Comments on: Newsletter #6: A Client Who Can’t or Won’t Choose a Niche

By: admin

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:51:45 +0000

Ruth, I hope your book of paintings works for you as well. My message to you, not knowing you, however, is that when you allow yourself to be distracted from your focus it can dilute your “brand.” It not only uses up your precious time, it confuses people about who you really are and what you really do. I think our customers can only relate us to one thing. Oh, they say, Ruth is an oil painter. When you add Ruth is a painter and she has published a book about iPhone paintings etc. etc. they have a harder time remembering exactly who you are. I am always encouraging my clients to be the go-to expert in their field so they can charge top prices and be seen as professionals. Again, it is hard to maintain that position when you are not focused.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:47:17 +0000

Julie, I do schedule time for email. I try to first quickly eliminate any emails that do not look like they apply to business. That gets rid of a lot of them. Then I open others and try to respond immediately if I can. That gets rid of them with only handling them once. Then, if there are those I want to think about or to hold for part of a future conversation or a later event, I set up a folder and put them there at once. I really try to read each email only once and dispose of it in some way (delete, answer, file) at that time. Time management is huge for creatives- think of time as currency- how you spend your time will make all the difference to your financial future. Email is so distracting. And can eat up an entire day if you let it. For sure do not be “on” you email with instant messaging all the time. That will not just eat your time,it will devour it. I guess its structure I am talking about.

By: Claudia Plaza

Claudia Plaza — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:46:35 +0000

And I thought you were on vacation! Sounds like you’re out getting the word out about good business practices instead! Claudia

By: Julie A. Fast

Julie A. Fast — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:44:40 +0000

Jackie, I often go in and read chapters of the book to remind myself of where I have problems- the main is taking on work that doesn’t pay. I’d also like your advice on how to reduce my email load. I have tried so many things- or maybe I just need to face that it’s part of my business and I need to schedule more time for it! Julie