http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/7-ways-to-build-client-relationships.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/7-ways-to-build-client-relationships.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Follow up – Most people today are so busy and don’t have enough hours in the day, but you have to understand the importance of following up with both potential clients and also with your current clients. The simple act of following up will not only make you stand out from your competitors but will let your clients know that you do care about them. Successful follow up actions can simply include an email, handwritten letters, eZines, greeting cards, an invitation to an event, or a phone call. You want to choose follow up actions that will fit your style and remember to do them on a regular basis. If you can consistently implement follow up actions into your business then you will be amazed at how much your network grows. Remember people are what count, not just another sale or client to add to your list. Make them feel special and let them know you do care. Try picking up the phone today just to say “Hello”

Give of yourself – Most people today think about what they can get from other people, how they can advance in their careers or grow their business. Let’s turn this around and consider what you can give your clients and your network that will help them grow or help them solve a problem. Give from your heart, not expecting in return. You might be amazed at the results. Keep in mind that building relationships is a two way street that begins with you, don’t be greedy and self-absorbed. Always approach relationships in a generous, giving, and positive manner.

Trust – Yes, this is an important one because most people will not do business with anyone they don’t trust. Start your relationships off with being honest, giving what you promised and always keeping your word. First make yourself known to your audience, your network and then you want to build relationships to the highest level of trust. Always work with integrity!

Eye contact – If you are going to be interacting with people in public, make eye contact with them when speaking to them, don’t talk to the clouds or the floor but directly to them. You will be surprised at how you can set yourself apart from the rest of the crowd by simply smiling and making eye contact.

Gift giving - Build stronger relationships with gift giving. I don’t mean this in the sense of trying to buy business or buy new clients, but if you know a client is sick or going through a difficult time simply send them a nice gift or you can send an email or pick up the phone and give them a call to let them know you’re there if they need anything. This action reflects back to the tip above on just being nice. If you were to turn the situation around and you were the one going through a difficult time wouldn’t it be nice to receive a nice email or phone call? Wouldn’t that lift your spirits? Sure it would, so remember to have a giving heart and not expect anything in return but know that you have made someone’s day.



Be yourself – Once again pretty basic. Most people do not like to work with others who are phony. You will get much further in life and be so much happier in just being yourself! The most important part of your identity is just being yourself. When doing business and developing relationships be in the habit of being authentic, it pays and will work to your benefit, plus your not spending the time and energy involved in being something your not. Your clients/potential clients are very intelligent and have a keen sense of perception and they will definitely sense your insincerity. Don’t brand yourself or your company as being fake because it will take sometime to pull yourself out plus it is the wrong foundation to building strong, honest and healthy relationships.

There are numerous ways to build relationships and many of them will tie together, just remember to be nice, pleasant, be yourself, and always work with integrity. Remember to treat your clients the way you want to be treated.



--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies providing speaking leads, speaker services, and resources that help boost their business both online and off. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at http://www.CharliJane.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/how-to-produce-a-demo-video-that-sells.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/how-to-produce-a-demo-video-that-sells.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Have a “comfortable and “warm” background setting
Your demo video should always show you speaking within the first minute or so of the video; you want to catch the audience and the energy they are generating such as clapping, laughing, listening carefully and possibly jotting down notes
Your first anecdote or presentation needs to be the most important thing you have; you only have 2-3 minutes to WOW the attention of the “hiring” company (meeting planners, associations, organizations, and groups)
Show yourself open on the platform; don’t “hide” behind anything
Energy is the toughest thing to capture on film; create energy with your body movements (use the stage fully) and pitch your voice firmly
Try to tape the type of audience that you enjoy the most to work with
When taping make clear what you are an expert on and use your best stories
Show your excitement about the topic you are speaking on
Use a little humor
Tape at least 6 -10 minutes long
Keep any one-on-one interviews short
Avoid taping empty seats or things that may be distracting
Use music underneath your presentation to add energy
Your video tape / CD / DVD cover
Packaging: should be very attractive with a full-length picture of the speaker
Top: the title / topic of your program should appear notably
Middle: leave a blank space reaching to the bottom - this is where you will attach an eye-catching label with your contact information
Bottom: the speaker's name should go across the bottom of the cover
Back: list 3 or 4 of your best testimonials - keep them brief


--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies providing speaking leads, speaker services, and resources that help boost their business both online and off. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at www.CharliJane.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/does-your-website-have-a-purpose.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/does-your-website-have-a-purpose.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
If you expect your site to kindle some form of action, whether it is for visitors to fill out a form so you can contact and stay in touch with them, or purchase a product, there are steps you can take to guarantee that your website is functioning at peak effectiveness. One of the first indications of how well your site is functioning for you is finding out the number of visitors in a given period of time.

However, just because tons of people have visited your site does not mean your site is successful. You want those visitors to take immediate action. You have about 60 seconds to grab their attention and get them to take action – to do something before they leave your site. It is equally important to monitor the number of visitors to your site who made a purchase. This figure is called the site conversion rate, and it is an essential element of the effectiveness of your site.

