October 20,  2011 – Speaker Services Update

Marketing & Training Services since 1992

Speaker Services http://www.speakerservices.com

In this issue
- Note from Susan Levin
- News from our colleagues & friends

I am preparing to attend Maurice DiMino’s Presentations that Sell Bootcamp in Los Angeles the next few days.  In this Bootcamp the attendees learn how to craft a talk and once they have it together they are challenged to connect with audiences.  Here’s where I come in. Maurice invited me to have a vendor table  as I am a great resource for the attendees. I am looking forward to connecting with them tonight at dinner and over the weekend.

I just downloaded Seth Godins latest book We Are All Weird.  Jacqueline Novogratz wrote a terrific review of the book.  We Are All Weird is a song of freedom, an exuberant manifesto with the richness of choice that comes with wealth, the markets, the internet, our increasing connection with one another across the globe. He argues that the era of mass marketing is over (thankfully) and that as humans we seek not just to consume but to connect, and therefore we find those who love what we love and, when it works best, create or join tribes. We are allowed, indeed, encouraged to be individuals, to specialize rather than fit in or be normal and this is where richness begins. As Seth says, Stuff is not the point. Connection, choice, pursuing what we love is.  BTW:  It was only $2.99!

Are you a speaker, expert, author, coach or entrepreneur attempting to connect with audiences who want to hear your message?

Have you considered adding speaking to your marketing plan?

Do you know how to monetize your speaking gigs?

Would you like one-one coaching with a marketing expert? http://www.speakerservices.com/marketing.html

Are you attempting to find gigs on your own and not getting a response from the event planner?

Would you like to know the names of the decision makers in the college and association and corporate markets?

Maybe you need a coach to assist you in branding and helping you put your talks together?

Wondering how to get a great video(s) for your website and social media?

Speaker Services team can assist you.

Whether you are a beginning speaker or further  along the path our agency can customize a package to fit your needs.

Here are some options for you to consider:

CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES via Speaker Services online paid listing directory brings speakers together with audiences since 1992.   We connect you with audiences that you might not find on your own.  We reach out to 5,000 event planners every month who are searching for experts for their audiences. See http:www.speakerservices.com

INVEST IN A WORKSHOP

Saturday, October 29, Market Yourself as a Speaker, Susan Levin in Marina del Rey http://bit.ly/pxk58a

The information, techniques and tools that you’ll receive from attending Market Yourself as a Speaker are essential to building your speaking business.

Immediate Benefits:

- Design a masterful presentation package that attracts meeting planners to hire you

- Create your one-sheets, introductions and rating forms

- Customize your programs with pre-program questionnaires and more

Monday, November 7, Speak Your Way to More Clients, Capistrano Beach with Ursula Mentjes and Susan Levin http://www.salescoachnow.com/speak-your-way-to-more-clients/

You will leave with a Proven Formula to Create the Perfect Speaking Business Plan for YOU in 2012

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Like to listen to mp3s?

SPEAKERS COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP GROUP

Join the Speakers Community Membership 60 days for free & a modest $19.95 a month.  Listen to the expert interviews live or download mp3s.

NOTE: 10/26 Complimentary teleclass

Post Do You Have Professional Marketing Materials? http://t.co/GwZ7x94o & comp teleclass 10/26 same topic register http://t.co/5JxUQ8R0

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NEWS & TIPS FROM OUR COLLEAGUES

The new frontier, Seth Godin

 http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/10/the-new-frontier.html

What, exactly, is wrong with the old frontier?

When Google + launched, millions of formerly optimistic people became optimistic again. Maybe this was going to be the one, the social network with just the smart people and none of the lame stuff, none of the spam or the pitches or the people we’re trying to avoid.

And the same thing is true when the pack runs to the new nightclub, the new technology, the new suburban subdivision. Maybe this will be the one…

Of course, it rarely is. So much disappointment and so much bitterness. It’s never as great as you hoped it would be. Ennui and then, eventually, waiting for yet another new frontier.

