Next
Oldest

Marketing Using Speaking Engagements

Category: Marketing & PR Strategies You Might Try

Published: Monday, June 29, 2009

Marketing Using Speaking Engagements To Build Your Business

No matter what your business is, small, large, entrepreneurial, home based business, or even if you work for a large corporation, SPEAKING is a great way to Market YOU and YOUR business.

Everyone of us has an expertise about something that we can share with others.

When we are speaking we also get the opportunity to share who we are and what our business is. It's also a great thing to have a handout that you prepare for the individuals attending that have key things you are talking about so they can take notes, and then at the end you can add your contact information. They take this with them so they would have more information on who you are and what you do and what services or products you could provide them with as well.

To get started you need to first write down all the things that you are an expert on.:

Then ask yourself who would these subjects appeal to? Is it men, women, a certain type of business, or ????

Once you have identified the WHO, then you ask yourself where do these people SHOW UP at? Do they go to local chamber meetings, below to Clubs and Organizations. What organizations would they belong to?

These are also great questions to ask people as you SHOW UP at events and meet them, as that way you gain more valuable knowledge about them. I always add this information on the back of business cards I collect along with the date and event I met them. This has proven to be a valuable source for me..

If you are just starting to speak then you could start with your local nonprofits, like Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist Clubs, Soroptomist,, Lions, BPW, NAFE, EWomen Network, NAWBO. Local Chamber of Commerce's, and there are hundreds more, . You can find a list of these in your area by going to Google and typing the name of the organization and then they usually have a link to the State you are in,. When you go there it will list the organizations in your State. You can also Google for a list of nonprofit organizations, associations and fraternal organizations and get lists that way as well. If your market is college age people, you can contact local colleges for opportunities to speak, or adult education offices to be able to do classes for them, as they are always looking for topics and trainers.

Also your local business journal and on line calendars that list meetings is another great source to find lists and who to contact. Type in on-line event calendars and see what comes up in your area.

Now you have developed the list, what's next:

You need to create a one sheet about who you are, your topics that you offer, what they will learn from that topic, your BIO, testimonials if you have them. and your website address as well as a Jpeg photo of you. You also will add your contact information, your company name etc., Remember you need to come up with clever titles as that is what gets them interested.

If you have been speaking for awhile than you want to look for conventions, and conferences that are currently showing up in your area, or if you are willing to travel showing up globally.

Everyone of us receive numerous emails about upcoming events, read these as opportunities for YOU. In most cases it would be too late to be a speaker at the event you are getting a notice for, but its not too late to go to them immediately and ask them about their next conference or event and who would be the contact person to talk to about submitting a proposal to be a speaker and/or seminar leader. Now would be the time to make contact with them for late 2009 and 2010 conferences and events.

Another source would be to start researching through Google, your local business journals and other business organizations as to what groups are out there in your areas that you can share your knowledge with, as they usually have who to contact and phone numbers about the meeting so that is a great start. When calling them ask them who books their speakers and get their contact information.

Another way is to join a Speakers Bureau, In today's climate its great to find one that affords an affordable membership for all of us especially in these tough economic times.

June Davidson the President of ASLA in Pasadena, CA trains and certifies individuals to be speakers and/or seminar leaders. In addition she also has a speakers bureau that her ASLA graduates can join for $19.97 per month and if a non graduate they can join for $39.97 per month. There are no contracts to sign for the Speakers Bureau and in the 6 months that the speakers bureau has been in operation ASLA has sent out over 1,000+ call for proposals to their speaker bureau members. Many have been selected to be part of late 2009 and 2010 upcoming conferences. You can check out her website at www.asla.com for cost of her certification course and the course training schedule and pricing. ASLA has been in operation over 14 years and has trained some of the top money making speakers and seminar leaders globally. Three are many other speakers bureaus as well, so google them and see which one best serves your needs.

I myself have been speaking for over 9 years and have spoken to groups as big as 10,000 and as small as 20 globally,. In everyone of the thousands of events I have spoken at over the years, I have have made tremendous connections, which have enhanced my business and brought me many new clients to increase with a result of increased profits.

So to get started create your Marketing and Speaking Materials, the one page I mentioned and let people know when you are at meetings that you are looking for opportunities to speak for groups, conferences, associations, etc., as everyone belongs to something and they could start to open the door for you.

Remember it really is about SHOWING UP and ASKING, so start today on Marketing Your Business with SPEAKING. The greatest thing is that it works and can open many doors for you. Just remember to speak about what you know, and then it is very easy to stand in front of groups and/or audiences of all sizes and share your knowledge.

Our next blog on Marketing and Speaking Materials will talk about Back of the Room items you could sell at these events, especially at events you do not get a speaking fee for. So keep checking back on the blog for more tips for YOU and YOUR business.

Visitor Comments ( 0 ) | Post a Comment

Be the first to share your Comments...

Belief in yourself can get you through anything...

Category: It's All About Showing Up Stories

Published: Tuesday, September 06, 2011

I always wondered what people felt when their doctor gave them bad news. I myself have not been much of a doctor person over the years. Recently I had to give in and SHOW UP at my wonderful doctors office as I was having some knee pain. While I was there she asked me if I had any other problems and so I thought that I would share with her that I had been having a little breast pain on my left Breast for awhile.

SHOWING UP IS LIKE A TREASURE MAP

Category: It's All About Showing Up Stories

Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011

SHOWING UP IS LIKE A TREASURE MAP, AND THE POWER IS IN THE ASKING...HERE IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE THAT ASKED, GOT SOME IDEAS AND THEN TOOK ACTION.