If your website is set up to get visitors to fill out a form, make sure to figure out what the difference is between your site conversion rate and your sales conversion rate. The reason is because not everyone who fills out your form will actually become your customer. However, whether your site is set up to sell a service or product, or to get the visitor to fill out a form, the site conversion rate will measure the success or failure of your website whenever you make changes to the site.

You may find that you need to apply some additional marketing strategies if you find that traffic to your site is low. There are several effective methods to improve the stream of traffic to your website, particularly launching a search engine optimization campaign. This campaign is targeted at increasing your position in search engine results so that visitors can find your pages quicker and easier. You can research the steps you need to take to improve your search engine rankings, or hire a search engine optimization expert to do the work for you. In either case, after you have improved your search engine positions, make sure you stay on top of them by regular monitoring and adjusting of your efforts to maintain high search engine positions.

Another issue to examine is how easy it is for a visitor to accomplish the action the site is set up for. For example, if you want your visitor to fill out a form, is this form easily accessible, or does the visitor have to spend a half hour looking for the sign up box? If it's too hard and takes too long to find, then more times then not you will lose that visitor who will move on to another site. Make sure your buttons are highly visible, and the path to your form or ordering page is quickly accessible. My suggestion is to have your sign up form on your homepage (every page if possible) either in the header or the top right hand corner of the body.

Finally, if you can afford it, have an expert evaluate the copy on your website. Remember the goal is to get your visitors to make a purchase or fill out your form. Website copy must be specifically geared to your online campaign and not just a cut and paste job from your brochure or flyer. Trust me the right copy can make the difference between success and failure in your online campaign. If you feel you could benefit from an expert copywriter please feel free to send me an email and I can recommend someone to assist you.



--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies providing speaking leads, speaker services, and resources that help boost their business both online and off. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at www.CharliJane.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/increase-your-credibility-and-increase-your-sales.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/increase-your-credibility-and-increase-your-sales.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
It will:

Drive more traffic to your website site
Help build your mailing list
Increase your search engine ranking
Help build your exposure
Increase your potential incoming referral base
Make the most of free advertising, while cutting your costs
Expand your market image, brand exposure
Reinforce the fact that you are an expert in your field
Gain more potential clients
Increase potential sales.
Further, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Readers can learn something, be entertained, find your wonderful products and services. Articles benefit the article directories and places you submit to by increase in their readership and traffic. You can obtain networking partners in your chosen field. Readers both near and far will feel like they know you a little which results in warmer leads. You gain exposure and sales.

Write what you know. For example, if your expertise is advertising, write articles about advertising: how to advertise effectively, ways to advertise, how not to advertise, how advertising can help you, and so on. When you write your article, be sure to:

Have an attention-grabbing headline!
Grab the reader’s attention in the first paragraph.
Market yourself and your expertise. ALWAYS insert a clear, concise bio at the bottom of your articles, sharing a bit about yourself, your links and products, the URL of your website, and your contact information.
Be sure to use keywords and SEO-friendly phrases so you show up higher in search results. If your expertise area is sales, be sure to use words such as selling, sell, sales, etc. several times throughout your article. If you are giving seminars on effective, cost-saving management of dental practices, make your article rich in phrases such as dentist, dentistry, management, manage, reduce costs, periodontist, save money, budget and the like.
Where you publish can make a world of difference. Publish your articles on your website and in monthly newsletters, both hard copy and via email if possible. Submit to article directories and search engines.

Publish on your blog and/or eZine. The more places you place your article, the more readers will see it, the more exposure and potential sales you receive. As long as you make certain to place your articles where you are likely to reach your target market(s), they will be read and appreciated – and produce better leads. If time permits, submit your articles by hand rather than via an article publishing service or software program.

Do a search for “Submit My Article Free” or “Submit Your Article Free” and choose the sites that are best suited to your potential and existing client bases. Remember to always have a clickable link to your website at the bottom of your article… and watch those leads roll in. ~ Happy marketing!


--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies providing speaking leads, speaker services, and resources that help boost their business both online and off. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at www.CharliJane.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/top-10-do-nots-when-working-with-meeting-planners.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/top-10-do-nots-when-working-with-meeting-planners.html Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Don’t be demanding - Remember planners are only going to book speakers who they like, this is pretty basic but true, if you’re too demanding and they don’t like you or they don’t feel there’s a connection they won’t hire you. So don’t be so demanding that you’ve talked yourself right out of a great opportunity. Be willing to work with them in negotiating your requests and be easy to work with. Remember the meeting industry is well networked and word of mouth travels fast…

Don’t put them on hold - Big mistake, if you have set up a phone meeting with a planner make sure you give them your undivided attention! Nothing bothers a busy planner more then when you have just put them on hold to answer another call. Turn your voicemail on, turn off the TV/radio or any background noise, put the dog outside, a sign on the door, etc…no distractions.