It’s the old frontier that actually presents the most interesting opportunities, because the shine has worn off. This is your platform for real innovation, innovation in a place or a market or a situation that truly is ready for it

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Need Some Marketing Inspiration? Download @HubSpot’s New eBook: 101 Marketing Quotes: http://t.co/oItXB2tn #101Quotes

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Did anyone catch our speaker and author Author Carole Lieberman on TV Sat night talking about the Michael Jackson case? She is an expert witness too. See her speaker listing http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/413

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Learn the latest trends in the world of speaker marketing 10/29 in LA w Susan Levin Market Yourself as a Speaker Wksp http://t.co/XwKiTPYQ

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New blog post How Sponsors Define Value: Vickie Sullivan, http://t.co/PSkPZsYK

Blog post Is Cold Calling Dead? 6 tips to success http://t.co/4AyLkhXz

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What our clients are saying about Speaker Services:

Susan provides a toolbox of services and experts for the business person or author who wants to develop a revenue stream from speaking engagements. I used both her training and directory and more than doubled my speaking revenue in less than 90 days.
- Betty LaMarr, Executive Coach, Speaker

Susan is just amazing at getting new speakers up and running in the profession.
- Debra Valle, Coach

I had the occasion to refer a client to Susan and Speaker Services. The reports from my client were glowing, beyond her expectations. She reported tremendous value from the experience with Susan. I will refer to her again and again.
- Rory Cohen, Founder and President , Entelekey, Inc. Take 10 Now

I am ready to answer all your questions and concerns and make suggestions to fit your budget and marketing plan.  E-mail me at susan@speakerservices.com for an appointment to chat.

Susan Levin

Speaker Services, susan@speakerservices.com

310-822-4922 PT

SPEAK YOUR WAY TO MORE BUSINESS

Speakers, Authors, Consultants, Coaches,
Experts, Entrepreneurs, CEO’s

Gain Credibility, Boost Your Visibility And
Get More Clients By Talking Up Your Business

These days, if you’re a would-be speaker, a business hotshot, an entrepreneur or a network marketer; if you have a product, service or about-to-be-realized dream; you absolutely need to be speaking about it, do seminars & workshops about… you need a kick-butt website, you need to blog about, to social network about, to get great publicity about — and you definitely need to know all the up-to-the-minute marketing tricks!

In short: to truly make a lasting impact, you need to be a media maven: a compelling presenter…a website wizard…a publicity hound…a master marketer.

• FIND the niche that suits your passion and skills — and what’s uniquely marketable about your mission
• PRODUCE presentations that captivate and attract attention…motivate action and get results
• LEARN marketing secrets and strategies to show you how to attract and reach your ideal clients
• IMPLEMENT the latest technologies: social media, blogging, mobile marketing, video, YouTube to boost your visibility
• MASTER the art of speaking and selling with intention

Talk Up Your Business brings together four state of the art experts in their respective fields:

Susan Levin, Jack Barnard, Ursula Mentjes, Jean-Noel Bassior

Date:  Monday, October 17, 9am-6pm, Venice, CA
Investment $99, Seating Limited

See program and registration at
http://www.speakerservices.com/talkupyourbizla

A Speaker Services Production

 Looking for speaking engagements? 

Speaker Services Directory brings Speakers & Authors together with audiences since 1992.
WHO QUALIFIES?

Speakers for Free: Any business person or professional practitioner who wants to increase their business base.

Speakers for Fee:  We prefer that you have a 3 camera video demo, professional photos, a press kit and a fee schedule and letters of recommendation.

Authors’ Speak: Qualified authors only. Included with your speaker listing.

Now you can reach a worldwide audience of decision makers who hire speakers and authors!

Let 6,000 meeting planners and other decision makers who hire speakers and authors know about you!

GET LISTED ONLINE NOW!

Your listing includes:  500-600 word description, photo, telephone and fax number + e-mail address + website address with link + website video demo address with link.

Listed by 3-4 categories.

Call Susan Levin to discuss your speaker/marketing needs and to get listed in Speaker Services Directory 310-822-4922 PST.

