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Acquire Clients through Speaking
How would you like to have more clients?
Sounds like a dumb question, right? Of course you want more clients; the challenge is how to find them.
One of the best ways to acquire new clients is to speak. Even if you are speaking for free, as long as you're speaking to an audience that can hire you or purchase your products, you are making great headway. Consider this - it's hard to get a personal appointment with the cold call strategy. How golden is the opportunity to have a room full of prospects listening attentively to you?
Where can you get speaking engagements? Many places. Service clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions are always looking for speakers. Trade associations benefit their members when they have business speakers offer value. Instead of pounding the streets using interruption marketing techniques like cold calling, spend your time finding places that cater to your market and ask for an opportunity to speak.
Here are some strategies to keep in mind:
· Make sure you are offering a topic of value to the group. Any organization wants to benefit their membership. Create a program that will be interesting, timely, and chock full of value.
· Create a video. You can use this as a demonstration video to prospective organizations. Many groups want to see what they are getting and this is an easy way to do it.
· Create an audio. If you can't find the help to create a video, simply make an audio.
· Offer to speak for free. Just make sure the audience you will be speaking to are people who can hire or purchase products from you. This is important. It doesn't make any sense to spend an inordinate amount of time speaking to people who don't have the ability use your services. Remember the title - it's about acquiring clients!
· Leave something of value behind. Make sure your contact information is readily available.
· Ask audience members to subscribe to your newsletter. Get their contact information.
· Follow up. This is now a warm lead. If they liked your presentation and gained value, they will be more willing to talk with you.
Remember, business is about relationships. You create a relationship when you speak. Find ways to get in front of more people more often and you improve your chances of gaining more clients. That's what you're in business for, right? |
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Articles from My Blog
To read all my blog posts from According to Dan, go to http://blog.danweedin.com on a regular basis. Better yet, subscribe to a feed and have them come right into your e-mail. |
Make My Day!
I just received a thank you card in the mail. From the waitress that served my client and me in Palm Springs last week!
That's the second personal thank you card I've ever received from the wait staff of a restaurant where I dined. The other was from a fine restaurant here in Seattle.
To be honest, that made my day. It's not often I receive thank you cards, but rarely from a restaurant and signed by my waitress. It doesn't overly surprise me. She was exceptional in her service and personality. In fact, I dined at several spots on my trip to Palm Springs and she was the best. She capped it off with a great touch in sending the card.
For the past year, I've made a concerted effort to send meaningful cards to clients, prospects and personal friends. The response has been tremendous. People are genuinely touched, just like I was, to receive a note of gratitude.
How would you like your clients to feel after working with you?
Part of being a great business communicator is to make emotional touches. Don't misunderstand me, they must be sincere. The small amount of time you take to delight your client by recognizing an achievement, thanking them, or wishing them a happy birthday, will cement your relationship more than had you not made the effort.
Business has and always will be about relationships. What you say and how you say it reveals much about you. It doesn't always have to be in words either. It can also be in taking time to acknowledge them with a personal card.
Go ahead, make their day!
P.S. Want to see how I never forget a birthday. Click here to learn more. |
Speaking to Influence - the book!
The book is progressing nicely. For those of you have written books, you know the challenges of squeezing writing into your busy schedule. My time line of finishing by the end of the year is still a reality. More news in January about pre-ordering and early bird discounts! |
Build Your Business Credibility
Building your credibility is a vital part of growing your business. One of the best ways to do this is being quoted in major publications in your industry. Easier said than done, right?
I've recently found a valuable partner in getting me lined up with the best journalists in the world. PR LEADS sends you qualified leads from journalists and writers who need quotes from experts like you. It's a powerful way to create a body of work and gain credibility. You could never do this by yourself.
Learn more about the wonderful service Dan Janal at PR LEADS has for you. Click here and explore the possibilities. You won't be disappointed. |
| Panic to Power:
Swift & Simple Speaking Strategies Anyone Can Use
Join three world champion speakers and myself to learn how to overcome your fear of public speaking. To learn more, click here.
"This CD... will take you to the next level in your speaking ability. After listening to all of the Panic to Power stories and the strategies... I CAN'T WAIT till my next speaking opportunity!!"
- Mary West, Director of Marketing, The Snow Group
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Upcoming Events
Seattle Chamber of Commerce Focus On Program
Join me on February 11, 2009 for this Chamber program focusing on improving your presentation skills.
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