Don't call them unprepared - Out of the blue you get an email or letter from a planner who wants to set up a phone interview. Do you know what this phone interview is for? Yes, to hear you…to get a ‘feel’ for who you are…to see if there is a connection. When you get on the phone for goodness sakes make sure you’re prepared, I can’t stress this enough, you have to realize this initial phone call is not something to brush off, take it seriously because it can make or break a very important booking for you and any additional chances with this meeting planner…be the professional that you are and make a good first impression!

Don't show a lack of confidence - Speak with confidence; let the planner know you are the best fit for this event. Firmly state what you can do for their audience and what the end results will be, how you will solve their problem or make them feel. All speakers must speak with confidence as this represents you as being a professional and an expert in your field. If you cannot speak with confidence to a meeting planner they will feel you will not speak effectively in front of their audience. Example: Don’t use the words, “I don’t know”, or “Uh, I’m not sure” or “Um”, etc. in other words don’t stutter over your words or what your trying to relay to the planner…once again be prepared and have notes in front of you if this will help.

Don’t send them on a goose chase – If a planner asks for your web address make sure your prepared to have all the necessary information easily accessible on your site for the planner to review, if you don’t I wouldn’t bother sending them there as it certainly can be frustrating for them when they can’t find the information they seek on your site. If you do not have a page specifically set up for planners I would think about adding one to your site, it doesn’t have to be fancy, but just a simple and easy to navigate page with all the information they will need. Not sure what to add to your planner page? Anything that you would send a planner through the mail can be added to this page. If you’re unsure of what goes into a meeting planner page please let me know.

Don’t be late: Please don’t be late as this will definitely not get you any reBookings with the planner. Come early, mingle a bit with the audience (they really like when speakers make the extra effort to do this) also take the time to mingle after the event, not only will the planner love that you have stayed to answer questions but it also opens doors of opportunity for you with the audience members. Remember to plan for back up in all areas such as travel, contingency speaker, etc. and be prepared for anything that could possibly go wrong!

Don't promote your products – while giving a presentation unless you first get permission to do so. You want to work this out with the planner during your negotiating period and before they hire you. Do not misunderstand them and simply ask if it is okay for you to promote or mention your product/service towards the end of the presentation. If you don’t know be sure and ask don’t just assume as this can damage your chances of being reBooked.

Don't be slow in responding to enquiries – Slow responses can end up in no bookings. Be quick to respond to any planner or speaking lead that you get. Typically a speaking lead can go out and be booked within a couple of days, if one speaker is quicker to respond then another and they both have made that “connection” with the planner then more times then not the planner will book the speaker who responds to them quickly. If you have access to your email during the day I would make it a point to check it at least twice a day so you can try and respond the SAME day.

Don't present an ambiguous contract – Make sure you present a clear and concise contract. You don’t have to make it 10 pages long, just a simple contract that is complete and clearly states times, dates, rates, contact information, cancellations, etc.

Don't work unethically – Work with integrity and always deliver what you promised, this goes even for a meeting, if you have set up a meeting be 5 minutes early, if you promised the meeting planner handouts for the audience have them sent to the planner ahead of time, if you agreed no platform selling don’t try and sneak a sell into your presentation… believe me it won’t go unnoticed. Just be honest and do what you promised…remember once again word of mouth travels fast especially in the meeting industry.

These are just a few tips on working with meeting planners. I feel the most important thing to remember is to make an immediate connection with the planner and make them feel at ease and confident that you will be the perfect speaker for their audience, respond to them quickly, work with integrity and be easy to work with.



--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies while providing speaking leads, speaker services, speaker directory, and resources that help boost their business both online and off which cuts their learning process in half saving them money, time and energy. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at www.CharliJane.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/what-is-a-landing-page.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/what-is-a-landing-page.html Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Another word which is used for a landing page for the specific function of capturing leads is a “squeeze page.” A squeeze page is a page designed to get names and email addresses. However, a squeeze page is usually a smaller type of landing page, which usually has an opt-in form in sight when the page loads.

So what is important to learn in an introduction to landing pages? First, it is important to recognize that all successful marketers use these. If you plan to sell a product over the Internet, you will want to use one rather than relying on sidebar opt-in forms and unclear pages that do not express a single point and a single call to action.

Another important thing you will want to take away from this introduction to landing pages is that every landing page contains the same parts and is focused on one goal which is getting the visitor to become a subscriber or a buyer.

These parts are as follows: an opt-in form, a brief or lengthy introduction, a picture of the list/product owner, the signature of the list owner, and a call to action.

Deciding which model will work best for you can simply only be done through testing. While many boast a conversion and attribute it to the shortness of their introduction (many will be one short paragraph), others will boast a high conversion rate because they use long, detailed, and compelling copy.

If there is anything you absolutely must take away from an introduction to landing pages, it is that you cannot create a landing page or squeeze page that isn't focused.



