Whether you are a model or photographer, whether you've signed with an agent or not, YOU are a business. Like any business, you need to market yourself. No matter how talented you are, if you don't market yourself, no one will know or care how talented you are. The best and most profitable way to market yourself is to network.

It is important that you understand the difference between marketing yourself and selling yourself. Selling is a short-term action for achieving short-term goals. Marketing yourself is about building lasting relationships. Someone once told me that her biggest/best clients came from a small network of people with whom she had established herself years ago.  

How to start networking? Be proactive. Become active in one or more of the following:

1.     Non-profit or Charity Work. Find a cause in your community for which you are passionate. Volunteer your time or services. Often these groups have appreciation parties for all volunteers. This is the perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with some of the most powerful, influential and valuable business professionals and community leaders.

2.     Networking Groups. Networking groups meet on a regular basis to socialize and trade business leads. Many of these groups are restrictive, admitting only one professional from any particular industry into the group. It is important to attend meetings on a regular basis.

3.     Associations. Join professional associations, such as The Advertising Federation or your local marketing association. These groups generally meet once a month. It is important to attend meetings on a regular basis.

To build your own network of professionals, form relationships with people in key professional areas. For example, a model might want to have at least one good contact from the following list of professional services (in no particular order):

1.       Talent Agency

2.       Printing Service

3.       Videography

4.       Event Planning

5.       Ad Agency

6.       Clothing and/or Jewelry design

7.       Musicians

8.       Hair Stylist

9.       Makeup Artist

10.    Promotional Products Company

The idea of building relationships with these contacts is to be more than just a name or vague recollection of a brief meeting. Massage the relationship. Do things that will keep you in the minds of these contacts.

1.       Take your contacts to lunch once a month or every two months.

2.       Send short emails on occasion letting them know you'll be at a particular event and hope to see them there.

3.       Send postcards with your photo or logo and a short message to keep in touch or "Thanks for your support at the ... event."

4.       Always send gifts around holidays.

5.       Stop by the office with candies or another gift and leave with the receptionist. (Be sure your name, logo and/or business card is on the package--this is where a friend in the promotional products industry comes in real handy.)

It is important to remember is to become friends with these people, not mere acquaintances. Above all enjoy yourself. Have fun attending all the meetings and events. You will certainly be rewarded--in some way.

Rhonda Wood Chapin

KaDE Studios

www.kadestudios.com