Payment Plan Available

Speakers for Free
6 months $750
12 months $1,050
Buy 6 or 12 months, get 2 months free

Speaker for Fee
6 months $900
12 months $1,250
Buy 6 or 12 months, get 2 months free

Authors’ Speak
Included with Speakers for Free or Fee listing

See what our clients are saying about our services http://www.speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html
Read the entire advertising info http://www.speakerservices.com/adv_pkt_info.html

Included with your Speaker Listing:

• Market Yourself as a Speaker Workshop in LA with Susan Levin or 1 hour private consult on phone

• Complimentary membership to the Speakers’ Community Membership Club www.speakerscommunity.com for the length of your contract

• We edit your copy for you and or write it for you for a fee

• Two slots for your videos

• Short audio recording

• Link to your Blog

E-mail as doc or pdf
• Your One Sheet

• Your pitch letter or link to Media Press Room

• Bio

Call Susan Levin to discuss your speaker/marketing needs and to get listed in Speaker Services Directory 310-822-4922 PST.  E-Mail susan@speakerservices.com for listing guidelines.

Position, Prospect, Prosper – The Road Ahead

The public speaking industry has changed, including the professional speaker marketing and training that is so important to your success.
One of the most important changes that affects speakers involve the meetings marketplace. Yes it is no secret that there are less speaking engagements then in the past however it brings opportunities for change and growth in the business model that speakers employ.

The vast world of speaker potential is constantly expanding, the state of the art is in perpetual flux. There are so many new and innovative permutations, so much new leading-edge information to learn to help expand your business.

Our expert speakers and panelists will be offering tips and advice in the following areas:

• Discover your niche that suits your passion and skills
• Create content that meets the needs of your audience.
• Leverage Social Networking skills to grow your business
• Get Paid to speak at High Schools & Colleges
• Make an extra $250,000 to $1,000,000 a year with high impact coaching programs
• Repurpose, produce and distribute content that can be shared and extends the voice of your brand, product and company
• Passion to Profits
• Prospecting for speaking engagements: Systematize the booking process
• Bypass Gatekeepers and Voice mail & Reach Your Prospect Directly
• Explore why video is one of the best forms of viral marketing

Take a look at the program http://www.speakerservices.com/speakerssummit10/program.html

Barbara Niven, Speaker, Actress

It is important to invest in your training and this event is a mere $297 or $397 after 2/26

Listen to preview teleclasses

post by Joseph Sommerville

5 Ways to Create More Value in Your Presentations

1. Solve a problem instead of peddling programs.

People know when they’re being sold to and it makes them uncomfortable. Prospects invest their time in attending or listening to a presentation because they believe it will benefit them in some way. They don’t attend to hear a thinly veiled sales presentation.

Violating those expectations by promising one thing and delivering another constitutes a “bait and switch” that quickly turns prospects off. Prove to them they’ve made a wise investment by placing your focus on education instead, and you’ll find a more receptive audience.

When you can solve a problem or remove some pain, you’re positioned as a resource instead of a vendor. The problem you address should resonate with the audience’s experience. That means you need to do some audience analysis as you prepare the presentation. Think about

• What questions does your target market ask most frequently?
• What three challenges do they regularly face in business?
• What are the top mistakes people in similar situations make?
• When you have the opportunity to survey the audience in advance, you can customize your message even more and give them solutions that are immediately actionable.

2. Provide value-based marketing materials.

The typical presenter hands out colorful brochures, slick flyers and glossy postcards about himself and the services he offers. These provide no value to the audience. That’s why these materials have an extremely short shelf life.

Instead, distribute white papers, special reports, published articles, checklists and tip booklets. These serve as resources the audience will use and keep. They also provide top of mind awareness after the presentation. One of the pieces I circulate includes a four-page resource guide on creating and using visuals. It contains a step-by-step guide to creating effective visuals, examples of different types of charts and an article on how to avoid the most common errors with PowerPoint presentations. I’ve seen it in client’s offices five years after they received it. You add value through these collaterals when the information helps the audience save money, increase their available time or perform a task more efficiently.

