Along the theme of ‘Marketing Your Creative Services’, the group enjoyed a presentation by CD Vann, who shared about personal and professional networking. Her focus is on branding a business, not branding a person. She mentioned how we should focus on the products and services we offer when attempting to market your business online.
The new business networking website that she has created at sohobiztube.com allows a company to create and control a profile and then have employees add themselves to the company profile, allowing the account owner to be more in charge of their company’s brand. This approach is much different than linkedin.com, for example, because it focuses on the company first, and then on the employees.
One thing that stuck out was how CD Vann prefers to refer to startup companies as a “growing” business, and not as a “small” business.
Adam Parikh did a great job with his presentation on Search Engine Marketing & Social Networks. He shared on how to drive traffic to your site, and keep visitors engaged once they are on your site. Adam outlined how paid advertising, requires less personal involvement and  that free advertising is not really free because you still have to invest your time into it.
Adam mentioned that in search engine marketing, focusing on keywords that present a solution to a problem will generate the most interest. His main theme was “participation”. If you can reply to people’s questions and posts on various websites, it can be a way to lead traffic to your own website. He says, “find the watering hole and hang out there”.Â
Jenn Turner shared many practical ways in which Bucketworks can help you “practice your passions”. Bucketworks is a “health club for the brain” that fosters an open and collaborative environment for theatre, music, workshops, ”coworking”, and more. Jenn says, that Bucketworks aims to provide the space and the tools for whatever it is that people want to make.
Currently the organization has around 42 professional members who use the space and resources at Bucketworks. Jenn states jokingly, that the only difference, between working at home and working at bucketworks is that you have to wear pants. On a more serious note, Bucketworks is not only a physical location for people to meet, but it is also a group of creative professionals who’s aim is to provide accountability and access to the tools needed to succeed.Â
Stephanie Reynolds shared an update of the GMMC’s Service Project. We drafted a proposal for the rebranding of the Milwaukee School of Entrepreneurship. The members of the GMMC plan on using their skills as multimedia professionals to help the school revive their logo, website, and other marketing materials.
This meeting had very useful information for entrepreneurs who want to expand the marketing efforts of their business. All three presenters were well prepared and accomplished in their respective disciplines. I was impressed by their level of expertise.