If you're not using social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or even email marketing to build business, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Why?
Because the internet provides leverage. It allows one single person to make a huge impact. If you're in sales, marketing or PR (if you're self-employed, you're in all three), you know how important that is. Gone are the days when big corporations are the only ones that can spread a message far and wide.
Furthermore, these days, prospects and clients are likely to see your online profile before they ever meet you! And once they meet you, if they are interested in doing business with you, chances are they'll do their online homework then too.
When people look for you online...
What do they find?
When people Google you, find you in Facebook or look you up LinkedIn, does what they see represent you well? Is your personal brand consistent across platforms? Is your profile photo attractive and reflective of that brand?
If you do nothing else, right now, at the very least make sure that your profile images are attractive and represent your unique brand. Not sure? Ask a trusted friend to tell you honestly – and don't get defensive when she tells you the truth. Chances are, she only wants to help (and if not, then what kind of friend is that anyways?)
Simply put, your profile pic IS your first impression. Enough said.
How important is having a professional portrait or headshot?
Just recently on the local nightly news in Miami, a group of older unemployed women were interviewed and asked about how their job search was going. One women said: "An increasing trend is that people that are hiring are asking for a headshot with the resume." The story was about a Miami doctor offering free Botox to these women. I say, forget Botox! Get a great headshot instead!!
Right or wrong, the fact is, how you are perceived visually is just as important as what you know how to do – at least when it comes to making a great first impression. And nowhere is that more true than online.
Having a great, professional portrait is also important if you're trying to brand yourself as an expert in your field. All experts have professional portraits. It's even better if you're image makes it clear what you do. (Notice the Sharpies in my photo... I use that photo for my workshops and seminars, because I use Sharpies a lot to help release creative thinking – and I have a bit of a Sharpie fetish.)
Just because the photo is professional, doesn't mean it has to be fake or boring!
What contributes to a great online profile image?
1. That it reflects your unique brand.
2. It has to be current - a photo that looks old screams "stuck in the past." Even if you were more "beautiful" 10 years ago, chances are these last 10 years have given you experience, character and depth. Don't hide that.
3. The right pose says it all. And that pose should be unique for your brand. No generic, cheesy glamour shots! Your picture should reflect who you are and what you do, and shouldn't look like anyone else's – unless of course that's the brand you wish to convey. In which case, that's a strategic decision.
4. Quality. Enough said.
5. Eye contact - at least for most people. While there are certain brands that require something different, for the most part, making eye contact helps to draw people in. Simply put, making eye contact engenders trust. And we all know trust is the basis of every relationship – business or otherwise.
Are you starting to see how your profile pic can help you really start to use social media more effectively? So how do you get a great headshot? I'm so glad you asked ;)
We can help! On June 19th, we're going to help you take control of your online brand AND we're going to shoot your brand new, attractive, unique, perfectly branded headshot.
June 19th, 2009:
The Online Image, Personal Branding & Professional Portrait Workshop
In addition to an interactive, fun, live workshop designed to guide you in managing your personal brand and your online presence, Little's Portrait's will shoot an attractive, authentic, true-to-your-personality headshot of you (including hair, makeup and retouching).
During the workshop we'll also help you craft a compelling elevator pitch (what we call a "teaser") and afterwards, once my team and I have personally reviewed and evaluated your online presence, we'll tell you exactly what you need to do to deploy your image and your brand online and off for greater success.
This is perhaps the coolest event I've ever done. What's not to love? Get a fabulous professional portrait, solidify your personal brand, revamp your online presence & have a blast with other amazing, successful women!
A quick rundown of what you'll get:
1. An attractive, professional (not cookie cutter), retouched headshot that captures your unique brand (two if you sign up early...)
2. A complete analysis of your online presence, including your website, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter, and concrete suggestions for improving it.
3. A compelling, authentic 30-second "elevator pitch" (or "teaser") that you can use when networking or when put on the spot, plus one-on-one training in delivering it and using it – both in person and online.
4. 3 follow-up phone calls designed to help you effectively manage your online brand.
5. Fun, instructive and interactive workshop exercises with a small group of amazing professional women.
6. One-on-one time with me before (to prepare) and after (to follow up)
The Portrait(s)
Just because you're getting a professional headshot, doesn't mean that the photo has to be generic, cheesy, or boring.
In fact, whether your brand is "Earth Mother," "Badass Exec," "Girl-Next-Door Entrepreneur," "Marketing Queen," "Trustworthy Financial Planner," "Kooky Artist" or something completely different, a portrait can and should project your unique brand. And if you don't have a professional portrait, you're missing the opportuntiy to let a picture speak 1,000 words – about you.
