We were lucky to catch up with Andy Brenits recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

There is an old saying, “Your network is your net worth.” Your friends and family are part of your network, so asking them for help should come just as easily and naturally, if not more so, than business and professional colleagues. In fact, asking friends and family for a referral, advice, or some other kind of help might yield better results because they know you so well and believe in you more than anyone else.

Andy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Andy Brenits, a branding and creative strategy expert recognized for my award-winning work as an in-house creative director and independent creative consultant. As the Principal and Chief Brand Officer at Brenits Creative, I have helped countless growing businesses compete with big brands by creating a consistent way to look, communicate, and act.

I advise individuals and business owners on brand strategy, creative management, and what it takes to differentiate oneself consistently in a crowded market.

I started my career working for boutique design studios in New York City before moving in-house at major brands like Gap, NFL, and KPMG. I received my BFA in fine art and graphic design from the School of Visual Arts and earned my Masters in Design Management from Pratt Institute.

I’m an experienced mentor and teacher and have taught visual design, marketing, brand strategy, and creative development to undergraduate and graduate classes at esteemed institutions such as Pratt Institute, MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), and Columbia University.

These days, along with running my agency, I work with solopreneurs, authors, experts, and coaches to develop their personal brands. I also coach other self-employed people on how to be productive and focused in their day-to-day work.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

The fortune is in the follow-up.

Often, timing is everything. I was referred to a client who wanted to rebrand their business. After a long conversation, we determined that the brand wasn’t the problem; a lack of marketing was. Few people even knew his business existed. Without appropriate marking or advertising, new positioning and identity wouldn’t matter. As it turns out, they weren’t prepared to embark on any campaigns at that time.

Now, you should know that part of my own marketing strategy includes consistent outreach and follow-up with prospects, clients, and my network. Follow-up can take many forms, including an email or text message. I’m not talking about a newsletter. I’m talking about direct, 1:1 communication. Often weeks apart, over the course or months or years.

The prospective client I was talking about above owned and ran a local prepared meal delivery service. Several months passed after our consultation, but I remained in touch. When in March of 2020, when the pandemic looked like it was going to force people to stay home, I sent him a short text message that went something lie this “Hi, It looks like lots of people are going to be working from home for the next six months. This would be a great time to start marketing your meal delivery services”.

He replied almost immediately with, “You’re right, let’s get started.”

So not only did he see the value of marketing at that moment, but my own marketing strategy of keeping in touch paid off. We’re still working together four year later.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Referrals, hands down.

Here’s the thing about referrals, though: You can’t just expect them to happen. Sometimes you need to ask for them, which becomes easier once you get the hang of it.

For those who struggle with this, here’s an idea. After you finish a project for a client, ask for a review/testimonial. If they oblige and provide one, you should do two things immediately:

1. Thank them for the review/testimonial
2. Mention how you enjoyed working with them, and ask if they know one or two colleagues who could use your services, and if so, would they refer you?

That’s all there is to it.

If you sell products rather than offer services, you could simply ask your customers to spread the word. Some businesses even incentivize referrals with discounts on future purchases.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andybrenits.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybrenits
• Other: https://brenits.com