Like you, I sometimes wonder, how well is my marketing promoting my business? I keep at it. I keep sending out Executive View Newsletter, connecting with my network and looking for opportunities to not only promote my business, but also helping my network through my expertise or passing along opportunities I think might be a fit for others.

One of my network groups is HAPPEN in Mississauga, Halton and Peel Professional Executive Network. There are many wonderful professionals “in transition” in HAPPEN. They are a great group that offers help while they are looking themselves and also after they land. One member, in particular, who helped me is Hugh Black from HMB Communications Group. Contact hughblack at cogeco.ca

As you can imagine, conversations have been ongoing regarding unemployment numbers. Hugh Black used his expertise in communications, to network with reporters at The Toronto Star on behalf of HAPPEN. Yesterday, all the random pieces starting coming together when the new Canadian statistics for employment in April 2009 showed that unemployment stayed the same and there was an increase in the self employed numbers. As a result of Hugh Black’s efforts; I was interviewed as an example of someone who had transferred their skills and started their own business,  Executive Sales Support. My business helps sales and business professionals get out of the office to see more clients and close deals. As a result of this interview, an article was written for the front page of The Toronto Star’s Business section on Saturday May 9, 2009. Yahoo, marketing pays off!

Here is the link to the article “Self-employment: The ‘do-it-yourself recovery’  Jobs increased last month, largely through people embracing self employment, The Toronto Star’s Business section on Saturday May 9, 2009.