3. Get your presentation accredited to count for continuing education units.

Many professional organizations require continuing education to maintain professional designations. Partner with one of them to develop a presentation or course that meets these requirements. It provides value to the members of the organization and increases your demand as a speaker. Conduct some research to determine which courses are mandatory and which are electives. Focus on the former so your course development efforts provide information people must have. Since most organizations require a certain number of professional education hours annually, this can help you develop ongoing repeat business.

4. Offer a complimentary initial consultation for attendees.

If people aren’t quite willing to hire you yet, but will take the next step, an initial consultation can serve several useful purposes. First, it provides an added benefit from attending the presentation. You’ll be giving audience members another reason to believe they’re getting a good return on their investment of time. Second, it provides an opportunity for each of you to explore the other’s approach, working style and personality. You can probably determine during that initial conversation whether you can work together productively. Third, it gives prospects the opportunity to “try before they buy.” It can increase their comfort level in hiring you and move them further along the sales process. Limit the offer to the first tento respond. That way you can set boundaries for yourself and increase the sense of urgency. Don’t worry about “giving too much away.” Prospects will recognize your generosity and you’ll build a relationship of trust.

5. Partner with non-competing professionals that serve your target market to create an educational seminar.

For example, an attorney and an accountant might co-produce a seminar for small business owners on “10 Strategies to Collect Accounts Receivable in Tough Economic Times.” A business broker and a banker might organize a seminar on “5 Essentials You Must Know Before You Buy a Business.” Such cooperation allows you to share expenses, combine the power of your individual lists and leverage different perspectives on the same topic. You’ll need to agree on the desired outcomes and make sure the project is mutually beneficial.

You’ll have to invest some time to incorporate these benefits into your presentations. It will require some thoughtful audience analysis, creativity in designing materials and determined follow-through with accrediting agencies and partners. But the return on that investment can be significant. When you add value to your presentations, you pull business in, rather than pushing it on, prospects.

About the Author:

With his new book Rainmaking Presentations: How To Grow Your Business by Leveraging Your Expertise, Joseph Sommerville, Ph.D. helps professionals, small business owners and entrepreneurs including accountants, attorneys, engineers, executives, financial planners add influence to their expertise and make more money during challenging economic times. Now, you can download the first chapter for free at www.RainMakingPresentations.com

I have to say this was by far one of the best events that I ever produced.  We had 20 speakers, 75 attendees over three days and the feedback was fabulous.

Save the dates for 2010 Summit, April 30, May 1 & 2, 2010.

Today I am going to share the handout that Marilyn Snyder provided for the Summit attendees on how to Avoid Death by Power Point. marilynsnyder3.doc

 Marilyn Snyder

Here are some moree photos of the event: 

James Malinchak & Susan Levin

Speaking on how to get booked in the college market

Sheryl Roush, Solid Gold One-Sheets & Sparkle Presentations 

Lisa Castro visiting Speaker Services Table

Ladies at breakfast

Lisa Sasevich, The Invisible Close Queen after her talk

View video testimonials re the Speakers’ Summit http://ping.fm/ZKMtD May 1-3 LA, 18 fab speakers see program http://ping.fm/9QiX5 about 21 hours ago The team at Speaker Services has been working non-stop to organize the best Speakers’ Summit ever.  This is the fifth time we are offer the Summit and it gets better every year.  See the program http://ping.fm/9QiX5

The theme is SPEAKERS’ SUMMIT ’09 – THE PINNACLE
THE TIME HAS COME – May 1, 3 in Los Angeles

It is priced quite reasonably $297 for three days!

This is James Malinchak and me.  James talks about how to land speaking engagements in the college market.

This is Jack Barnard and me-sweet photo! Jack is our master media, branding and presentation coach extraordinaire and he will be talking about the Secret of Speaking and more at the Summit.