--
Being a creative and resourceful business growth expert for 23 years Wendi McNeill coaches, encourages, and teaches speakers, coaches and authors how to take the essential baby steps, while completely focusing on one step at a time so they can advance to the next level in their speaking business. Wendi offers valuable tips and advice on marketing and growth strategies while providing speaking leads, speaker services, speaker directory, and resources that help boost their business both online and off which cuts their learning process in half saving them money, time and energy. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at www.CharliJane.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/10-tips-to-help-boost-yourself.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/10-tips-to-help-boost-yourself.html Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
1. Niche Yourself
Yes, I know you have heard this many times and it couldn’t be truer! One of the biggest mistakes a speaker can make is having too “general” of a topic. You want to narrow your expert niche as much as possible. Become the Speaker of Choice, research your topic industry so you know “what’s hot” and “what’s not”. Take that research and develop a niche around it, be sure it is something you have experience with and will be able to present it as a professional expert speaker in that field. Don’t waste your time, energy and money on developing a “niche” that just isn’t going to get any recognition because it isn’t something that planners will be looking for! Do your research and I do put emphasis on this tip! Once you have discovered your niche, you must continue to practice your speaking skills and update your material and presentations to keep-up with the trends and changing issues.

2. Build your credibility
There are many ways to build your credibility and become known as an expert, but this tip is about building your credibility by knowing your audience.


Your job as a presenter is to take the context you will present and put it into a form that your audience will understand and can relate to. You want them to really understand what you’re saying. Always remember your presentation is not about you, it’s about the audience, what they want to know, and what they want to know is what’s in it for me? How will you help their business grow?...How will you help them save time…save money...How will you make them feel!


Vision yourself sitting in the audience you will be presenting to and ask yourself, “What do I want to get out of this?”, “What do I want to learn?”, “What’s in it for me?” Once you can perceive yourself as a participant of the audience than you can start putting the pieces together in building a top notch presentation that your audience will remember and one that will have members coming to you and asking you to get your schedule out because they want to book you.


The more you relate to your audience, the more you know your audience, the better your chance of building your credibility…you have an audience that is happy, engaged and drawn to you and one that is saying…Hey, this speaker knows his stuff…he knows us!

3. Develop an eye-catching media kit
Planners get hundreds if not thousands of proposals and media kits every year. You have to “wow” them immediately to grab their attention, before they set it down and go to the next one!

Make sure that your media kit is up to date, precise and professionally put together. Nothing else turns away a meeting planner or organization more than an unattractive, boring, and unorganized media kit. They won’t even bother with it nor have the time of day to look over the remaining contents if they don't like what they see at first glance and many times the hours, days and money you have spent in putting it together are now wasted as it sits on the planners’ shelf gathering dust. I know this seems a bit harsh, but being on the ‘inside’ I know this to be true, as I have seen it many times, so just spend some time on your kit when putting it together or possibly re-do the one you already have, remember you want to catch the eye of the reader to draw them into reading more.

4. Have an online presence
Develop a website with information on your experience, topics you cover, promotional material available and testimonials from previous clients. You don’t need a big, fancy, or expensive website to attract visitors and the attention of meeting planners, just make sure you are catering to the planners needs and have the information easily accessible and downloadable. If you’re an article writer make sure you add your articles to your own site.

If your budget doesn’t allow for your own web site, join speakers’ organizations and add your name to their online listings - The more exposure you get, the better your chances of being found by people seeking speakers.

5. Work with meeting planners
Very important: be willing to work with them. Don’t be so stubborn that you talked yourself right out of one of the most important speaking engagements of your career. Most planners are eager to work with the speaker, but you also have to be willing to “give a little to get a lot”. Remember you want to be a magnet to planners and the “hiring” company, not an itch under their skin. So be pleasant and be negotiable and give them the best performance possible and in return they will continue to book you and recommend you!

You want to position yourself within the meeting planner realm as being enjoyable to work with, fun, and easy-going! Trust me on this one, there is nothing worse then working with a stubborn, un-pleasant speaker who is unwilling to budge or negotiate, it doesn’t matter if they are well-known or have years of experience, planners don’t have the time for this nor want to deal with it. I also want to mention, don’t be too quick to pass on a free speaking engagement as this can bring you more opportunities (Many great enterprises were built from small opportunities).

6. Introduce yourself as a contingency speaker
This is one way to get your “foot” in the door. One of the biggest fears of a meeting planner is a “no-show” or cancellation of the scheduled speaker. You can send out a letter via email or regular mail to event planners, program managers, etc.

Your initial contact with the event planner should be on eliminating one of their largest fears. If you have a properly written letter and have done your research, you will more than likely make an immediate friend. This is where the business relationship begins and in most cases, the event planner or “hiring” authority will book you in because you have approached them this way.

7. Marketing yourself
Add this to your weekly business tasks, this is of course a must, if you don’t market you all know they won’t find you! You have to go to them…let them know you are unique, you are knowledgeable, you are the best and that you can knock the socks off their audience. Don’t be afraid to approach meeting planners, you want to keep your name fresh in their mind! Be PERSISTENT!

Standing out from the crowd is a major challenge for today's professional speaker. Marketing yourself and your company, should be one of your major priorities, which requires to be done on a regular basis. Unless you have ample time on your hands and the expertise it takes to market yourself effectively, one of the best suggestions we can make is hire a professional marketing specialist or consultant/public relations company. Find someone that will work side by side with you in developing a marketing campaign that will benefit you and your speaking career.

