Promoting your Business to the Joy Troupe

So, you are just starting out on your own in a business that appeals to families or women and you'd like to reach the Joy Troupe members to start promoting your product or services. We'd love to get in on the ground floor of your business! My best suggestions for good results, based on my experience and feedback from previous photography events, would be as follows:

1. Set aside some time to do some (say, three, depending on your location) Joy Troupe events. If there will be any waiting, combine them with a social activity, so the families will be having fun even while they are waiting for you. (We have lots of playdate and Mom Time ideas that would work for this- just talk to one of our organizers for help.)

2. It's tempting if you are just getting started to give away your time in an effort to promote your business. However, if you have a familiar product or service, people are more likely to take you seriously if you do charge something for your time, however modest. (If people have probably not tried your service before, by all means offer a free trial to make it more approachable.)

For us to post a group event which has a fee, we do require that you give a portion of the money back to the group, but on the whole, it's a win-win. A 20% commission is typical for our fundraisers. Choose a price that's within most families budgets, and you'll find that people love a bargain. I'm the last to complain about anything that's free! But this is your time away from your kid/home/dog/other job, whatever- you should walk away with something in your pocket.

3. Set up your website, even if it is very simple and only has pictures of your own child, so we can link to it when we promote these events. Establishing your web presence now will pay off down the road. (Check out the Joy Troupe package. You can download free templates and design software, too.)

4. Once you create your introductory offer, offer a coupon toward future services to all members, whether they participate or not. We normally do an after-event email with pictures, etc- be sure to ask the photographer if you can use some of the nicest ones on your site! Once folks see others having fun at your events, they will be interested, and a coupon will help "close the deal."

5. Once we post the events, let us offer one or two free spots in the events as prizes. We'll tie them in with something else we are promoting to build awareness and excitement for your events.

6. Last but not least, if you are charging for your event, require each RSVP to pay a non-refundable deposit up front to hold their spot. This will cut down on no-shows. I suggest 50%.

The suggestions I've outlined above would offer value to both you and the JT members, and help you take the next step toward starting your own business. For further reading and more ideas, I highly reccommend the books by Jeff Gitomer for anyone who is considering self-employment- they are easy and fun to read, and very insightful about marketing and sales.