Web Marketing for Creative People

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A Creative Momentum Workshop — Cockpit Arts, Holborn, London

Wednesday 19 August 2009, 6.30 – 8.30pm

Use the web to build your reputation and attract customers and business opportunities.

• Raise your profile online
• Attract visitors, fans, customers and clients
• Build a website that markets for you — even while you sleep
• Develop your online networking skills
• Express your creativity on the web

Imagine what it would be like to have a popular website that acted as a magnet for visitors, customers and potential business partners. So that whenever you opened your e-mail, it was in anticipation of new sales or business opportunties…

If you’re reading this, my web marketing has worked. You have either found me via a search engine, been referred here by someone else — or you may be one of my long-term loyal readers. Right at this moment, I could be working with clients, writing articles or relaxing with friends — while thousands of people are reading my articles, downloading my e-books, talking about me on Twitter or Facebook, or linking to my website and sending me potential clients.

Three and a half years ago, I was a virtual unknown on the internet. Now, my websites Wishful Thinking and Lateral Action attract tens of thousands of visitors every month. My e-books are similarly popular — Time Management for Creative People has been downloaded over 80,000 times and my new e-book How to Motivate Creative People (Including Yourself) is catching up fast. I also have busy networks on Twitter and Facebook. All of which means the web is my biggest source of new business.

My online activities have brought me more than new clients — they also led to me partnering with two of the biggest names in web marketing and online learning, Brian Clark and Tony D. Clark, to create the Lateral Action website.

And none of this happened by accident. It was part of a deliberate strategy to use my website and social media to raise my profile and promote my business.

I’m not saying this to boast — just to show you what can be achieved through creative use of the web tools available today, without spending a fortune on a website or advertising.

I should point out that I’m not a programmer, web developer or designer — just a creative professional using the web to build my business.

In this practical workshop I will teach you the key principles I have used to succeed online, and show you how to have a lot of fun in the process!

Topics covered include:

• The critical skills for success online
• Why authenticity is more effective than advertising
• What kind of website should you have?
• What social networks should you be using? (Facebook? Twitter? MySpace? Etc)
• How to promote your business through ‘content marketing’
• When — and how — to ask for a sale
• How to make your web marketing an expression of your creativity

N.b. — This won’t be a detailed technical workshop. I’ll be explaining the fundamental principles for success on the web, which will apply regardless of what technical tools use or how quickly the latest technology changes. Afterwards, I’ll point you to some websites where you can find the technical information you need.

I’ll be starting with the assumption that you already have a core product or service that your customers value, but you’re not sure how to raise your profile and generate sales online. If that’s not the case, or you’re not sure whether the workshop is right for you, you’re welcome to e-mail me with any questions.

How the Workshop Works

Numbers will be limited to 25 places.

1. Tell me what you want to learn
Once you’ve booked your place, I’ll e-mail you some questions about your current challenges and what you want to learn. Based on this feedback, I’ll tailor each workshop to address the challenges that are most relevant to the group.

2. The workshop features:

• Practical skills you can start to use immediately
• Stories and real-life examples
• Activities to help you apply the ideas to your own work
• Questions and discussions – ask me what you want to learn!
• Networking and learning from other interesting creative people

3. After the workshop
I’ll send you articles and links to help you digest the material and apply it to your work.

Who for?

This workshop is for creative people of all kinds — artists, creatives, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and anyone else who takes their creativity seriously.

Who with?

Mark McGuinness — I’m a poet who earns my living as a coach and trainer for creative professionals. I’ve been coaching and training creative people for over a decade, and have worked with organisations including the BBC, Channel 4, Arts & Business and Cockpit Arts. I write two popular blogs about creativity and business: Wishful Thinking and Lateral Action.

Where and When?

Cockpit Arts in Holborn, London. Click here to download directions to Cockpit Arts.

Wednesday 19 August 2009, 6.30 – 8.30pm