Public Speaking Tip, Public Speaking Training, Public Speaking Course Class, Public Speaking Article

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Secure Fall Speaking Opportunities Now
Summer is a great time to line up fall speaking gigs.

 

Written By: Sharron Senter

Public speaking is a great way to generate new business. However, it's not a time for a sales pitch. If you're able to share your inside secrets about your expertise in an organized fashion, with a confident and vibrant tone, you'll indirectly sell yourself and your products.

WHO TO PITCH
Summer is a great time to pitch your speaking services to professional organizations that begin their new membership calendar year or "season" in September. Keep in mind most professional organizations hold fewer meetings in the summer, since members are off gallivanting in the sunshine. However, organizations also survey their members during the summer about educational topics they'd like to hear about come fall.

I've been a professional marketing speaker for sometime, and have acquired a lot of marketing clients after presenting. Recently my speaking success compounded when I launched a second business two years ago called, http://www.VisitingGeeks.com  In addition to describing marketing client campaign successes, I started sharing my Visiting Geeks success stories during my presentations. After every presentation I consistently received new marketing consulting and Visiting Geeks business.

Amazingly I'm able to drive interest to both of my businesses, simply by talking in front of people about what I know! Public speaking works particularly well for any relationship-based business, or consultant-type businesses, such as:

All four of the above specializations involve the customer sharing very personal information with the consultant, increasing the need for people to trust the expert they're seeking to hire. Public speaking is a great way to build trust - prospects feel like they know you because they've "seen" you.

HOW TO PITCH
I like to pitch using email. I first scope out organizations whose members match my target audience demographics, and then I send a brief email introduction [3 or 4 sentences] about myself and my area of speaking expertise. You can usually find the appropriate contact of the person responsible for organizing speakers at the association's Web site, or you can use the generic "contact" email and ask who the appropriate person is to contact. Either way, expect a delayed response, since the member responsible for checking the association's email is probably a volunteer, and therefore, only checks email once, maybe twice a week. On average, I've found that most organizations respond within two days, three at the most.

Once you've found the right contact, then ask her if she'd like to receive your bio. Don't just send your bio without permission, instead, be invited to do so. Why? By withholding your bio, it gives you another excuse to "touch" your contact. At minimum, you'll usually have four to five opportunities to contact the speaker coordinator, including:

Remember every step of the way they're evaluating your professionalism. Stretch out your touch points, so to deepen the relationship. In other words, don't show your cards all at once. Hold on to them for a bit to build a relationship.

PREPARE SPEAKER RESOURCES BEFOREHAND
It's imperative you have a professional speaker bio before you pitch your speaking services. Feel free to check out my format. A standard bio is usually one, 8.5 X 11 page.

Your bio should include the following:

Helpful Public Speaking Resources
I recommend you check out the following two special reports written by Joan Stewart. She's an expert at public speaking and getting in front of audiences.

Special Report #21: 67 Great Publicity Tips for Professional Speakers *You don't have to be a professional speaker to use these tips*

You'll learn:
- How to create enticing story angles from your keynotes and workshops
- Tricks for creating publicity for your new book or other products
- How to draw the media to your web site
- What to do before and after every presentation
- How to help meeting planners publicize your speaking engagement
- How to recycle your publicity


Special Report #23: Profitable Publicity Tips to Jump-Start Your Consulting Business

You'll learn:
- How to be a source the media LOVES
- How to leverage free publicity into paying clients
- Tips for finding clients in the audience if you do public speaking
- How writing articles is one of the best ways to demonstrate how you can help clients

Learn more about each report at Joan Stewart's Web site, and start gaining more business through public speaking. Remember, there are organizations in your own town that meet every month for luncheons and dinners. They're always looking for speakers! Get in front of them and see your business take off!


About the Author
Sharron Senter is a New England-based marketing consultant, speaker, writer and founder of Senter & Associates, a marketing communications firm that helps small businesses deploy low-cost online and offline marketing tactics. Senter is well known for her free emailed marketing tips found at http://www.sharronsenter.com She’s also the cofounder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com an on site computer repair, networking, security and wireless company serving small businesses and homeowners north of Boston.

MARKETING SPEAKER -- NOW Booking 2007 Speaking Engagements
If you're looking for a speaker at your next organizational luncheon, business expo or departmental in-service, consider my marketing speaking services. I can coordinate a custom marketing presentation to meet your needs. What's more, I guarantee you'll have fun! Email me for your speaker needs, sharron@sharronsenter.com or check out my speaking bio and seminar topics.

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