I hope you all got through your to do lists last week. I know I had a few difficulties with mine. Here’s an update:
Work
I presented two jobs last week. They included concepts for two public Installations in Hong Kong, and another concept for the wedding of Bella and Edward for the upcoming movie Eclipse from the Twilight saga.
Even though I started the week being creatively spent, with the help of my amazing design group (Merv, Jee, Nikita, Drew, Blair, Ben and others…) we came up with many fun designs.
I managed to reach all my other goals except for taking the swimming class to improve technique. No excuse for this, simply my resistance at times to learn. (It will stay on the to do list until I get it done some time in the future.)
And, thank you for the book suggestions! I’m checking out The Forty Rules of Love (pictured) by Elif Shafak recommended by Eve and Free Prize Inside by Seth Godin, recommended by Yara.
This week, I’d like to make a few suggestions of must do’s for our to do lists. These tasks are specifically focused on getting new clients. You’ll be amazed how these few simple to do’s can help develop new jobs:
- Call three old clients and tell them you are thinking of them and miss them. This is a great way of re-connecting, in addition to refreshing your former client’s memory about your services. (Placing these phone calls has gotten me more than one job.)
- Call a potential client and tell them, “Even though you have not made a decision yet, I just wanted you to know I enjoyed meeting you and I’d love to work with you.” (Every potential client loves hearing that you are excited about their job. I know I do.)
- If a client was happy with your work, call and ask if they could recommend three of their friends to you (most of the time they are happy to share you with their friends, other times they like having you as their best kept secret).
- Call three vendors you have recently worked with and liked. Tell them you appreciate their talents and discuss a referral system for future clients. (There should never be a money exchange promised.)
- Work on developing a database with your client’s special days: birthdays, anniversaries, etc. This gives you an opportunity to call or send them something.
Remember that your goal is to keep your clients and their family for life.
- If you took photos of an event you worked on, send a few to your clients three months later, with a sweet note saying something like, “Still thinking of your great event.” Most clients love re-living their events and like to be reminded.
- Last but not least, we all have that one phone call we resist making out of fear or procrastination to promote ourselves or our businesses. Make sure you make it before this week is over. (I have at least three to make.)
Next week on our to do list: how to get publicity.
Now please tell me, did you accomplish everything on your to do list last week and what’s on deck for this week?
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Alexandra Jusino
May 17, 2010
Great to do list! I’m actually going to print this one out and make a point to do at least four of these every week. It’s a good way to reconnect with old clients, stay in vendors minds and reach out to potential clients. Thank you!
Carmen
May 17, 2010
Thank you for sharing another amazing list! I have to agree and will use this list every so often to refer back to and remind myself of how these little points makes all the difference. Thank you x
christine
May 17, 2010
This is great, love these pointers i will be using them for sure.
Erin
May 17, 2010
The Twilight wedding scene is in Breaking Dawn
Brian
May 17, 2010
Great tips Monsieur, thank you!
Gisele Chalhoub
May 17, 2010
Love the tips
Thanks
Gisele
Deborah Dixon
May 17, 2010
Hi Preston,
I’ve always been a fan of “To Do List” but I loved the way you broke your’s up. I used your format added to what I was already doing and had an awesome week and the most productive one too! Thanks for sharing your technique.
Terri Bergman
May 17, 2010
I do 4 of the 7 and ALWAYS email or personally call each vendor after an event…so important! Following your list reinforces how important it is to have a purpose and structure to your success!
Angela
May 18, 2010
I was just dying to create a concept for the Twilight wedding, good luck getting it! Hopefully some day soon I will be much like you Preston. Congrats on your success!
Eve
May 19, 2010
Great Tips! Thank you! PR is hugely important in this business and so is CRM (customer relationship management). Yes it does take a lot of time, but it is so worthwhile! Have a great day!
PS I hope you are enjoying the books too
Erik
May 20, 2010
Thank you Preston. Hope to see you out here in Minneapolis again someday!
All the best,
Erik Hansen Entertaining
Savannah Sturm
July 20, 2010
Thank you, Preston!
These tips are coming out of the printer right now. Love the encouragement and dedication. Always so very inspiring!
Keep up the blogging and designing! We love it!!
-The French Bouquet
http://www.thefrenchbouquettulsa.com/blog