Comments on: A Writer Finds a Winning Formula in a Bad Economy – Guest Post

By: Danielle Ingram

Danielle Ingram — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:43:55 +0000

Great Post! Really goes to show that with a little determination, a lot can be achieved!

I think that it is really important when marketing to add a personal touch- businesses want to engage with their customers after all.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:08:23 +0000

Kristina, your insight into the consumer mindset is right on target! I also believe that we have become cautious of “big business” and overly polished marketing messages because we perceive that they are largely to blame for the current economy. Your tips are so helpful to large and small businesses and remind us to put a face and personality to our businesses. Thank you so much Kristina for sharing your story and the great tips. Congratulations on your success!

By: Blogging> How to Make Money With a DubLi Blog | Blog Marketing | Blogging Money

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:12:30 +0000

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By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:07:06 +0000

Brad-

I really like the way you’ve framed the dilemma: to be or not to be big. That’s the material question; marketing one’s company, or self, is about perception. As human beings we are perception engines.

The question of perception of size also changes from industry to industry. I can only comment on my own niche market.

As an aside, I find that growth presents wonderful challenges, but how does one grow and maintain that individual component? I find myself in that position in a shorter span of time than anticipated. Perhaps something to consider for another article: Walking the Line between Big, Bigger and Big Enough, Already.

Thank you all for commenting. It’s really interesting to read various perceptions of perception. Although, I think to speak through our own perception on the subject of perception is like looking for your eyeglasses when they’re on your face.

All my best to you all!

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:48:25 +0000

Hi Dennis, Thanks for the support, and of course for being a reader and commenter here. I’ve known Kristina for several years, and she is marvelous. A great resource for any firm in need of her talents – no matter how she represents them.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:28:06 +0000

Worthy of a RT – the interesting bit is how a writer writes about writing says more about the writer than you might want. Kristina came off well – and I am long-tiem reader of you too Brad

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:52:17 +0000

Kristina, Like other commenters, I think your strategy is inventive. It’s also bold! Many times, we entrepreneurs have an inferiority complex and try anything we can to look bigger. You were smart enough and bold enough to look past that. When I wrote my original website several years ago, I always used “we” when it was really “me.” I hope new writers just opening shop will find your post.

By: Fred H Schlegel

Fred H Schlegel — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:47:07 +0000

Funny how our perceptions of what people want sometimes gets in the way of what is going to work. A lot depends on the structure of how work is bought. Some places let decisions about freelancers happen at the lowest level, but company relationships have to be pushed up the decision tree. Your ‘experiment’ in changing your materials is very interesting and something a lot of start-ups should be doing. Thanks for sharing.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:16:48 +0000

This seems like the appropriate time to employ my favorite Aussie expression, Kristina. No worries! Covers lots of ground and tends to wrap up, for me, the commenting process.

Thanks for sharing!

By: Kristina

Kristina — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:02:20 +0000

Bill-

I would also hesitate to call an attempt to sell one’s business “a pretense.”
I think my phrasing may have betrayed me a little. The pretense I had was in my mind more than the presentation (though some may have bled over, I’ll allow you.) I merely thought I was more marketable as a business rather than an individual because that is what conventional wisdom implies. Branding is king. But I would argue that, in order to stay in business, one must create fans instead of customers.

I would agree that being authentic is important, but any honest and successful salesperson will tell you that the trust comes first in the person, then in the product. Authenticity is key, but in the individual first, and the product second.

What I learned is that I tried to reverse that: trust the product, which has produced these results in the past and then trust me. When I returned to the, “Trust me and try my product” approach, I got a better response.

The materials I used were merely my resume with a different heading, so the those weren’t really the issue. What was at issue was a matter of trust, control and cost.

Just my thoughts.