If your budget does not have room for the expense of a professional PR agent then there are many ways you can gain exposure and become known as an expert in your field by doing some simple marketing techniques that are sure fire ways to get you the attention you need. Remember to be unique!

8. Interact with potential clients
It is very important to mingle and network! Get yourself noticed. Hand out business cards every where you go. Talk to everyone you meet. Go to seminars and meetings that are the same as your expertise. Watch and pay attention. Who are the attendees, what is their reaction to the speaker on the platform? Most importantly, be very personable and agreeable with every meeting planner you meet. You want to leave the impression that you are easy going and willing to make adjustments at the last minute. Meeting planners don't like to work with difficult and irritating speakers, it doesn’t matter how well known you are in the speaking industry. They look for someone with humor, an abundance of energy, flexibility, and great content!

9. Write a book/ info products
This is a BIG credibility builder. I know it’s not as easy as it sounds, but if you are an expert in your field and you have information you want to share, I would suggest writing a book or some informational products. This is an excellent marketing tool and an addition to your income. We know you have the speaking ability and you know what you want to say, but some speakers just don’t know how or have the time to put it in book/product form. You do have the option of outsourcing that task. There are many companies who specialize in that field and can assist you with your project.

10. Article writing
Almost everyone knows about article marketing and submitting them online, but I just want to mention it again. I would have to say I bring up article marketing at least 5 times a day in many different conversations because that is how important I feel article marketing is. You are a speaker…you are an expert…so you shouldn’t have any trouble writing a simple article. Add article writing and submitting them online to your marketing plan and do it on a regular basis. This is one of the best and FREE ways of promoting yourself and your business, and also gaining more visitors to your website!

Many times I see an excellent article that was written with just the authors name, no contact information…nothing! Well, if you’re like me you don’t have the time to try and do a search on this author to find their site and learn more, you want instant contact information by just clicking your mouse so you can be taken directly to where you want to go. So, don’t forget to add an eye-catching bio at the end of your article so readers can find you and learn more. Be sure and include your contact information including website and email address.



--
Wendi McNeill is the owner of Charli Jane Speaker Management and while working closely with speakers for many years, she assists them in growing their business and shares her expertise, knowledge and passion that are needed to grow your speaking business. She knows what planners are looking for and how to make a good impression by using simple techniques that can cut off months of research, save you money, time, and energy by mentoring and guiding you in the right direction. You can also learn more about speaking leads, visit www.CharliJane.com to learn more about her services. She can be reached via email at wendi@CharliJane.com or by phone at 877-570-0615.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/14-profitable-ways-to-use-autoresponders.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/14-profitable-ways-to-use-autoresponders.html Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500 by Wendi McNeill

Scenario: An interested visitor who has been viewing your website for sometime has finally found what she was looking for and is about to make a purchase. Her cat, who happens to be looking at that warm spot of sunshine on the window sill above your computer desk jumps across her desk knocking over her beautiful ivy plant while scattering soil across her computer and desk.

Without hesitation your visitor exits your website and the sale is gone - unless you had the foresight to make use of an autoresponder that had already captured your visitors email address. If you have set up an autoresponder then you would be able to follow-up with your visitor, and in all probability, still make the sale when the poor woman has finished cleaning up her soil soaked desk.

Autoresponders are amazing, flexible programs that do so much more than just automatically answer your email. Here are 14 ideas that will help you get your creative juices flowing and efficiently use autoresponder to convert visitors into customers.

Publish an eZine: Certain autoresponders will manage subscriptions and follow-up with interested prospects. Your eZine can keep your visitors informed about your services or products, while building your reputation as a credible expert in your business. An eZine is also an excellent way to build relationships!

Publish an eZine only for your affiliates: Inform them of current sales you are running and promotional material that your affiliates can use themselves to increase their commissions.

Distribute your articles: Writing and distributing targeted articles is a powerful tool to build your business credibility, bring traffic to your site, and increase your sales potential. If your articles contain valuable information, many editors will print what is known as a resource box for you. A resource box contains your bio and a brief description of your service or product. It can also contain your autoresponder address. Let's say you've written fifty articles. Put them on separate autoresponder accounts and create a master list that contains the titles of each article, the autoresponder address, and a brief abstract. Then promote your master list. Additionally, include your publishing guidelines so your affiliates can add their articles to your list, increasing the number of writers who are represented in your article list.

Write reviews: Cover books, software, music, eBooks, movies, etc., and put each review in an autoresponder. Review your affiliate programs, using a link to your affiliate's page in your autoresponder.

Create mailing lists: Inform subscribers to your articles when you've written new ones that they may want to publish in their own eZine or website.

Automate your sales process: Use an ad to insure repeated exposure of your message, which has been proven to successfully increase sales. In your ad, put your autoresponder address where a visitor will be exposed to numerous marketing materials. This multiplies the chances of converting visitors into customers. For example, if you're selling a particular product, put testimonials about how spectacular it is on your autoresponder, and add a detailed, appealing description of your product.

