The first impression you make on potential clients is essential and happens quickly. You not only need to take advantage of any possible chance to rise above the competition, but you also need to successfully communicate what you do. By creatively using your industry’s latest trends, you can better attract clients and keep their attention, then show them all that you have to offer!
Why do trends matter?
Marketing with trends is one of the most powerful ways to communicate that you’re professional and business savvy. It’s imperative to prove to clients that you are worth your rate, and you should start by keeping your online presence relatable and updated. Just like a clothing store has to continually change their displays to attract customers through the seasons, so do you.
Each of your online profiles is like a virtual storefront. Potential clients will judge your skills and services by your media displayed and descriptions. Outdated services or photos can come across as disconnected and unprofessional. Show that you’re already prepared for a potential client’s needs by displaying current, relevant photos, videos, and information.
How are trends discovered?
Depending on the service you offer, the trends you watch for will vary. Certain talents will have it easier than others. If you’re a children’s entertainer, keep an eye out for the latest kid’s movies, characters, and toys. Do you play in a cover band? Keep up with the latest hits (as well as the classics!), and make sure you’ve added your unique style to them.
Your clients will be telling you what the trends are. Take note of the most common requests, and build your act on that. If you’ve incorporated a specific trend that’s rising in popularity, make sure to highlight the trend in your PromoKit.
Beyond your requests and clients, you should also be keeping an eye on your competitors. Have they changed their media? What kind of design are they using on their websites or online profiles? If you notice multiple competitors making the same updates, you will want to consider that update as well. Be creative and put your own spin on it to stand out even more!
Where should trends be utilized?
The two most important segments of your online profiles to keep updated are your media and your bio. These are the first elements that a potential client views in your GigSalad PromoKit. Use these features to highlight the latest trends:
- Change your profile photo to incorporate a growing trend in your industry. Use popular movies and characters to captivate potential clients. Remember, better photos help you get more gigs, so make sure you’re using high-quality images.
- Videos are a great way to display the variety of your offerings. With smartphones, it’s easier than ever to get great footage at a low cost!
- Other than media, your bio is also crucial for communicating your abilities to potential clients. Apply the same trends to your bio and description of services. Including popular characters, styles, or songs in your PromoKit overview will help you appear more often in search results.
Trends are, by definition, short-lived. Look at and change your media and information often to attract clients and land more bookings. By keeping fresh, relatable content on your GigSalad profile and website, you are one step closer to captivating your audience!
Not a member of GigSalad yet? Learn how we can help you make money doing what you love.
I am trying to sign up for your blog. It asks for a ‘valid email’ address. When I put in my email address, it states there is an error because I did not enter a MailChip number.
What is that? And why isn’t it accepting my email address?
Hi Joseph,
Thanks so much for letting us know about this error! We’ll look into it to find the problem, and keep you posted.
Alright, everything should be good to go now. Let me know if you have any other issues. Thanks again!
You mention as children’s entertainers that one should use current movies, etc. Because of copyright we cannot specifically use that, so adjustments have to be made. Example: I can’t offer a Star Wars party, but I could offer a Space theme.
Trends do make a difference. And the performer who does his/her homework and finds the trend that’s not on the surface will do well. Sometime you gotta look “underneath the rocks”, just ask Papa Bavarian
Thanks’ I will take your advice.
Actually some clients are put off by “trendy” advertising, they would much prefer a more traditional approach, especially for something as life-changing as a wedding, which might be a life-long commitment. It really depends on your clientele! Trendy might work for kids’ birthday parties, but weddings? I find most are looking for a more traditional approach, so it’s good to remain flexible!
Great advice!