Make me Famous!
Our in-house and home business expert, Emma Jones, returns with her top 10 steps for marketing success.
Step 1 – Define your storyWhat is your story? Imagine your life is being turned into a movie and plot the script; this should help define the message you convey to the media; are you an action hero battling against all odds (think of James Dyson) or brand sensual sensation (think of Nigella Lawson.)
Step 2 – Make friends with the media. Research the journalists who are interested in your industry and trade. Approach them, get to know them and send them ‘exclusive’ stories.
Step 3 – Become an expert. The media will be beating a path to your home office door if you set yourself up as an expert in your chosen field. You can do this by developing a blog, writing a report, making predictions or writing a book.
Step 4 – Communicate regularly. This applies both online and off. Develop and distribute a regular e-newsletter for online visitors and, in the offline world, agree to attend and speak at events to get yourself known.
Step 5 –Enter Awards and competitions. This offers an opportunity to get your name and face in the press and a nice night out too!
Step 6 – Use good imagery. This applies on your website, business cards and any other printed material.
Step 7 – Create a virtual window to the world. Develop a website or blog, keep it updated and watch it rise up the search engine ranks.
Step 8 – Paint your car! with the company name and logo Well, why not?!
Step 9 – Do things that make you stand out and get you noticed. I will leave this one to your own imagination!
Step 10 – Tell us/this website your story!
So we or the team at www.workingwoman.org.uk can pass it on to journalists who write in asking for case studies of successful home business owners and entrepreneurs. This does happen, some of our members have recently done filming for BBC,SKY and online channels due to our recommendations.
Emma Jones is Managing Director of Redbrick Enterprises Ltd & Editor of Enterprise Nation, the home business website.