Hill Holler

What to remember is this: new business launches are always trumpeted. They have to be to succeed. The trick is to look at what’s happening in your local area as well as online or nationally.

Think outside the box! You could scan the local newspaper and discover what businesses are coming to town of course but every other local writer’s doing that too. How about instead paying more attention to construction site billboards announcing ” so and so is coming soon!” ? Note down details and contact numbers listed on it. Find out their nearest office that’s handling the new premises and go from there.

Are there empty commercial properties showing signs of life after lying dormant awhile in town? Clues such as tidying up of the grounds going on, trade vans in and out of the parking lot and internal sprucing up of a store give the game away. Keep your eyes peeled for a notice on the door or window about who’s moving in and how to get in touch with them.

All new businesses need to attract new clients. They’ll be in the market for website content, brochures, fliers, maybe some promotional articles…you name it. For the price of a phone call and a little detective work, you could get your grubby paws on a lot of ongoing projects.

At the very least, you’ll have a better idea than most when they’ll need it even if they don’t want to commit to much right now. When the time comes they’re ready, chances are you’ll come to mind because you were proactive. (You did leave behind your business card and/or send a follow up note thanking them for their time, right?)

Don’t be pushy! They’ll have a lot on their plate. Simply make them aware of your existence and close proximity but don’t take up a lot of their time right now. The best you can hope and be grateful for is a few minutes. You can always get in touch once they’re officially open for business to arrange a meeting or chat. (You should never be pushy anyway. Keenness is one thing, being a pain is another.)

Want to go further afield than locally? If you’re an article writer, how about watching out for announcements of a new magazine being launched. Enquire about submissions before the competition descends upon publication of issue #1. Contacting the publishing house sooner rather than later for guidelines is a wise move. Usually their name’s listed in the blurb.

You could also visit the publishing house’s website. See if they mention submission guidelines there or send a polite email asking about it. Of course, it’ll probably be months before your piece appears in print but does that matter? You’re still ahead of the writing pack that’s sitting back waiting to buy that inaugural issue.

I’m sure there’s a million ways to find new markets. Sometimes we just need to change our perspective a little and I hope I helped you find another angle to consider. Good luck!

(Apologies for the delay in posting, readers – I’ve had a bad dose of the flu and was only getting out of bed to do what I’d already committed to then straight back in it, so my blog fell by the wayside over the last week or so.)