Excerpt: Effectively Marketing Your Resume Writing Services in a Down Market

From the July/August 2008 issue of Resume Writers' Digest:

Resume writing is a truly recession-proof industry. In a good economy, job seekers look for "greener pastures," trading in old jobs for new. In a bad economy, worried job seekers update their resumes to prepare for layoffs.

How you market and price your services during a downtown or recession may different, however. Clients who would be willing to pay for "the works" (resume, cover letter, interview coaching), when times are good may be reluctant when times are tough. But in a competitive hiring environment, "pulling out all the stops" may just be what is required to set the jobseeker apart from the crowd.

However, instead of selling a complete package upfront, all at once, you may sell it in stages -- first the resume and cover letter, then the interview and job search coaching, and finally, salary negotiation coaching -- perhaps paid weekly or via installments on a credit card.

In a tough economy, the job search also takes longer, and your clients may need more reassurance along the way. Consider starting a monthly e-mail newsletter, geared towards helping clients with their job search as much as drumming up new business.

To provide guidance on time-tested strategies that work in a challenging economy, I turned to the Resume Writers' Digest archives -- to issues from 2001 and 2002, when resume writers faced similar economic struggles. I also incorporated in new tips, particularly in regard to online and electronic marketing techniques, since technology has changed quite a bit over the past 6-7 years.

First up is "WRITE! PUBLISH! PROFIT!"

Best of Today: 9/10/10

Jim Connolly – Jim’s Marketing Blog via Julie Walraven – “Two Ways to Grow Your Blog: Independent or Associated”

- I’ve never see this articulated anywhere else, although I’ve seen associated blogs before.

Great Roundup of Twitter-related job search resources, assembled by Deb Dib and maintained by Job-Hunt.org.

Kevin Donlin Article on “Three Guerrilla Job Search Tactics”

-Love tactic #2 – I’m going to use this with my clients

Thanks to Billie Sucher for a reminder about an “oldie but a goodie” – The Riley Guide job search resource: 

Quote of the Day:

@Dave_Carpenter: Don’t die with your book still in you.

I Won a Book from Vertical Response!

I had to share the news with you guys!

Last week, I submitted a tip to the VerticalResponse List Building Bank Giveaway. I was one of 10 tips selected to be featured, and I won a book -- "The Referral Engine" by John Jantsch!

As those of you who received the Resume Writers' Digest newsletter know, I use VerticalResponse to manage my RWD mailing list. I like it because I can purchase email credits and use them whenever I want, instead of paying a flat fee per month. If I don't send an email in a particular month, I don't pay anything! When I want to send an email, I just buy some credits (and they have a tiered payment program, where the more credits you buy, the less you pay. I usually pay $.015 per email credit (or $15 per 1000 credits), and since my list is about 800 names, I can do a mailing for about $12. They also have a "standard" option -- as little as $10/month for unlimited e-mailing.

They have great templates, marketing support, and blogs/articles/webinars to help you get the most out of your online marketing efforts. And they track your email campaigns (opens, clicks, bounces, unsubscribes)...

Give it a try -- here's my affiliate link to sign up for an account -- you'll get a 30-day risk free trial.
They also offer survey subscriptions and postcard mailings.

As you can tell, I love VerticalResponse! Give them a try ... and I'll be sure to put up a link to my list-building tip when it gets published.

Best of Today: 9/9/2010

This was an easier task today. I just kept track of cool & interesting stuff as I came across it. (Oh, and just so you know,  I looked through about 10x as many articles as I posted links ... I'm trying to "edit" the volume of stuff for you guys.)

Today's question is: Do you want me to provide some commentary with the articles? Like a sentence or two on what it's about, and why I thought it was cool/interesting? Let me know. Comment below.

Jason Alba blog post on I’m On Linked In – Now What? "Who Owns Your LinkedIn Profile" 

Michael Lunsford blog post (via Julie Walraven): "The Best Success Story I’ve Ever Heard: Burn That Star Wars T-Shirt"

Denise Wakeman (The Blog Squad), article on Biz Tips Blog: "Keyword Research Can Help Your Content Get Found by Your Ideal Client"

"Hire Me: Your Employment Prospects for 2010 (Results of Manpower Survey)"

Great example of an online “Resources” guide for clients – courtesy of Donna Svei, AvidCareerist: 

Avid Careerist Blog Post: "How to Use Google Alerts in Your Job Search"

Love Wendy’s Humor – Wendy Terwelp Blog Post (Rock Your Career) – “I Don’t Kiss on the First Date – LinkedIn Tips”

Resume Confidential (Karen Siwak) Blog Post – "A Conversation with David Graziano– Social Recruiting Strategist"

Bonus content from me --

Quote of the Day (QOTD):

Via @TheJobQuest RT @steviepuckett: Your job security no longer lies in having a job. It lies in knowing how to work the job market.