Distribute advertising: Let's say you sell advertising on your website or in your e-zine. Set your autoresponder to send the information about rates and how to place an ad automatically to all prospects' email addresses. Then have your autoresponder follow-up. It can also send notification of any special deals you are currently offering.

Distribute an email course: Each day, have your autoresponder send out another lesson. Just be sure that each lesson has quality content - not a sales pitch or you’ll have your potential customers opting out of your mailing list. Your content will do the selling for you, and will do it much more effectively. You can include tips centered on a different topic for each lesson, illustrating how your product will benefit the reader. Include the tangible benefits the visitor will get by purchasing your product. Make sure to include a paragraph or two at the end of each lesson enticing them to consider making a purchase.

Distribute free reports: This gives your visitor an idea of the type of information you can provide and the quality of your product or service. Make sure these reports are not sales letters or you will more than likely lose a potential customer than gain a sale.

Create quizzes and place the answers in an autoresponder: Your visitor will then be motivated to request your autoresponder, and you will have a record of the visitors' email addresses who took your quiz. Or create a contest and have any visitors that enter send their responses to your autoresponder. Your autoresponder can be set-up to send them a confirmation of their entry.

Automate a reminder about your service or product after a visitor has completed your course: This will increase the possibility of sales from visitors who have taken your course but are still deciding on actually making a purchase. You can also use these reminders to promote new products or services, and the products and services of your affiliate programs.

Offer a trial version of your product: Give your prospects a sample of your eBook, course, software, membership, etc. People who are exposed to a little taste or test run often end up wanting the whole product. Set up your autoresponder to give instructions on how to obtain their free trial, and then make sure to follow-up.

Link to hidden pages on your autoresponder: For example, a hidden page could be your affiliate page that contains graphics, promotional articles, and text links that interested affiliates can make use of. Inform visitors that they may have free access to your affiliate page by simply requesting your autoresponder. You will then gather a list of visitors who may be interested in becoming your affiliates.

Use an autoresponder on your order page: Post a request form for visitors to be notified of special offers or discounts in the future. This creates a very effective mailing list that contains the names of people who are already your customers.
Visit Wendi’s recommendation for autoresponders: 1shoppingcart.com and www.aweber.com.



--
Wendi McNeill is the owner of Charli Jane Speaker Management and while working closely with speakers for many years, she assists them in growing their business and shares her expertise, knowledge and passion that are needed to grow your speaking business. She knows what planners are looking for and how to make a good impression by using simple techniques that can cut off months of research, save you money, time, and energy by mentoring and guiding you in the right direction. You can also learn more about speaking leads, visit www.CharliJane.com to learn more about her services. She can be reached via email at wendi@CharliJane.com or by phone at 877-570-0615.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/make-money-doing-free-speaking-engagements.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/make-money-doing-free-speaking-engagements.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
So, sit back and relax, if you want, you can print this out and go relax on the couch and read it, or take it outside and get some fresh air and get away from your computer for a little bit…it will do you some good!

Is it possible? Most speakers think doing free engagements is a waste of time, money and energy…BUT those that think this may not be using all their resources. Many speakers think that they can jump right into the paying or even high paying engagements, but lets not get ahead of ourselves, first focus on the easy to get engagements: The free ones! All speakers will do them, all speakers have done them, and all speakers will continue to do them.

Now that we are focusing in on only free engagements, let’s see how we can benefit from them:

Back of the Room Product Ideas: Let Your Products Work for You!

Your Products: Oh yes….the speaker’s products! Now I know every speaker either has created a product of their own or you have been thinking about creating your own products but have not implemented them into your program.

Don’t be terrified by the words: Create your own products! This is a simple process to do and does not need to be complicated in anyway. Some people think, “Create my own products, no way that will take forever!” No it doesn’t and I want everyone who is reading this to get yourself in the right train of thought here: You can create products quickly, easily and they can be very profitable for you! Say that to yourself a few times and then continue reading…..

When people think of Back of the Room products they think of books and CD’s, but BOR products can consist of a wide range of products and you can also even endorse your services if you are a consultant/mentor as well as a speaker.

Product Ideas for You to Create:

Books A professional speaker and authoring a book almost always go hand in hand, so if you haven’t written a book yet, put it on your “to do list”. Authoring a book doesn’t mean it has to be a 300 – 500 page novel, but a simple book allowing your expertise to be recognized!

Workbooks

Tip-Booklets (Hold on…don’t pass this one up. Tip-booklets can be created on a shoestring budget and sell like “hot-cakes” because of the valuable information and inexpensive price tag.

CD’s A must have, these sell very well for almost any speaker if you have them priced competitively and if you can, sell them in sets. You could possibly sell one CD with the option of downloading additional ones via your website, this is a good way to get them to your site and get them involved with your info products. We will discuss informational products later in our soon to be released new report.

Reminder Tip Cards (These are about the size of a postcard) they recap the strong points of your presentation or can have some motivational sayings on them. You can either give these away or add them to your product line, either way don’t forget to have your contact information on it. Hint: Having them laminated will give them a professional look and if you want to go a step further you can turn them into a magnet…I know I’m pushing it, but if you’re going to do free engagements you want to get your “plug” in anyway you can!

