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Posts tagged: Speaker PR

9 Innovative Marketing Tactics for Public Speakers and Small Businesses

Posted on January 21, 2009

Ford-Saeks-Barbara-Rozgonyi

I’ll never know everything I need to know about marketing. That’s why I study what other people do that works. Especially people like Ford Saeks whose clients include Randy Gage who talks about prosperity and business.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Ford talk about marketing for speakers and small business at our local NSA chapter.

“Adapt, don’t adopt,” is how he suggested the audience apply innovative marketing ideas for public speakers and small businesses  like these . . .

1. add a services and resources page, consulting isn’t enough – you need a product line that gives people options

2. offer your articles to associations [I did this today as a series]

3. put a call to action on every web page

4. make a video for influencers to show decision makers

5. set up a news and media center and keep it stocked and current

6. evaluate your real competition – who or where else do your prospects spend their money?

7. check out the keywords your site ranks for with the Google Keyword Tool

8. give away your own product in exchange for information, a good reminder – especially the “your own product” part

9. think of how you add value, not how you make the sale

That’s the marketing side. Now for the speaker side . . . several times throughout his talk, Ford “pulled the curtain back” to tell us how he was relating to the audience, positioning his services and capturing interest.

For me, one of the biggest takeaways was Ford’s story. If you’ve seen him speak, you know it. If you haven’t, watch Ford tell it in this video from his Prime Concepts YouTube channel. Follow Ford on twitter @Prime_Concepts.

3 Comments - Posted in Speaking Tagged with: ,

For Speakers: Social Media and Networking Resources

Posted on December 29, 2008

barbararozgonyiavatar  I love to speak and help others get out there with their message. Recently, someone asked about where to find more information on how to manage a professional speaking business.

Start by checking out your local chapter of the National Speakers Association?  Our Illinois Chapter is very friendly, encouraging and resourceful.

This group will have lots of connections you’re looking for. If I were you, I’d find a virtual assistant for speakers and let them manage all the details – there are many. For example, it’s important to have your own contract and your own marketing materials. I go so far as to build in a marketing/PR campaign to promote the audience members as well as the organization.

To connect with other speakers, you might also ask your questions on www.speakernetnews. com, www.speakersite. com [a new social network for professional speakers] or LinkedIn – in a group like “Speakers and Panelists” or “Public Speaking Network.”

And, feel free to browse Wired PR Works’ speaker marketing/PR category.

Are you a speaker? What resources do you recommend?

2 Comments - Posted in Marketing, Speaking Tagged with:

Want to Get Ahead? Take the Stairs

Posted on November 17, 2008

Barbara Rozgonyi-Rory Vaden

At a college preview, a sign said: take the stairs, you’ll get a workout and you’ll save energy. So, we did.

At the mall over the weekend, we tried to take the stairs. But, there are no more stairs. There are only elevators and escalators.

According to Rory Vaden, the world’s leading expert, speaker, and author on personal self-discipline, therein lies the problem with a lot of what’s wrong not only with America, but with your business [and maybe your approach to life]: taking shortcuts in attempting to get to the top, a place he knows how to get to.

For a young 26 of man, Rory’s realized stellar success already, including being a world champion public speaking finalist – twice and leading a movement to be more disciplined.

After years of selling children’s books door to door, Rory co-founded Success Starts Now, a leadership and sales training institute.

Anyone who’s ever sold anything door to door can relate to Rory’s stories. I have – and I have to say that even though I dreaded knocking on doors, the lessons I learned in becoming the top-seller in high school served me well as an award-winning sales rep a few years later who revitalized two “dead” territories into the company’s hotter markets. Did I quit? Yes. Did I keep going? Yes. Did I get to the top? Yes.

Those of us who were lucky enough to hear Rory speak at the National Speakers Association Illinois Chapter’s program, experienced samples of two of Rory’s programs: “Take the Stairs” and “No Laughs to Know Laughs: How to be Funny to Make More Money,” which is also a book you can buy – and I did!

Rory graciously agreed to let me share this picture with you as well as my highlights from his talk.

Here, I’ll focus on my takeaways from “Take the Stairs.”

“Successful people aren’t born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do. The successful people don’t always like these things themselves; they just get on and do them.”
William Makepeace Thackeray

Successful people have the discipline to do the things even when they don’t feel like doing it.

[When I walked into the meeting, one of my newsletter readers greeted me: “Hi newsletter lady! You’re so prolific!” I told her later that knowing I had to get the newsletter out every Thursday was my motivation. Do I always enjoy writing the newsletter? Not if I’m under deadline for another project. Do I feel good every time it goes out? Yes! Is there, ever, an excuse good enough to miss an issue? No.] 

3 Must-Have Habits of Successful People

1 Sacrifice: it’s easy to be disciplined when you’re pursuing something that really matters

Isn’t this so simple and so true? If you’re finding that some things you think you should do aren’t getting done, maybe it’s time to ask yourself if they really matter – to who and to why?

2 Persistence: staying with it and dealing with failure and rejection is part of life

How did you get where you are? Failing is learning is it not?

“Success is never owned, it is only rented and the rent is due every single day. Any commitment made today must be made tomorrow.”  Rory Vaden

3 Action – taking action toward getting what really matters is the difference between people who get what they want out of life and those who stay stuck

One clarifier for me, personally: take action as soon as you can. Do ever delay taking action only to either forget or find it’s too late to be meaningful?