SPEAKERS:
Jack Barnard, Jean-Noel Bassior, Alex Carroll, Lisa Cherney, Colin Daymude, Daniel Hall, Linda Hollander, Bill Johnson, Susan Levin, James Malinchak, Nancy Marmolejo  Barbara Niven, Sheryl Roush,  Ellen Reid, Lisa Sasevich, Rob Schultz, Marilyn Snyder, Nancy Solari, Geoff Zimpfer

Regardless of profession, everyone is an expert in their field and Speakers’ Summit ‘09 is the Pinnacle Opportunity to turn that expertise into a successful business; to not only master step-by-step the game of speaking, but to navigate the latest technology, and learn exciting new strategies for producing active and passive income.

 THE PROMISE OF SPEAKERS’ SUMMIT ‘09

√  DESIGN dynamite Power Point presentations
√  MASTER the art of Social Networking  Article Writing,Teleseminars, Webinars and other online marketing tools that make profits
√  LEARN to automate and monetize your business
√  MEGA-MARKET yourself as a speaker
√  ATTRACT a torrent of traffic to your website
√  CRUISE FREE and make bunches of money
√  DEVELOP your material in any time frame
√  DOUBLE speaking fees and triple bookings as a guest on radio shows
√  UNCOVER what’s uniquely marketable about you and your mission
√  GET and attract corporate sponsorship
√  LAND lucrative speaking gigs in the college market
√  DON’T get branded, get command-branded
√  USE high impact customized sales-closing strategies
√  BECOME a great storyteller
√  CREATE dynamic, stand-out one-sheets and brochures.
√  LEARN the difference between self-publishing and mainstream publishing
√  KNOW that the secret of speaking has nothing to do with theme, time, style

I  invite you to view video testimonials re the Speakers’ Summit http://ping.fm/ZKMtD 

The following post comes to us from James Malinchak (part 1)

Photo of James and me Susan Levin at the National Speakers’ Association Convention

Prior to me sharing my college speaking secrets with others, I would often hear speakers in the industry often share information with others that wasn’t correct. Those sharing this information weren’t mean spirited. They just didn’t understand the college market. Therefore, they “assumed” certain things about it and would pass those assumptions along to others like us. Basically, what I’m referring to are seven myths I’ve been hearing people in the speaking industry pass along to speakers for years. Just because they don’t understand the college market, they think you can’t possibly make serious money speaking in it. I have a saying I’ve been repeating for years which is: “Just because someone doesn’t know, doesn’t mean it isn’t so!”

So, here are 2  Myths You’ve Been Led to Believe About the College Speaking Market:

Myth #1:  There’s no money in the college market

For years, I would constantly have speakers, authors, trainers, coaches, consultants and info-preneurs approach me and say, “There’s no money speaking in the college market.” And, for years, before I began sharing my secrets with others, I would simply smile and respond with, “Well, you’re probably right.” Then I would just keep-on-keeping-on.  There’s money if you know where to look and it’s not your fault if you’ve been believing this myth because nobody has ever taught you why there’s money.

Let me teach you why there’s money because if you understand why there’s money, then speaking in the college market will make perfect sense to you. And I really want you to understand this because as the old saying goes:

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he feeds himself for a lifetime!”

Almost every college requires each student to pay an Activities Fee when registering for classes. Some schools charge this fee per semester, while others charge it per year. It depends on the individual school. This fee ranges from $20-$200 per student. Again, it depends on the individual school. One of primary uses of this fee is to bring people just like me and you to the school, meaning speakers, authors, trainers, coaches, consultants, info-preneurs, bands, comedians, hypnotists, and others.  This $20-$200 fee doesn’t seem like a lot, but remember that most schools have thousands of students. So let’s play this out in an example:

$50 activities fee x 10,000 students = a potential $500,000 BUDGET

$100 activities fee x 10,000 students = a potential $1,000,000 BUDGET!

