Daycares/camps, etc.

I'm trying to be proactive about marketing... I'd like to paint at local daycares, etc. as I've read about here on the forum. I started an email to a local Y, but it sounds kind of boring and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to spice it up. Here's what I have so far:

Hello,

I'm a professional (and insured) face painter who lives in ------ and would love the opportunity to come paint at the Y camps, early childhood or afterschool programs. Please visit my website to see what I do and if it's a service you'd be interested in.

Thanks for your time!

Regards,
Etc. Etc.

Thanks for any input!

Julie

Hi Julie

You only think it's boring because you've heard it all before!

However ... I would suggest a few things:

=> Don't only talk about yourself
I haven't seen your website so don't know how this 'sells' what you do, but you MUST make the email more 'compelling' so that they definately click-through.

=> Talk about what you do, what you 'solve' for them
Then, they'll be interested as it'll have some benefits for them.

=> Keep the email short and sweet but 'tease' them with your 'solutions' so that they must go and look.

=> Definately end with something they should do (a call to action) so ask them to respond with the things they may be interested in or offer them more info on any topic that you could send afterwards. Somehow encourage some action!

=> You should really personalise the email and addrss it to a specific person. In fact you should really get 'permission' to send an email ... so this is when you get the correct decision maker's name and position.

No space here to really go into the whole process of writing sales copy or getting people hooked ..... but these little additions should help a bit.

Good luck

John

I wouldn't expect them to do the work to find out more. Be more specific about what you can do for them with a specific idea for their organization "I see you've got your annual back-to-school event coming up" etc.

I would make the assumption that it's a service they want. Assume that they want to hire a face painter (or will when they see your work) and ask for the business. Tell them why you are a great face painter.

One I recently sent out (to a local college and for a specific event) I told them why I as a good face painter (insurance, training, etc.), gave them short testimonials from past clients and specific ideas for their event and bid for the 3 hours of the event. Yes, it was a little long, but it was a business proposal. I also attached a copy of my contract. (BTW...I had already talked with them in person before I sent this and they saw my tent/setup/work.)

Honestly, if you live in the area and you want to target them specifically for long term work, I would go in person. I find email stinks for communication for a lot of people. They either spam it or ignore it. I would make up a flyer with some of your best pictures and go and find the decision maker.

Good luck to you! I'm a little "pot calling the kettle black" because I've hesitated doing a lot of marketing outside of handing out business cards but I've done a lot of marketing for other companies.

D.

Thanks to both of you! Sounds like I have some work to do. Denise, are you recommending just showing up at their offices without an appointment? I agree that in person is probably more effective (especially since they can put a face to a name and experience my charm first-hand, lol. I'm wondering, however, since you spoke to the people you mentioned first (at a festival, I presume), that it wasn't so much of a "cold call". Maybe I can call first and ask about coming down with some flyers?

In my experience daycares are not a great market... but it may be different in your area. And your rates might be more appealing than mine to them... there is always that!

They generally don't have the extra funds to spend unless it is a "special" event. But if you know of those event mention them in your letter.

Daycamps can be somewhat more successful - but for the Summer programs generally hitting them in May or June when they are doing their planning and budgeting for the summer is best. But, it doesn't hurt to try!

Even if they don't hire you this time they are now aware of you and remember you when they DO want a painter.

oh, yeah...sorry, I would call ahead and ask who the person is then call them and say "can I stop by and give you a flyer for my face painting services?" if they say they are busy/out of office THEN you could ask for their email and I would send a PDF version of your flyer...not just a text type message.

You are right, it wasn't really a "cold call" and that's why I sent an email.

I want to market to local businesses and I'll probably make a generic flyer for corporate events and send them out. But if you want a specific company, I'd customize it to their events. When I get it done (this weekend hopefully) I'll post it.

D.

One sure way to catch their attention, show them what you can do, and get the kids asking for more of you, is to offer a freebie. What about a 15 minute face painting demonstration where you transform a teacher and a student into your best designs in exchange for a flyer going home with every parent and one staying on file with the people in charge of events? If they have an email/regular newsletter you could request a small ad in it as well.