Merrigan Group

It’s been about three months since I first had a strategy conversation with you. The first few sessions were intense as I had many things to consider in my approach to art. Your email follow-ups to me after our conversations listed down the most important things which I needed to think about and resolve. Your lists were such a huge help. I kept notes from our talk, but without your clear, insightful bullet lists of things to pay attention to,  I would have fallen back into confusion. I found your advice and outlines so useful and encouraging.

Later, as a follow-up to my having an exhibition, you helped me to turn around a negative situation. Once again your advice and guidance completely shifted my perspective. You helped me identify how I could turn a disappointing situation into a positive and productive experience. You advised me to leverage an opportunity out of the closing day of my exhibit!  Upon that advice I created an event with ads in local media and newspapers.. Instead of a sad experience it became a celebration. Thank you so much!

Since March, I have continued to be more involved in using social media for self-promotion. In the past, it has taken me up to a year to secure another solo exhibition, but with your encouraging advice and my using social media more wisely, I already have an exhibition underway right now with another solo exhibition booked for next May 2018.

I am so grateful for your advice.  I believe that  because you are a working artist and astute business woman, you intuit many of the problems and hesitations artists feel regarding their work. Your understanding of how to use social media intelligently as an artist has been a special gift. Thank you so much.

You have my permission to use any of my comments to clients who would need your services should they wish to hear from a previous client.  I unreservedly recommend Mary Ellen’s service. If you follow through with your “homework” , the results will be more than worth the efforts. Mary Ellen has a true gift for empowering creative people to see their value and experience tangible rewards for their uniqueness.

Caroline Garrett Hardy|www.carolineghardy.com

To say that I’ve been resistant to social media is an understatement. I have a presence, as I’ve been told I must, but it has been piecemeal and unfulfilling. Mary Ellen changed all that with her tremendously valuable Strategy Session. In our first session she asked me a lot of questions, and listened very carefully to my goals, my preferences, where I was with social media, all of it. When we met again a few days later, I was astounded at how she had distilled what I said, what she researched on my current status, and her deep knowledge of social media. She helped me prioritize what was most important to ME, and gave me actionable and manageable steps to take. Although there was a lot (Mary Ellen is very thorough), she presented it in a way that I could work through it. And she gave me just enough education on Facebook and blogging ‘my two priorities’ so I can make good decisions. If you’re looking for someone who can help you create a SYSTEM out of the creative chaos of social media, Mary Ellen is the social media advisor for you.

Over the last decade, my connection with Mary Ellen has very naturally evolved. We met as colleagues; now she is a trusted ally. Her clean clear mentoring helps me reconnect to my business compass when I’m adrift.

One of the things I most enjoy is Mary Ellen’s ability to customize our session to my specific needs. And, those needs change moment to moment. For example, in preparing for a writer’s conference presentation, Mary Ellen challenged me to refine my speech, highlighting my novel more persuasively. She helped me and hone my speech to my goals. It was extremely satisfying and ‘spot on!’

Her students comment on her engagement and responsiveness in addition to her content. Mary Ellen makes an effort to keep the complicated world of social media simple and relatable with updated information.

Mary Ellen stepped in as part of our team and just ‘got it.’ It was like having our own marketing department. Because of her focused approach, we accomplished all we set out to and more. We wouldn’t have changed anything.

Thanks to this class I can now pitch an idea. What an immense help.

I’ll keep practicing. This is a safe place to go forward.

I’m thinking about what we said about my website and how that impacts my brand and identity.

Feedback about my bio was awesome.

This was a great way to zone in on what to focus on for business. I’d not really thought about advertising myself.

Mary Ellen really helped open my eyes to the many different marketing tools that are available. She was very helpful and resourceful.