"I need more clients!" wails Steve, a 32 year old Boston-based financial planner, echoing a familiar refrain. Poised and well spoken, Steve is after the same high net worth individual as others in his field. How can he rise above his competition?
One of the more innovative yet inexpensive ways of building buzz for your business is to consider inviting members of your target audience to a complimentary talk. For example, Steve could invite people to his nicely furnished office for a brief talk on financial planning, and follow up with complimentary consultations.
To Steve's delight, the idea worked.
Why is public speaking such a great promotional tool?
First, it reinforces the perception that you are an expert in your field. Second, advance notice of your speaking engagement brings you free publicity as hundreds of potential clients will see your name and picture on postcards, glossy conference brochures, in the newspaper, and on the Internet.
Many professionals speak for the publicity alone. Diane Darling, CEO of Effective Networking, Inc. and the author of The Networking Survival Guide, likes to speak at the Los Angeles Learning Annex because her picture, company name, and the cover of her book jacket goes out to a mailing list of 100,000 and offered free in hundreds of locations around the city. "It's the best form of free advertising you can get," she says.
Public speaking is also valuable in terms of creating top of the mind awareness of your services among existing clients and colleagues, helping generate referrals and further establish you as the expert of choice.
Speaking to Generate and Refine Book Ideas
Attracting clients is just one reason to consider public speaking.
If you are thinking of writing a book, you can use public speaking as a way to test the market for a new book or product, or refine the development of a book in progress. Penny C. Sansevieri gives talks related to publishing, and used her class at the San Diego Learning Annex to refine the manuscript that turned out to be her book, Get Published Today.
Ken Lizotte, CIO (Chief Imagination Officer) of Emerson Consulting Group, Inc., speaks before a variety of associations as members are in the position to use his article writing and book development services.
How to Find speaking opportunities
Speaking opportunities are all around you. Just look in the Calendar section of your local business journal and city newspaper to see the various events hosted by local chapters of national associations, business and civic organizations (Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc). Also, check your mail, email, and trade association publications for announcements of industry meetings and conventions.
The next time you hear yourself saying you need more clients, look no further than the nearest podium.
Complimentary articles and ebooks available at http://www.BuildingBuzz.com
This article is adapted from Marisa D'Vari's book Building Buzz: How to Reach and Impress Your Target Audience.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Mention the word sales or salesman and two out of... Read More
"There are three kinds of salespeople; those who make things... Read More
There are a number of sales closing strategies that you... Read More
Setting prices is a dilemma most service business owners encounter... Read More
These are the top 7 safety tips that criminals don't... Read More
I had my first official sales training by a man... Read More
It's not too early to start planning for the sales... Read More
My silent fish tank was no more. Enough water had... Read More
Tired of sending out sales letters that generate anemic response?... Read More
You must be able to coordinate your sales talk to... Read More
The saying "No man is an island" is an undeniable... Read More
What are values? Values are filters that everyone uses to... Read More
You have a choice. You can stand out or blend... Read More
During the introduction of the "Stop Selling!" philosophy, we typically... Read More
Contrary to many of the books on how to be... Read More
To be totally in tune with the needs of your... Read More
I'm not a fan of "The Donald" and I had... Read More
A study done by the Association of Sales Executives revealed... Read More
When making your living in the sales industry, and working... Read More
I am writing this at the Philadelphia Airport on my... Read More
Performance and motivation are like chocolate & peanut butter; the... Read More
If you've been in sales for any length of time,... Read More
I put together this little article because, although basic, we... Read More
1. Negotiate with e-zine publishers to get free or discounted... Read More
Here are 4 easy ways you can boost your sales... Read More
Suggestive selling is a powerful tool that can increase your... Read More
Here is a question I recently received from a young... Read More
Cold calling may now be outdated. People have become defensive... Read More
How many times have you had a customer say to... Read More
If a store had a great discount in the middle... Read More
How do you persuade someone to do what you want... Read More
The "Three Cs" in building customer relationships are a key... Read More
Many home business owners lament they don't have enough cash... Read More
Your mission as a business owner is to develop a... Read More
I had my first official sales training by a man... Read More
Cross-selling - the art of selling for non-salespeopleCross-selling is the... Read More
Imagine this scenario. You are a sales representative for Baker... Read More
The goal of all sales training is not just to... Read More
We are all in sales. We all selling in every... Read More
Most salespeople are under the false belief that the lower... Read More
We all make mistakes and some salespeople seem to make... Read More
Would you like to multiply your web site sales? Or... Read More
Yesterday I did a sales training program for a great... Read More
Just because your business is based in your home that... Read More
Every sales presentation should start with the approach, or introduction.... Read More
We all make mistakes when selling our product or service.... Read More
It is always important that you use the right terms... Read More
If you're a business person you want to sell your... Read More
A sales manager who reads this newsletter regularly suggested the... Read More
One of the best books I have ever read is... Read More
I saw something in town the other day that just... Read More
I love the art of selling. LOVE IT. When I... Read More
During the late 1980's I was a field sales representative... Read More
Obviously, you can not know all of the things that... Read More
It pays to be specific. I believe that statement is... Read More
You deal with rejections, frustrations, disappointment, and possibly disrespect on... Read More
Follow this story...I went to Best Buy today to get... Read More
When Thomas Edison's light bulb finally burned for 45 straight... Read More
What was the quickest rejection you ever got? 2 minutes... Read More
Most people tremble when they hear the word "sales".This explains... Read More
As business owners we all know that in a ideal... Read More
One of the biggest problems for many business owners is... Read More
I sit down and look at my notebook. Then, I... Read More
Do you ever feel that when you are doing direct... Read More
Selling online can be very difficult, more difficult than in... Read More
Who's talking to your customers? Is it your competition? Why... Read More
Sales Training |