That can be per year or per semester. Again, it depends on the individual school. Wow!  You can clearly see that some schools have bigger semi-annual and annual budgets that many corporations and associations. This activities fee will always be charged because it’s similar to a vacation resort fee. When you check into a vacation resort, there’s always a minor resort fee that all guests get charged. There’s no way around it and we all pay the resort fee. The same goes for this activities fee. It always gets charged. In addition, there are anywhere from 10-15 different departments at each college that have well-funded budgets to bring in speakers! They could be funded by state and/or federal grants, alumni donations and other sources. And, here’s the best part. Colleges will have these budgets every year because there will always be thousands and thousands of students going to school, no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad corporate or association training budgets get cut. Which means the activities fee will always be charged.

Let me give an example of the power of this.  When the unfortunate 9/11 terrorist tragedy happened, I was flying to Tallahassee, Florida where I was scheduled to speak at Florida State University that night. Obviously, the presentation for that night was canceled. But the remaining presentations I had scheduled for the rest of the month of September weren’t canceled. While many speakers’ businesses came to a sudden stop because corporate and association budgets were immediately slashed, I made around $40,000 in the last few weeks of September alone! Then, the remaining months speaking in the college circuit continued on as if nothing had happened. What I mean is the other college presentations that were booked on my schedule from October-on all remained booked and I never missed a beat!  The college market is one of the greatest, most overlooked, most untapped, most lucrative speaking niches and anyone who walks up to you and says, “There’s no money speaking in the college market,” obviously doesn’t understand the market.  Simply smile and respond with, “Well, you’re probably right.” Then you just keep-on-keeping-on following my recipe and enjoy getting an MBA for yourself (Massive Bank Account!)

Myth #2:   Marketing to the college market is the same as marketing to any other market, whether it’s youth, corporate or a specific niche

I hate to break it to you, but people in the speaking industry have been misinforming you for years!  Marketing-wise, it’s totally different marketing to the college market than ANY other market if you want to get booked. Anybody who ever tells you that you can have a “one-sheet” or have one set of marketing materials that is used to market yourself for all markets, you can be sure they have no clue how to market to colleges. It is not the same as other markets and it’s as different as night and day, apples and oranges. I don’t care which market or niche you may be speaking in, the college market is so much different and if you don’t understand the proper way to market to colleges, then you won’t get booked and you won’t make any money!

Note:  Meet James in person on May 3, 2009 at the Speakers’ Summit09

The following post is written by my colleague James Malinchak

James and Susan at the NSA Convention

I want to help you start your motivational speaking business and train you to make more and more money in your motivational speaking career. One question I get all the time is, “James, how do I get paid public speaking jobs?” These jobs are out there but you need to know where to look in order to find them. Here are just a few ideas.

1) Look for organizations that work with your specific area of expertise. Taking a look at DECA marketing organizations like FCCLA would be an example for the niche I’m in. Another example: if I was in the real estate industry I’d take a look at the national board of realtors, investor associations or even the local community associations.

2) Research public speaking jobs in related associations within your niche. Don’t be afraid to network yourself and get the contact information of the conference coordinator even if you weren’t hired as their keynote speaker.

3) Increase your professional speaking success by creating a database of potential clients who may be hiring conference speakers in the future. Contact universities, colleges and professors. You can also try contacting your local speaker bureaus, non-profit organizations, corporations and even libraries.

4) When starting a motivational speaking business, you may want to check the speaker forums for jobs. You’ll find that many jobs aren’t paid ones, but they may help you build your credibility in your niche. The key thing to remember is to eventually go after higher and higher paying jobs instead of working for free.

5) As you start getting the hang of getting books for public speaking, you’ll begin to develop a system to keep track of all the places you’ll market yourself to. A helpful tool in providing contact information for organizations and conferences that are hiring motivational speakers is the internet. Search for “speakers wanted” or “calls for speakers” and you’ll have a hefty listing to work through.

6) You can even find directories that are published with lists of all the paying markets within a niche. It will provide you with enough content to keep your business going, however keep in mind that no directory is ever complete. The National Trade and Professional Associations Directory, The Directory of Association Meeting Planners and the Directory of Corporate Meeting Planners are the three main directories that can be helpful with research. While these directories cost quite a bit they will make researching your niche that much easier!

