The article originally appeared in Circuit Magazine Fall 2011 edition.
I know this might be hard for some in the executive protection and security industry to take, but I’m going to say it loud and clear –A Gun Can’t Get You a Job or Clients.
Yes, I know it might be hard to swallow. I like guns, I like shooting them, holding them, wearing them in a nice Blackhawk holster – guns and apple pie, it’s the American way – I get it, I really do. But they won’t get you a job or clients.
You can have all the gun training in the world, spending tens of thousands a dollars, come out with all the superior marksman, super galactic sniper badges and titles but it still won’t get you a job.
The executive protection services niche is saturated with freshly new “certified” personal protection agents all competing for very few positions. Do you think a gun can get you to the top of the resume heap?
For little to no money what will get you a job and clients is joining sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Making the right connections, follows, and likes through these social media networks will grow your business and sales leads and garner new clients.
When you make a connection on LinkedIn send them a friendly email. This is an example of what I send to someone I connect with:
Hi, thanks for connecting. My company helps companies like yours succeed on the web through internet marketing and social media. If you need or services or want some advice please give me a call 1-718-xxx-xxxx or email me at [email protected].
Thanks,
Larry Snow
Additionally on LinkedIn complete your profile 100 percent. For more tips on LinkedIn see this article. Also, search the job postings in LinkedIn. Lastly, get recommendations! Recommendations from reputable businesses in the EP industry can and have gone a long way to help people get jobs and clients. For more helpful hints read Eight Tips to Get You Started Using LinkedIn to Your Advantage.
On Facebook starts a business page whether you own a business or not. Put your curriculum vitae on there, pictures of you on the job (without the gun), post recommendations or testimonials. You have now created a single web page – for free, and available to anyone in the world.
On your personal Facebook page, remove any images or status updates you wouldn’t want a client to see.
Sure you can follow your gun buddies, family and friends but are they going to get you a job or clients? Probably not. You should follow the right people to grow your business or get you a job. Follow the companies that can get you a job. Follow companies and people in the industry that you emulate and learn from them. Start a conversation with them.
YouTube
Create a short promotional video about who you are and what your business does. Share what makes your business and services different than your competitor.
Blog
If you’ve got a $100 eating a whole in your pocket, register a domain name, buy some hosting, and set up a WordPress website. Write blog posts and articles related to the industry and about your experiences. Ask if you can write an article for EP businesses that have newsletters or magazines like the Circuit Magazine and Security Management Magazine.
Stop the gun talk and start talking about getting a job and growing your business.
If you need advice or want your executive protection or security business to succeed in social media please give me a call 1-781-369-5185.
