth -- and charge more! Come to CFC June 22-24 in San Francisco to hear Alisa’s presentation, “Saving Your Sanity Through Better Client Relations.” www.creativefreelancerconference.com

Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, talks with Jim Krause (www.jimkrausedesign.com), 25-year veteran freelance designer and author of many books, including Color Index book and Idea Index books, about his CFC 2013 topic: “How to Stuff 10 lbs of you-know-what into a 5-day week, (week after week)” – essentially how to manage time and projects efficiently (without going crazy). Details here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

In preparation for the networking fest that is CFC 2013: The Business Conference for the Creatively Self Employed (www.creativefreelancerconference.com), networking expert, author and speaker Dana Manciagli shares with Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, 10 tips to network with a purpose to get what you need.

In this podcast interview with Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, Leila Zogby, independent writer of corporate marcom, in business for 30 years but struggling after the recession, gets unstuck by reinventing herself and changing how she thinks and talks about the services she offers.

Ilise Benun, of Marketing-Mentor.com, interviews Erin Pheil of TimeForCake.com about her strategy for capturing visitors to her web site and offering a freebie so she can nurture them into becoming clients. Check out the model here: NoClientHostingHassles.com.

Podcast: Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com interviews Bryn Mooth on where she is after 2 years of freelancing and her upcoming CFC session: What to Expect When You’re Freelancing, which is perfect for those who are anywhere on the continuum from "I’m thinking about it" to "I’ve made the move but I’m still struggling," Come hear her in person at CFC 2013, June 22-24 in San Francisco. Details here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

Podcast: Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com interviews Luke Mysse for the CFC Speaker Podcast Series on The Arc of Success and how he overcame his own fears by expanding his vision and committing to helping others. Come hear him in person at CFC 2013, June 22-24 in San Francisco. Details here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

Ilise Benun of Marketing-mentor.com interviews Colleen Wainwright (a.k.a. the communicatrix) for the CFC Speaker Podcast Series on the latest trends in social media networking for creative pros. Come hear her in person at CFC 2013, June 22-24 in San Francisco for her session, Making People Love You Madly: Selling Yourself in the Postmodern Marketplace. Details: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

For the CFC 2013 Speaker Podcast series, Ilise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com interviews Mark O’Brien of Newfangled.com about what exactly content marketing is for creative professionals and small firms and what gets in the way of doing it. To develop your own content marketing strategy, attend Mark’s post-conference workshop You Don’t Know What You Know: Developing Your Content Strategy at CFC on Monday, June 24 in San Francisco. Details here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

Jill had plenty of clients through word of mouth, but wanted to get better quality work. She needed to update her website, manage time better, and find more efficient ways of growing her business. In this interview, Jill talks about her successes (including a 17% increase in business!) with the help of Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun.

In the latest podcast interview in the CFC 2013 Speaker Series, Ilise Benun talks with Sarah Durham, Principal and Founder of Big Duck about working with companies who “do good” and suggests how to find them. Also, she shares a taste of what she’ll be speaking on at CFC, “Integrating Your Values and Your Positioning.” The conference is June 22-24 in SF. Details here: www.creativefreelancerconference.com

Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, chats with Dana Manciagli, CFC 2013 speaker (Cut the Crap, Start Networking!) and 30+ year corporate veteran who is also building a freelance business as a speaker/author. This wide ranging conversation goes from how looking for a job in the 21st century is a lot like being self employed, to rules for moonlighting while building a freelance business, to networking tips for introverts.