Catch up:  Milestone 1  |  Milestone 2 Milestone 3  |  Milestone 4  |  Milestone 5

Rather than cry in my Cheerios (at least for very long) after getting laid off in 2014, I took it as a sign to DCM Communications from a side hustle to full time.

✔️ I had a logo
✔️ I had a website
__ Consistent revenue

That last piece—consistent revenue—is the difference between having a business versus a time-consuming hobby.

So, I turned to a strategy that I still recommend to every business owner who needs a fast infusion of work.

The Strategy That Works Every Time

I pulled together my first email list from my entire database of LinkedIn connections. Then, I emailed everyone using this simple but effective framework:

➜ Reconnect: Remind them how we know each other (segmenting my list).
➜ Share My Services: Outline what I’d be offering.
➜ Identify My Audience: Explain the type of clients I’d be working with (my ideal client avatar).
➜ Ask for Referrals: Ask who they knew that could benefit from my services.

Results That Speak for Themselves

And I got a bite!

Managing the social media campaign and onsite content creation for Pike Production’s annual Tie One On event.

After that, the momentum grew:

A former BizBash editor reached out about PR work… Another connection hired me to write website copy…

Each opportunity snowballed into the next. By continuing to share what I was doing, the work kept coming in.

From Side Hustle to Full-Fledged Business

That’s when the “one day this could be a business” thought became a reality. Over the years:

➜ My service offerings expanded.
➜ My reputation grew.
➜ The DCM Krewe grew.

And best of all, the DCM community grew to include incredible clients and supporters like YOU.

Author

Channing Muller is an award winning marketing & public relations consultant and the principal of DCM Communications, based out of Chicago. She works with event professionals and business owners to grow and scale their businesses with refined marketing strategies developed through one-on-one and group consulting, customized marketing programs and public relations. She has been named a "25 Young Event Pro to Watch" by Special Events magazine and "40 Under 40" by Connect Meetings. Channing is an avid runner, lover of Labrador Retrievers, good food, delicious drinks, and an advocate for the American Heart Association.

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