Communicating what you do to those closest to you
This past year has been great for SpinningSilk Multimedia as we have honed in on niches, worked with some fantastic clients, risen in search engine results as well as getting our name out in the local community. However if their is one thing that we need to work better on it is communicate who we are and what we do to people “right under our noses.”
It’s very strange that the people we know very well often don’t know the current state of our services. In business networking groups and on the Internet or any new contacts have a good understanding of who we are and our mission but it’s all too easy to assume those in your close circles like friends, family and even current customers you have been involved with long term know what your current status is. The ironic thing is these people can be your best and most dedicated customers.
It’s very important to send frequent correspondence via e-mail, blogs or even print materials like newsletters and brochures. However never underestimate to power of personal visits, taking people out to lunch, etc. Conversely others may be aware of new things but I find it more of a challenge to tell people what I’m “not” doing anymore. We are often remembered for what we have done in the past. We currently and will continue to focus on intergated marketing communications which involves web design, print and portable media solutions for small businesses and organizations but I still get calls to ask if I will trouble shoot a computer that is not working or a program like Microsoft Word that is “acting strange.” Those were jobs I did a long time ago either when just starting out on my own or just being known as a “computer guy.” I’ll still help friends and family out with such matters but I’m making a big point to tell them not to tell anyone I do that because I am focusing my work and expertise in other things.
Do you often find yourself confused and frustrated when those closest to you who don’t call on you but rather others for what your area of expertise is because they didn’t know you provided such a service? Do you often assume people just know what you are doing or do you have a strategy of updating the status of your services and products to them?
