Marketing Mentor

The Brains Behind...

HOW Design Live

I am on the programming team for HOW Design Live and help choose the speakers each year. I am also the host of the Creative Freelancer Summit of www.HowDesignLive.com -- the premier design conference, Sept. 2022. This track began in 2008 as a stand-alone conference where freelancers could learn the business skills they need to run a successful business; it has since evolved to address this question: What does it take to go from designer to creative entrepreneur?

Programming Partner

Bob Bly

Served as "agent" and advisor for well known direct response copywriter

Business Manager, Advisor & Agent

The Maryland Institute College of Art

I taught the Marketing course as part of MICA's MPS in the Business of Art & Design (BAD)

Part-time Faculty

PRATT INSTITUTE

Teaching "Effective Client Communication Strategies for the Creative Professional" as part of a new Business Communication for the Creative Professional Certificate https://www.pratt.edu/academics/continuing-education-and-professional/pro-certificate-programs/business-of-art-and-design/

Visiting Faculty

Hoboken Free Public Library

Trustee

paragraphs LLC

Strategized and developed original content for this Chicago-based design firm. Examples here: http://paragraphs.com/parathink/

Content Marketing Consultant

Bending Design, Inc.

Working with Sharon Bending through both one-on-one consulting and then in the Advanced Marketing Group, she has narrowed in on her target market, positioned herself as an expert in that market and recently won the largest contract of her career to date.

Marketing Consultant

Cleveland Design

Marketing Mentor helped Jonathan Cleveland find his target market, revamp his web site and develop a marketing campaign that keeps his name in front of his best prospects every other month.

Assistant Buyer

If you are ready to leave the feast or famine syndrome behind -- and I mean for good -- and you are serious about growing your creative business -- whether that means getting more/better clients, finding your niche or strengthening your positioning, I can help. I provide practical guidance, accountability, a sounding board and much more. 

I am a national speaker, the founder of Marketing Mentor, a business coaching program for creative business owners and independent professionals, a Programming Partner for HOW Design Live and the Business Coach for the Savannah College of Art & Design. 

I've developed courses for CreativeLive, Domestika, Freelancers Union, AWAI and more.

I work one-on-one with you to find your people, your voice, your style, your rhythm and your place in the market.

We will cover things like: 
- How to Choose Your Niche
- Dealing with Difficult Clients
- How to Position Your Services (so your ideal clients say, "this is exactly who we need")
- Pricing Your Services (and learning to love the money conversation)
- Proposal Review, Critique and Rewrite (what should be in yours?)
- Marketing Plan Development (which tools are most effective?)
- Content Marketing Planning and Implementation

Evidence proves that if you integrate marketing into your day-to-day process, you can get the clients you want, instead of being at the mercy of whoever comes along. But it means putting yourself first. 

How? Commit to working ON your business before you work IN your business --  early in the day and early in the week. Spend your first 30 minutes every day on yourself, before the day and the week gets away from you. (For more, read my #MeFirst blog post. https://www.marketing-mentor.com/blogs/news/we-need-a-mefirst-movement) 

I’ll help you put yourself first. We'll set realistic goals and I'll keep you accountable for them. 

You lead and I guide. That's my mentoring style. 

I'll help you choose a viable market, position yourself as the expert in that market. Then we'll choose the most effective (and least $$) marketing tools to reach your market.

Sound like exactly what you need? Be sure to sign up for my Quick Tips here: 
https://quicktips.marketing-mentor.com/
And, if you are ready, take advantage of my free 30 minute session at www.marketing-mentor.com

Specialties: marketing plans and proposals for creative professionals (designers, writers, illustrators, video producers, photographers) & professional service providers (lawyers, consultants, speaking coaches, personal trainers, computer experts and even other marketing consultants).

Do you ever get stuck over-thinking your AI prompts? Try this trick I learned at #MAICON, put on by SmarterX...

Ramble!

I was surprised how many “AI experts” are doing this. 

Simply use your phone or computer’s “dictation” mode to ramble off what you want the AI to do.

That’s it - that’s the prompt.

Watch the “Best Bits” from this month’s Office Hours for 2 more of my new favorite prompting methods.

Have you tried a “ramble” prompt? 

Share your favorite prompting method below!

Want marketing tips in your in-box every two weeks-ish? Sign up for my Quick Tips here: https://bit.ly/liqt

Ilise Benun

Business Coach & Mentor for Designers, Copywriters & Creative Pros. Let me help you get better clients with bigger budgets.

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