Why do you need a professional headshot? Because it's likely the first image that many people will ever see of you. If you're using a crop of a family vacation photo, an old picture from 15, 10 or anything over 5 years ago, you're making a mistake. Not only is it unprofessional, but you're missing the opportunity to keep your brand as current and as relevant as you are. In this day and age, that's really important.
The Workshop
At the workshop, in addition to shooting your headshot, we'll conduct fun, interactive sessions to help you craft and deploy your personal brand. We'll:
– Personally help you craft a compelling "Elevator Pitch" (or what we prefer to call a "Teaser).
– Discuss the stylistic choices that align with your brand.
– Have a fun, instructive experience with a group of like-minded women.
– Have a blast.
The Online Presence Analysis
Whether or not you even use these tools for business, you need to manage your online presence carefully because in this day and age it's often likely someone will interact first with your online brand before they even meet you in person!
This part of the program happens before, during and after the workshop. We'll:
– Define your brand.
– Learn what you need to do to "own your name" all over the web.
– Evaluate your image for consistency across all platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, website, etc.)
– Guide you in effectively deploying and managing your online presence.
You can easily take control of your online presence, just by following the strategic steps we'll give you.
We will take a look at all of your online profiles and tell you exactly what you need to make them better – based on your particular online and business objectives. LinkedIn, Facebook, Google & Twitter are places where at the very least, you need to have a profile – even if you don't actively use them all.
Even if you don't want to use any of the above tools for business, you need to know what's already out there about you, and you need to – at the very least – protect your name.
We women take such care with our appearance every day. I recently read that the average woman spends 55 minutes a day grooming! What are you doing to manage your image online? Chances are, you're not spending 55 minutes a day – at least not strategically. We'll teach you the essentials of what you can do to easily and effectively manage your online presence.
The Extras
In addition to the above, you'll also get access to the following 3 conference calls after the workshop (with free audio downloads if you miss the calls):
1. How to Capture & Build a Targeted, Qualified Contact List
2. Using Facebook For Business
3. Email Marketing 101
Second, you'll get one full consulting session, one-on-one, with me. We'll schedule it for sometime after the workshop to discuss how to strategically use your image and revamp your online presence. Or you can use it for whatever you want... bring a list of questions, print out all of your marketing materials, pick my brain... whatever you want. For one full hour.
Price & Payment
First, a quick rundown of the value of each of these services individually.
→ Headshot: A professionally shot headshot usually costs between $300 and $600, retouched.
→ Workshop: For a workshop this size (around 10 people) I usually charge $150 to $250.
→ Consulting Fee: My hourly consulting/coaching rate is $160.
→ Online Presence & Website/Landing Page Analysis: $420 (landing page only) - $640 (full site)
Bonus for Early Registrants: The first 10 women to sign up get an additional retouched photo – so you'll have two that you can use. For example a "serious" one and a "fun" one. A close up and a full body. One sitting, one standing. This gives you options.
All together, that's between a $1030 and $1,650 value. However, the price for the whole package is just 1 payment of $275 now to register, and then another payment of $275 in a month.
Your incentive to sign up right away? If you are among the first 10 women to register, you'll receive an extra retouched photo as an added bonus. So instead of just one "look" choice, you can have two.
Did I mention the guarantee? If you're not 100% in love with this experience or your photo, I refund your full fee. This is my way of showing you how confident I am of the value this experience will deliver.
If you've been putting it off, here's your chance to get a great, professional headshot that captures your unique brand... not to mention you'll get great personal guidance to establish a consistent, aligned online personal brand.
1 payment of $275 now, and another in 1 month. The second payment will happen automatically through PayPal. The first 5 women to sign up receive bonus photo (after the first 5 women, this is an additional $55/photo).
The program starts at 2 pm and goes until 7 pm. The studio is in Fort Lauderdale. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, June 16th. But to get the extra headshot, sign up right away.
Once you sign up, we start working. I'll personally have a call with you to discuss your objectives and what to bring to the workshop: wardrobe choices, props if you need them and business materials. In addition, I'll start doing my homework on you online. You'll receive directions to the studio within a few days by email. Having trouble signing up, or want alternative payment options? See below.
Having trouble signing up?
We've heard about some problems paying with Paypal. Here's what you do: Go to http://www.paypal.com, sign in, choose "send money" and send money to mivi@mivistaconsulting.com. Include in the notes section your phone number. Or you can email us at jessica@mivistainc.com.
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