In 2008, Melanie Richards developed a seminar called “Increase Your Visibility” to further her passion for helping others create a distinctive and memorable impression. Now Melanie helps entrepreneurs and business owners excavate, express, and illuminate their difference so audiences can find their brand, event, storefront, or website without a flashlight.
Entrepreneur Interview Q & A
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1. What is your business/Business Name? What does your business do?
Increase Your Visibility provides brand recognition, engagement strategies, event marketing services, continuous support, and unique gifts.
We design and discover innovative ways to showcase your business, manage your brand or event that engages your clients, donors, employees and guests. Our core specialties are trade show consulting, event marketing, subtle strategic solutions, engagement strategies, branded apparel, and incentives and unique gifts for all occasions.
2. Why did you get into this field? What opportunities did you see?
After 16 years as a promotional products consultant, marketplace changes inspired me to share education, tips, and host events to help others discover opportunities to grow their donors, revenue and teams. “Increase Your Visibility” was a stand alone seminar, and 5 years later became a series of marketing seminars.
This became a way to fuel my clients growth which ignited my professional and personal growth too. I fell in love with helping clients on a development, infrastructure, and sustaining level with or without gifts.
3. What have been your biggest challenges?
Transforming from the ‘gift lady’ to the ‘gift, engagement, and trade show lady’ confused clients about which hat I wear on a given day.
Building case histories and analyzing metrics and testimonials takes time. Some strategic alliances were not sure how to refer us.
4. What has been your greatest reward?
Helping entrepreneurs express their authentic brand in memorable ways to create responsive audiences and generate revenue at celebrations, conferences, events, presentations, or trade shows.
It is great to watch entrepreneurs and teams achieve success. We go from hand holding to autonomy on their terms and timetable.
5. If you could change something, what would it be?
New clients understand what we do and have become evangelists. Their loyalty and referrals are fueling our growth.
We had a launch party for an exclusive group of prior clients and strategic alliances. Other clients lost their understanding of our vision in the transition. Time to change that on our new website and eliminate the mystery.
6. If you could give a new entrepreneur advice, what would it be?
Practice deep breathing and imagine what success feels or looks like to you and your family.
Think of which bullseye is most important to your goals and budget before you leap into the pool without a life preserver: “Aim high – soaring; Aim low – boring.”
Surround yourself with people you trust to tell you the truth, who are willing to support you 24/7 and ready to give you clear, honest feedback even on days when they do not have the time or patience.
7. Social Media. Yay or Nay?
Yay, at a sloth’s pace.
8. How do you market your products?
In person and online. I love to share wrapped gifts to create positive marketing experiences.
9. Is your business a service or a product? If you are a product, how do you handle production?
Both. All products are manufactured by others and drop shipped.
10. What is unique about your business?
It is a marketing kaleidoscope that does not fit in one category or neatly in one drawer.
When you need help expressing your authentic brand in memorable ways to create responsive audiences and generate revenue, we are here to help you conceive and exceed expectations at celebrations, conferences, events, presentations, or trade shows.
11. Sell me your product/service.
I’ll help you excavate, express, and illuminate your difference so audiences can find your brand, event, storefront or website without a flashlight.
Are you ready to not be the best kept secret in your industry, marketplace, and neighborhood?
Let’s show your clients that the perfect gifts are your business services and expertise – gift wrapped or served on a platter when and where they need or want it.
12. How can people get in touch with you? What’s your website/Contact information?
Quickest ways are via our business mobile (845) 545-2611 or on social media,
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IncreaseYourVisibilitywithMel
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melanierichards
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bvisiblewithmel.
Our website is a work in progress: http://increaseyourvisibility.biz