Gift Certificates Be creative here: Lots of ideas with this one.

Coupons You can have these lying on the back table for your audience to pick up on their way out. Coupons could be for anything: One idea would be to offer a free download on your website for an ebook (possibly a chapter sample to entice the reader), an audio seminar, audio interview, or a special report you created and have posted on your product page within your website (we will talk about e-books, reports, and info products in our soon to be released special report)

Bookmarks Yes, I know I’m pushing it again…but think about it for a minute, everyone loves to read and I know I am always using bookmarks, be creative and remember once again get your “plug” in on the bookmark. These are easy to create yourself and done once again on a shoe-string budget along with the inexpensive price tag.

How-To-Reports Another best seller, as many people today are looking for a quick, how-to-do-anything guide, be creative and of course stay within your presentation topic.

Cassettes Yes some of us “Old-Fashioned” folks still listen to cassettes.

Videos/DVD’s Now you can get pretty creative with the videos. They don’t only have to be you giving your speech presentation, how about doing a ‘How-To’ (your expertise) video series, say maybe a set of three 30 minute videos/DVD’s.

Teleseminars Big thing nowadays! Have some small flyers made up (easily create these yourself) and setting on the table with an upcoming teleseminar you’re having offering a great discount for members of your audience. Direct them to your website to sign up (Hint: Having a pre-recorded and downloadable teleseminar on your website product page can mean more profits for your company)

Special Reports You can easily create special report to sell on your BOR table (Once again this can be incorporated into your website product page for immediate download or you can also have an audio special report)

Mentor Programs If you are a coach or consultant don’t forget to add this service with your BOR products

What do all the above BOR product ideas mean for you? PROFITS and can be BIG profits if done properly, which means you will no longer be walking away with that empty hole in your pocket from expenses!

Doing the Math

Let’s do a little math shall we? Say there is 800 people in your audience: If you have gotten a good response from your audience you should be able to turn at least 10% of the audience into buyers which is approximately 80 people.

Say you sell a CD for $25.95 x 80 = $2,076.00 or if you sell a CD set for $49.95 x 80 = $3,996.00 minus your CD/DVD expenses which can be done pretty cheaply these days or you can do it yourself.

Now, that was just an example and only for CD’s, you need to be creative because you have a lot of possibilities here. If you offer any type of mentoring program, this can be very lucrative. Say about 1% of your audience (which is only 8 people) sign up for your yearly mentoring program and because you are an expert in your field you can easily charge anywhere from $2,500 – $3,500 per year. What does that add up too? That’s right a whopping $20,000 - $28,000….once again not bad for doing one free engagement. If you haven’t implemented any type of mentoring program into your business you may want to think about doing so!

As you can see, the profits you can make can be close to, equal or more then a paid speaking engagement.

The above figures are a rough estimate and you may have a smaller audience or you may have a bigger audience, but as you can see the possibilities are endless. So, please use the resources outlined in this report to assist you in creating your products and you will begin to see an immediate spurt in your revenue!

Be creative…and don’t give up because everyone is capable of anything once you get yourself in the right mind set and don’t let minor glitches deter you! Dedication and determination are strong and encouraging words to live by!

I know it sounds crazy…find free engagements, but if you read everything I have written in this article, you should be ready to submit your proposal for non-paying engagements. Get more recognition, become the cream of the crop, brand yourself, be the vendor of choice and Make Money!

P.S. If you will be sending your audience to your website for a freebie or sample remember to add a "opt in" sign up box before releasing your "sample" or "freebie.” You want to capture their email address as your contact list is one of your greatest assets!


--
Wendi McNeill has been opening doors of opportunity for speakers since 2002. She is the founder of Charli Jane Speaker Services providing coaching and services to help speakers grow their business and build a stronger platform. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at http://www.CharliJane.com


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/10-easy-ways-for-speakers-to-get-publicity.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/public-speaking/10-easy-ways-for-speakers-to-get-publicity.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 by Wendi McNeill



Advertising in the media can be a high-end expense, especially if you are still in the growth phase of your business. Radio and TV spots, magazine ads, commercial marketing can all be quite costly. The question becomes how to increase your exposure and demand for a fraction of the typical cost. It is possible – and quite simple once you have the secrets: there exist several opportunities for FREE publicity if you are willing to write, network, and – yes - speak. The ten tips below will show you how to increase your bottom line without breaking your budget. First, choose a ‘gotcha’ topic related to your industry. For example, if you are a diversity trainer and offer seminars to that regard, find a current HOT topic and center your article or interview around it. The more up-to-date and controversial the speaker can be the more publicity you will get. The media eats up controversy.

1. Write a Column in a publication targeted to your audience. You have within this target audience a ready-made market sector of peers. No matter what industry you serve, this is already – by its very readership – a fairly ‘warm’ audience. Google publications in your target market. Find current information as to submission guidelines and editor/submission reviewer; be sure to address any calls and correspondence to the correct individual.



