Everywhere I travel in the world, businesses and individuals have felt the pinch with the downturn in the economy.
Many professional speakers have also seen a downturn in bookings with organisations cancelling and postponing their conferences.
Candice and I have just analysed our year and although our income over the past year has increased, our marketing efforts this year have doubled. Here are some of the strategies we have used, try them, they work.
Contact all your clients you have worked with over the past 5 years and send them your updated details and talks. This has resulted in bookings from clients that I had forgotten about, but not Candice (thank goodness I have someone that is great at detail and record keeping)
Produce a hard copy newsletter for bureaus you are listed with, just make sure they don’t forget you.
Buy an ‘opt in’ list of event planners and send them details of how you can enhance their events.
Have a Google alert for ‘call for speakers’ to see what may be suitable for you.
Update all your photos and marketing materials and send them to clients, potential clients and bureaus.
Have a page where potential bookers can find all your details quickly. I have been amazed at how many bookings have happened after someone has found my website and taken a good look through everything. Take a look at http://www.frankfurnessresources.com/bureaus/
Start your own video channel and upload videos of you speaking at conferences. Take a look at www.youtube.com/salestips
Establish yourself as an expert by submitting articles and contributing to social networking sites like linked-in.
Search the internet for conferences and if they suit your talk, contact the organisers.
If all else fails, pick up the phone and cold call.
Use www.elance.com to build your international databases. I did this earlier this year and followed up with a short email which resulted in me being featured on Dubai FM and working with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Take your camera with you to every talk and get video testimonials, they are very powerful.
Take a look at http://www.frankfurnessresources.com/testimonialvideos/
On the other hand, if it didn’t go so well, keep the camera well hidden.
More tips in the next newsletter and my new book on ‘Marketing Strategies for Speakers and Trainers’ will be published next year.
Drop me an email if you want to be one of the first to know when it is released.
Also, you might want to take a look at my CD series or if you are a subscriber of the http://www.productivitycentre.com
or resources take a look at
http://www.frankfurness.com
http://www.frankfurnessresources.com
http://www.productivitycentre.com
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1 comment:
Yes, this are practical tips.
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