A little story from my recent past:
I am on the mailing list of a woman who is a seemingly successful copywriter, business owner, author of a book on how to be successful in business yourself, (yeah, Ok, Ok, we've heard that before), but who seems to be a generally OK gal...:-) She loves the English language, as I do, swears occasionally, as I do, and is totally straightforward and practical in her approach, which I like. I can't remember exactly how I got on her mailing list - I probably saw something about 'free business advice - sign up here', which I did, as why would you refuse something for free, if it might help improve your business? I could aways unsubscribe if I got sick of the emails....
Before last September, (for how long I'm not certain) and along the way from then to February this year there were a lot of emails, but I used to habitually delete most of them - didn't want my inbox filled up with 'unimportant' stuff. And occasionally, if I had a moment, I would read them, and I kind of liked the way she wrote. So, I just had a check back, and still in my inbox, there is an email in Sept 2015, one in Dec, 5 across January and February, then from March onwards, there have been quite a few - about 16 in fact. The reason for the increasing numbers? Because when I tried my luck at replying to one or two, I got a response, so I knew that there was actually a real person there, sitting in front of their computer typing...and I engaged with her, as she seemed more like 'my kind of person' than a lot of those business types who seem to be full of nothing but jargon. So her method of 'getting to know your customers', being more important than pointing out how good you or your products are, has worked with me, and I'm following suit.....
She is obviously selling her business in her way, and I have been learning by example, and her brilliant book (well, I think it is), which you can buy here. No, I'm not working for her, or on commission (!), but I just thought that if you, or anyone else you know is trying to do the same as me, you might want to get it. It's more than worth the £20 selling price :-) I'm genuinely finding it really useful, as there's so many ideas in there, I haven't managed to get past chapter 4...!
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As you might know, I am on a bit of a mission to improve my business, as I need more than simply 'hand to mouth' earnings, and who doesn't? I am pretty sick of that, and I know that I have skills which should be better rewarded. People are always VERY complimentary about my work, (thanks folks!), and I just need more of them and / or their friends to commission me for a wedding dress of your wild imaginings, or to sign up for pattern cutting or sewing classes with me, so that you can create your own wild imaginings.....
On the commissions front, I love the unusual / unexpected, left field projects, and when it comes to classes, I won't be too formal, we'll have a laugh along the way, but you will get the beautifully fitting clothes you've always wanted.
Anyway that's my missive for the day, and though I am loathe to impose myself, I just want to remind you every now and then that I am here, and that I do very good stuff !! :-D
Bobbie