Marketing Monday: Competitors = Referral sources?
Over 50,000 professional and freelance designers and developers. Post your design project once and review up to eight proposals. Save time, save money. Over 5000 projects delivered since 2006.
|
| ||||||||
| E-commerce Database Blog Social Paypal Registration Twitter | |||||||||
| Compare: | |||||||||
Could your competitors also be your referral sources?
Could the people you bid against also be a source of work for you?
I say yes, if you decide to see them that way.
Let me start by outing myself: for many years I avoided consultants that I perceived as my competition.
I am not even sure what I was thinking, except ignoring them seemed like a good idea.
Then, I started getting referrals from these consultants. In fact, some of my best clients lately have come from one so-called “competitor” — David Baker of ReCourses.
Why is he referring me?
- Because it turns out we actually do very different things, offer very different services and have very different approaches and strengths.
- Because when he can’t provide what a prospect needs, he needs someone to send them to. Not everyone who comes his way is a good fit.
- Because he’s not, in fact, my competitor. He’s proved instead to be a generous colleague and referral source.
So here’s the question for you: which of your so-called “competitors” could you see differently and develop a mutually beneficial relationship with?
That’s your task for Marketing Monday. What else are you doing?
BTW: The basic marketing strategies for any designer or creative professional, for that matter, are outlined very clearly in my book, The Designer’s Guide to Marketing & Pricing.
Mon, 16 May 2011 12:20:10 GMT
Tags: Client Relations, competition, David Baker, Designers, Featured, Freelancers Union, Growing Your Business, Ilise Benun, Illustrators, Marketing, Marketing Monday, Photographers, ReCourses, referral sources, Speakers, Writers,
Over 50,000 professional and freelance designers and developers. Post your design project once and review up to eight proposals. Save time, save money. Over 5000 projects delivered since 2006.
|
| ||||||||
| E-commerce Database Blog Social Paypal Registration Twitter | |||||||||
| Compare: | |||||||||
Related Tags: Client Relations
Lesson 4: When to suck it up
I’ve spoken numerous times about only working with clients who are a good fit and how you should work with clients with whom you can do your best work. Generally, I still believe that. But I also believe that sometimes you have to suck it up.
Bye Bye Hoodies
I hit a new low last week; I must admit my secret. Hopefully it’s the first step to recovery. Last week, I went to the supermarket in my pajamas. Yes, PAJAMAS. The pajama pants were black, but they had pink lace trimming, which I simply tucked inside my U
When you refuse to sign the client’s contract…
I walked away from a contract today. We had already come to a handshake agreement on deliverables, dates and fees. “But before we get started, we’ll need you to sign our master services agreement (MSA) and nondisclosure agreement (NDA).” While I have a c
Related Tags: competition
How to stop competing
From Neil Renicker of Renicker Studio, a post about how to stop competing and instead use what you learn about your competitors to focus your own positioning. Continue readin
Related Tags: David Baker
Need Interactive Website Design? Check out our member profiles:
Full service Louisiana web design company specializing in findability, content management software, content writing and custom applications.
Duson , Louisiana US
We offer professional services ranging from Web Design, Web Hosting, Web Development to Search Engine Optimization, Internet Marketing, Website Mantenance and IT Consulting.
san Leandro , California US
CMS web design - trendy, hip, girly and affordable. Custom designs and premade designs, maintenance and more.
howell , Michigan US
Certified & experienced web designer serving East Pasco and the surrounding area. Visit http://www.netsend.us/websites.htm for more details and a list of my qualifications.
dade City , Florida US
Bend Oregon website design and optimization firm specializing in search engine optimization and web site design designed to maximize your web site traffic and sales.
Bend , Oregon US
SuOakes Graphic Design, Your Personal Design Source Graphic communications for the small business without an in house art dept. You need a unique, professional image, not one right out of the can. I'l
Lake Worth , Florida US
Over 50,000 professional and freelance designers and developers. Post your design project once and review up to eight proposals. Save time, save money. Over 5000 projects delivered since 2006.
|
| ||||||||
| E-commerce Database Blog Social Paypal Registration Twitter | |||||||||
| Compare: | |||||||||
Get 8 Free Bids:
Service
Location:
Budget:
Deadline:
Compare:
Get 8 Free Bids:
Service
Location:
Budget:
Deadline:
Compare:
WAVE concept aims at protecting bicycles from theft, vandalism and fire mishap
Phani: Are you a resident of the United States and own a bicycle? If yes, then you might have seen
Macho, yet romantic C-119 Aileron Coffee Table is a bachelor pad must-have
Asmita Prasad: A few decades ago, the coolest kids on the block got their parents to buy them beds t
Foroba Yelen: Light and life to poor African communities
Brown Bear: The villages of Bamoussobougou and Soanogola in the impoverished district of Cinzana, Ma
Stepbath collection lets both adults and children use the sink at optimum height
Asmita Prasad: Do you ever get the feeling that the family bathroom in your home is perhaps not as m
Permoveh Personal Mobile Vehicle turns sideways, thanks to omnidirectional wheels
Asmita Prasad: Wheelchair users have only been restricted to forward and backward movement so far an
Article Tags
Interactive Website Design Articles
Lifestyle
Inspiration
Designers
Concepts
gadgets
Freelancing
Freelancers Union
All Posts
Writers
web design
architecture
Featured
design
Marketing
Transportation
Tips
Premium
Illustrators
Freebies
Friends:
Ecommerce Web Design