THIS MONTH:
+ Dream Team
+ Market Your Mates

+ Dream Team
You're face to face with a Powerful Prospect.

"So, how big's your firm?" he asks.

"Four other designers and myself," you say.

Wrong answer.

It makes your design firm sound small. And small firms don't usually land large projects. Or get large fees.

Why not talk about your team?

Prospects need to know there's more to your team than just designers.

Your team includes flooring specialists. And kitchen and bath professionals. And window fashion experts. And painters, faux finishers, artisans, electricians, heating and cooling pros, installers, landscape architects, and all sorts of other contractors and craftsmen.

Then, too, the team includes your vendors and suppliers.

Like furniture companies, fabric manufacturers, wall covering firms, drapery workrooms, appliance retailers and other providers of everything from cabinetry to carpeting.

No, don't say "small" to the Powerful Prospect.

Say "big enough to provide a full range of services."

+ Market Your Mates
Your marketing materials don't say it all if they make you look small.

Take your website, for example.

Is the section called "About Us" about ... all... of us?

Does it merely promote the principals, or does it also feature the allied professionals with whom you align?

Does it speak to the collective excellence and expertise of the whole team?

Promote your team by touting your teammates.

Include their bios and info about their:

+ experience
+ awards
+ affiliations
+ clients
+ products

Have them post your information in their materials, and link to your website.