“It doesn’t matter what you say. It matters how you act. It’s the person who makes the sacrifice that gets the gift.” Rory Vaden

The Take the Stairs World Tour

Follow Rory’s adventures to the top of the world’s highest buildings, via the stairs of course, at Rory Vaden’s Take the Stairs Blog.

1. Burj Dubai Tower –700 meters (2297 feet) in Dubai, UAE

2. Toronto CN Tower – 553 meters  (1815 feet) in Toronto, Canada

3. Taipei 101 – 508 meters (1667 feet)  in Taipei, Taiwan

4. Petronas Towers – 452 meters (1483 feet) in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia

5. Sears Towers – 442 meters (1454 feet) in Chicago, IL

6. Jin Mao Tower – 421 meters (1380 feet) in Shanghai, China

7. International Finance Centre – 414  meters (1364 feet) in Hong Kong

8. CITIC Plaza – 391 meters (1283 feet) in Taianhe District, Guangzhou, China

9. Shun Hing Square – 384 meters (1260 feet) in Shenzhen, China

10. Empire State Building – 381 meters (1250 feet) in New York City, New York

Professional Speaking in Action

At the end of his presentation, Rory showed us his 2007 national finalist speech. It was so good, I was hoping it was on YouTube. Here it is; visit Rory Vaden’s YouTube channel to watch his collection.

On Being Funny

At the college preview, we did take the elevator when we couldn’t find the stairs. When we got into the even floor elevator, I said “We’re not on the funny elevator.” [Rory says odd numbers are funny, even numbers aren’t.] As my daughter and I smiled, a very distinguished gentleman turned to me and asked, “Where are you from?” He then introduced himself as the college’s vice president. Would we have met him if I wasn’t trying to be funny? Probably not. Thanks Rory!

Your Turn

How important is discipline to what you do?

 

5 Comments - Posted in Speaking Tagged with: ,

Event PR – Speaker Press Release | News Announcing Speaking Engagement

Posted on October 5, 2008

BarbaraRozgonyi-BusinessBlogspeaker Speaking to a group is a great way to get out in front of new audiences. Most organizations have a communications person who will publicize your appearance to their members and maybe the media. You can help them promote their event – along with your appearance – by sending out an additional news release of your own. Here’s one that recently went out to our local media contact list to let them know about my upcoming speaking engagement in Chicago.

Although many of the reporters who received the announcement cover an area outside of Cook County, they are interested in promoting local business owners’ successes. Usually a release like this runs in the business or calendar section. Going beyond the media, you can also distribute a release like this to your own event planner clients or new speaking engagement prospects to let them know how they can position you and your topic. In this case, I’m one of many speakers. If you’re planning an event, ask your speakers to send out their own news release to their media list to help you spread the word.

Email Subject Line: Business News: 10-25 Barbara Rozgonyi to Teach Writers About Social Media

Barbara Rozgonyi to Speak on Social Media for Writers At Conference Sponsored by the Independent Writers of Chicago

Organization Media Contact: George Becht, 847.973.2556

CoryWest Media: 630.942.9542

Glen Ellyn, IL – Barbara Rozgonyi, founder of Glen Ellyn-based CoryWest Media and publisher of Wired PR Works, will transport writers to the world of social media at the 2008 Independent Writers of Chicago’s [IWOC] Writing conference. Rozgonyi will cover how anyone can use social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to quickly build influential networks and become recognized as a subject matter expert. An IWOC member for many years, Rozgonyi’s IWOC profile is at: http://tinyurl.com/rozgonyi-iwoc.

The conference, called “Take Your Writing Business to the Next Level,” will give independent writers of all specialties and levels of experience the opportunity to brush up on their skills, learn new techniques, and reposition themselves in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Speakers include Chicago area professional writers, editors and marketing professionals who will offer tips on building and improving a profitable career as an independent professional writer.

Held at National Louis University’s Michigan Avenue campus, the conference takes place on Saturday, October 25. Registration is $99 for IWOC members; $109 for members of other writers’ associations; $129 for non-members; and $40 for students.

Register online at http://www.iwoc.org. For questions regarding the conference, contact Cathy Dusberger, Seminar Chair at 312.382.1808, or cdusberger@sbcglobal.net.

About Independent Writers of Chicago

IWOC is a nonprofit professional association of independent writers from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. IWOC members serve large corporations, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations; together they represent a broad range of writing talents and specialties. To learn more about IWOC, call 847.855.6670 or visit www.iwoc.org

About Barbara Rozgonyi

Edgy, grounded and prophetic, Barbara Rozgonyi is on a mission to spread the news about the power of creating communities. A speaker, educator and consultant, Rozgonyi founded CoryWest Media in 1990 and publishes Wired PR Works, a top 50 PR blog with over 450 free marketing and PR articles. For additional background information or to schedule an interview, visit http://www.wiredPRworks.com or call 630.942.9542.

Your Turn

How do you publicize your speaking engagements?

Image: Barbara Rozgonyi, presenting Blogging for Business

 

 

0 Comments - Posted in Events, Press Releases, Speaking Tagged with: ,