Coach’s Corner – AIIP Connections Blog

Coach’s Corner: The Infopreneur’s Guide to Attracting Ideal Clients

Editor’s Note: This is the final installment of the Coach’s Corner. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mary Ellen Bates for her many years of sharing invaluable insights and wisdom with our readers through her informative and helpful blog articles.

For an independent info pro, finding and connecting with your ideal clients is crucial for business success. Much like modern dating, attracting the right clients requires a strategic approach, authenticity, and a strong online presence. Let’s explore effective tactics for infopreneurs to find their perfect client matches.

Proving, Not Talking About, Your Value

By Mary Ellen Bates

One mistake made by many infopreneurs when they start their businesses is thinking that we need to sell ourselves, our capabilities, and our services to prospective clients. We assume that, when a prospect calls us to discuss a project, our job is to convince the caller that we are the best person for the job and that we are worth what we are charging for our services. When I was first introducing myself to the market, I would emphasize my years as a library manager, my graduate degree, and membership in AIIP as being indicators of my value.

Beyond the Podium: Recapturing the Invisible College

By Mary Ellen Bates

I am writing this on my way home from the AIIP 2024 Symposium, held in St. Louis April 18-21. The conference sessions, including thought-provoking keynotes and local and AIIP speakers, offered fresh insights and new perspectives – even for someone like me who has attended 30+ AIIP annual conferences. I was particularly impressed with new tools available to incorporate virtual attendees into our in-person events; for example, Meeting Owl 3 was freakishly good at identifying and pointing its camera at the person speaking in the room.

Impostor Syndrome? Don’t Sabotage Your Hard Work

By Mary Ellen Bates

“Hi. I’m Mary Ellen and I’m faking it.”

No, I’m not putting that on my name badge at the AIIP 2024 Symposium, but if I did, I know that many people would sidle up to me and admit they are faking it, too. We’re the people who suffer from Impostor Syndrome at one time or another. Do you worry that people will finally realize you’re not the smart, capable expert they thought you were? Do you think your success is due to luck or a fluke rather than to the fact that you are an astute business owner? Do you obsess about making a mistake, and do you interpret any constructive criticism as further proof of your incompetence?

Generative AI: A Valuable Ally for Infopreneurs?

By Mary Ellen Bates

I have viewed the emergence of general-purpose generative AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Google Bard, etc.) with both trepidation and curiosity. Ever since the HAL 9000 uttered the immortal response “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that” in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, we humans have been leery of the power of artificial intelligence. But I am finding that there are some situations in which generative AI can serve as a useful assistant.

Strategic Doing, Not Just Strategic Planning

By Mary Ellen Bates

A recent conversation on the AIIP-L discussion list about the importance of setting aside time for business planning moved into a discussion of time-management techniques that AIIP members have found helpful for blocking out strategic planning time. Like many others, I set aside one full day a year—or every six months, if I am pivoting my business—to assess where I am, where my best clients are, what I’m enjoying the most, and what I want more of over the next year. After reflection, I come up with the measurable goals that I will achieve if I put my strategic plan in place.

Networking Introductions that Work

By Mary Ellen Bates

As I write this, I am getting ready to head out to Milwaukee for a few days of quality in-person time with fellow infopreneurs at AIIP’s Annual Conference, and I realize that I need to freshen up my 10-second introduction.

Becoming Frictionless

By Mary Ellen Bates

Why do our repeat clients come back to us? While we would like to believe it’s because of our breathtaking analysis, our brilliant marketing campaign, or our unique training program, it’s often something simpler – we’re easy to work with. We make it easier for our clients to come back to us than to find an alternative.