2. Send Press Releases – The gold mine for free advertising! Again, choose a HOT topic. Market your services and products in light of that product. Be sure, always, to title your press release with an attention-grabbing headline. Holding a seminar soon on EEO rights and your company’s domestic partner coverage? “Diversity Workshop to be Held December 15th: There are a variety of websites where you can – for free or very inexpensively – place your press release yourself. For newspaper and printed media, be prepared to follow-up on your submission with calls and emails (“Did you receive my press release?”). Always head your press releases with the words “For Immediate Release” in bold.



3. Radio and TV Interviews – This is not as difficult as one would think. From the interviewers perspective, they have hours of air time to fill and are always looking for an interesting, and hopefully catchy topic. Your bottom line may be in dollars and cents; their success is based upon ratings. Help them help you. Target local and/or national stations and programs that cater to your market sector. Contact their producers by phone, email, fax, or letter. Convince them as to why you’d be a ratings-grabbing guest on their show (see above re: controversial, current topic). They will, most likely, want to follow up with you, learn a bit more about who you are and what you offer.

4. Write a book, eBook or eZine – What better way to establish yourself as an expert in your field – and get free market exposure at the same time?! Make your content catchy and useful to your intended audience. Advertise your published works with the other options on this list. For books and eBooks, consider having an industry peer review your writing or hiring a freelance editor with reasonable rates. The small expense for the latter may be well-worth it when it comes to making your content as captivating and user-friendly as possible. As with press releases, be sure that your author bio is both interesting and informative. Set yourself apart from the pack by drafting an intriguing bio. List your credentials briefly. Add in a few things that are out of the norm, e.g. sky diving gave you an appreciation for the stock market; you are fluent in German, which facilitates networking with international banks, etc. List a favorite hero or two. You should also have a longer bio for books and eBooks and a shorter, abridged version for your eZine, blog, article submissions.



5. Write Sidebar articles and submit them to targeted publications and directories. What is a sidebar article? Sidebars usually include snippets of information such as short explanations, lists, quotes, polls, etc. They came into being as advertising spots! Now, common on web pages, magazines, and trade publications and the like, they offer an economical way for you to get noticed – with minimum effort and little to no cost.

6. Write blog posts and web articles – Link to your ancillary marketing information. Offer useful tips of the trade. Publicize your other writing (e.g. have a link to your eBook; offer links to your eZine, etc.). Always, always try to offer something for free to your audience – if they sign up for your newsletter, mailing list, etc. Read: target market capture – for FREE!

7. Send emails and design newsletter campaigns - A brief weekly email – perhaps with a HOT tip or three and/or a monthly newsletters to your existing clients and those who sign up after viewing your web site, blog, eZine or mail in a reply form from one of your target mailers (see below) WILL result in increased sales.

8. Target mailers – postcards, emails, newsletters, brochures – Again, offer a freebie for those who reply. Monthly newsletters and targeted emails offer great exposure to ‘already warm’ potential clients and customers. If you need printed advertising media and are just starting your business or are on a low budget, visit Vista Print online. They offer some amazing deals and very good discounts.

9. Attend local Chamber of Commerce meetings/breakfasts, etc., professional associations if applicable, i.e. Realtors, etc., community groups – Lions, Jaycees, Elks, etc., and related seminars where you can network. Network. Always bring a handful of business cards – and brochures/flyers if you have them (and you should!)



10. Warm up to Journalists - Complimenting a journalist on a column he or she has written is the best way to start warming up to a journalist. Find a targeted publication; read through it; find an article you can relate to, then email or call the journalist and give them a compliment. From that, you build a rapport and slide into your pitch. Having a seasoned journalist on your list of resources is a true boon. Imagine someone who writes for the AP citing you as an expert in your field and naming your company in an article: instant national exposure.

Additionally, and these are so important they should each have their own number above: a) ask pleased customers for testimonials; cite them on your web site, in your mailings, in your eZine, as a sidebar in your newsletter, and/or the back cover of your book; and b) always, always ask your existing clients for referrals. The latter is a wonderful source of ‘warm’ potential sales.

Consider having a sign-up form, similar to the one you will use for newsletters and email captures with a field or two for existing readers and customers to add names and addresses (email, too) of people they know who might be interested in all you have to offer.

Lastly, track your leads. See which areas seem to pull the most potential clients, which result in the most sales. Your marketing results will vary according to your chosen industry. Proportion the time you expend on any or all of the above accordingly. ~ Happy marketing!

Wendi McNeill has been opening doors of opportunity for speakers since 2002. She is the founder of Charli Jane Speaker Services providing coaching and services to help speakers grow their business and build a stronger platform.

If you are looking for more speaking opportunities start submitting your proposals online today!

Earn money when speaking for free? Is it possible? Sign-up to get our free "14 Ways to Make Money When Speaking for Free" eBooklet at www.charlijane.com.



--
Wendi McNeill has been opening doors of opportunity for speakers since 2002. She is the founder of Charli Jane Speaker Services providing coaching and services to help speakers grow their business and build a stronger platform. To learn more about Wendi visit her online at http://www.CharliJane.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>