Sorry that it has taken so long to write a post but I was wiped out by WPPI.  I have learned that social networking is THE way to do business.  By cultivating relationships over a period of years, I was able to leverage this and gain some clients.  If you have an opportunity to attend a tradeshow in your industry, the expense is well worth it. 

I also picked up a really cool marketing idea from Robert Evans – Photographymentor.com.  At his launch party, he offered customers to blog about him.  In return for the blogging he was offering $10 itunes giftcards!  What a great idea.  This is the way of marketing for the future.  It is an example of what I call “cheap and cheerful” marketing.

The other marketing tip I can give is to that when you are at a tradeshow, please be careful what marketing strategy you use.  If you are new to the space, branding strategies work – sponsorship, signage, and parties.  If you are a company that exists in the space, use the tradeshow as an oppportunity to market new products or to deliver a very specific message.  I was absolutely floored when a company that has been in the industry from the beginning and has a huge following decided to go with branding.  What a waste of money.  By not having a real message, it looked like they were reacting to the marketplace and were desperate to regain  market share.  The attendees I talked to were thoroughly confused by their presence. 

 Over the next few weeks, I am going to interview a few of the entrepreneurial companies I came across to learn what motivated them to start their business, their biggest obstacles, and their plans for investment.  Keep checking back!