Friday, May 16, 2008

The Hedgehog Principle

In looking through an old notebook, I came across this notation:

"Hedgehogs Need One Big Thing"
  • What can we be the best in the world at? (What can we NOT be the best at?)
  • What is the economic denominator that best drives our economic engine (profit or cash flow per 'x')
  • What are our core people deeply passionate about?

I have no idea where it came from, but those are some good questions.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Resume Writing is Recession-Proof

In times of economic turmoil, many businesses suffer. But there's an old adage in the resume writing industry: There's no bad time to be a resume writer. When times are good, people want a resume to get a better job. When times are tough, they need a great resume to compete for jobs.

In fact, my phone has been ringing off the hook the past few weeks. I've heard from a couple of clients that I haven't heard from in years (one dating back to 2003!!) and there has been a steady stream of new clients as well. Another Nebraska colleague reports similar results. How's business for you?

If you're not as busy as you'd like, there are a couple of options. Ramp up your marketing and public relations efforts and bring in more business yourself ... or consider subcontracting for other writers. If you're interested in subcontracting, be sure to order my special report, "Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor" (just $20 for the 39-page report, which includes more than 25 individuals or firms looking for subcontractors; available for immediate download as a PDF.)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Don't Strike Out With Prospective Clients

Marketing guru Robert Middleton has developed a marketing system for independent service professionals (including resume writers and career coaches) that is designed to help you attract more clients!

(Read more about it at http://www.actionplan.com)

He says it's important to analyze our sales process and identify WHERE you are losing clients.

For most resume writers, it's when the client asks, "How much does this cost?" Save the sale by trying different approaches:
• Ask lots of questions to understand their real challenges (most clients aren't as concerned about the cost as much as they are on the RETURN-ON-INVESTMENT. Will it be worth what they spend?)
• Direct them to your web site for articles, samples, etc. if they say they want to "think about it."