Self-Employed Professionals: Information and support for attracting more of your ideal clients. 

Hi, I'm Robert Middleton, and since 1984 I've been working with self-employed professionals to be better marketers of their services. It's important to know that you can market your services with dignity and integrity while attracting more of your ideal clients. 

Marketing doesn't have to be confusing and something you avoid. When you learn the proven principles and practices of professional service business marketing, you'll feel more confident that you can attract all the clients you need and still be a highly respected professional. In fact, good marketing will raise your profile and increase the trust level with your prospective clients.  

With this approach to marketing I've helped thousands of people get past their resistance to marketing and and make it both effective and fun. Anyone can learn to be a great marketer of their services if they are committed to growing their business and making a difference for their clients.

You just need to understand the marketing game, mindset, and strategies that work for most Independent Professionals. Whether your marketing consists of networking, speaking, publishing, blogging or social media, be assured, there is a way to win the marketing game and make the whole process a lot more fun and successful. 

Whether you're just starting on the adventure of marketing your services or if you've been at it a long time and are looking for more dynamic and interactive ways to attract more of your ideal clients, a good place to start is by requesting my free workbook: 

The Free Marketing Plan Workbook for Independent Professionals.

This 41-page Workbook outlines the Action Plan Marketing 8-Step System for attracting more clients. It includes fill-in pdf exercises and forms that make it easy to create your own marketing plan. Perfect for self-employed professionals such as consultants, coaches, trainers, financial, marketing and employment professionals. Click below to get your free copy.

From The Action Blog...

Pithy Marketing and Selling Sayings

By Robert Middleton - Action Plan Marketing

Last week I found a list that I'd created on my iPad called: "10 Marketing Things You Already Know - But May Not be Acting Upon." 

These might fall into the category of "Pithy Sayings" that teach essential truths. I'm no Confucius, but I've been involved in marketing so long, that I can assure you, the following lessons are amongst the most important you can learn if you want to attract more of your ideal clients. 

1. If not even your family understands fully what you do, how do you expect your prospective clients to understand? 

We want everyone else to understand us, but that takes patient communication. We can't assume people understand us, and if they don't we only have ourselves to blame. Keep communicating; sooner or later the message will get through. 

2. In networking, make it your main job to follow-up. Above all else, follow-through with friendly persistence. 

The ball is always in your court and it's always your move, no matter what the prospect does. If someone doesn't get back to you, it doesn't mean they aren't interested; it usually only means they're busy. So patiently try again; it will usually pay off. 

3. In speaking, people don't want to be bored, they want to be informed and entertained.

Yeah, it's your job, once again, to take responsibility for communicating powerfully so that your prospects really see the value of your services. The good news is that you can always make it more fun and interesting. 

4. Nobody's going to buy from you unless they know what's it it for them. 

It's not about you; it's about them. Always. So make it your calling to understand what your prospects need and want. What are their issues, their challenges and their aspirations? And how can you make it easier for them? It's a never-ending pursuit. 

5. In selling, nobody likes to be pressured. They like to be listened to. 

Everyone gives lip-service to listening, but few of us practice it religiously. What you need to notice is that as soon as you stop listening, the pressure and manipulation starts. Amazingly, you can listen yourself into a sale better than proving that your service is right for someone.