7) Referrals are the last source of potential paid public speaking jobs. Building up a network of peers and clients in your area of expertise can create referrals, helping to bring your name to the attention of event coordinators looking to hire. The person who markets first to event coordinator is the one who will get the job when they are ready to hire. Make sure you are the one there first!

One last thing I’ve got to share with you. Be sure to remember that you can always find the people who have the money you need to pay to hear you speak. With these resources you can get started on researching your particular area of expertise. And once you done a number of gigs, get out there and go after the big money!

James offers a College Speaking Success Bootcamp- December 4-7, 2008
check it out at…
Website: http://mach1.infusionsoft.com/go/csslanding/slevin/

You may be aware that I launched the Speakers’ Community a membership site in early November. I offered 60 days for free until the end of Dec ’07 to give folks an opportunity to experience the value of the Community and if satisfied then $49 a month would be debited automatically from their account.

I worked hard to offer instant valuable bonuses as well as a Community Listing in the directory which is open to the public and to the members to find one another.

I invited guest experts each month onto the monthly teleclass and recorded the conversation to add to the library. Additionally the Inner Marketing Circle once a month has been inspiring and with lots of coaching happening and the replay is archived.

I thought I was giving great value for $49 a month. Afterall, a teleclass call charge might be $49-$99 and one on one coaching could be $250 an hour plus a listing in the Community Directory. At least that was my thinking.

And yesterday I heard a voice saying add more value. So here’s what I did. I added 13-14 audio/mp3 recordings all of which I had created in the past year and began the Audio/MP3 Library page for the members.

Here’s a partial list of the recordings in the Library.

- SUPER STRUCTURE and BRANDING, Jack Barnard

- COMMUNION, COMFORT & CONNECTION, Jack Barnard

- THE BUSINESS OF SPEAKING: CREATE A WINNING MARKETING STRATEGY, Susan Levin

- RUN YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE HELP OF A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT, Terry Green

- MARKETING: WEB 2.0 STYLE: Turn Your Intellectual Assets Into Internet Profits, Michelle Price

- INCREASE YOUR INCOME BY CREATING AND SELLING INFORMATION PRODUCTS, Susan Levin & Patsy Bellah

- PLUG and PLAY PROFITS: Convert Your Passion into Blockbuster Audio CDs Rob Schultz

- GET YOUR BOOK WRITTEN and PUBLISHED, Jean-Noel Bassior

- PRODUCE & PUBLISH STREAMING AUDIO & VIDEO USING AUDIOACROBAT, Dave Barrett, Owner of AudioAcrobat

- GET BOOKED AT COLLEGES, James Malinchak

- ONE SHEETS, Sheryl Roush

- SPEAK ON CRUISE SHIPS, Daniel Hall and here is the recording for you to listen to.

What is the value now? Priceless!

Here’s the point of my sharing this with you. I had all of this information already created in various places ie: my file cabinet, on various web pages and you probably do too.

In thinking back to this past May when we did the Speakers’ Summit I visioned doing a blog and a membership site and a TeleSummit based on the Speakers’ Summit all realized now. However, I remember thinking how I could repurpose and reprogram much of the material and I did it yesterday.

Here’s the good news I still have lots more to repackage including videos mp4′s and I will be adding that to the Speakers’ Community Library.

After the New Year we are offering 30 days for free for the Speakers’ Community however, once you join you have access to the library, the live teleclasses and the Inner Marketing Circle with me and a guest each month plus you can post your own profile in the Community Directory.

BTW: In January TJ Walker will be my guest for the monthly teleclass interview and he will be talking about how content is the king/queen and how you can repackage and reprogram your content into books, tips for your blog and so much more.

You can be on the call if you sign up for the Speakers’ Community!

Hey and if you don’t get the added value you can cancel your subscription.

I would enjoy hearing your comments. Please offer them.

When working with college students for speaking engagements always make sure to talk to their campus advisor. The Lecture/Programming Board on college campuses is made up of students who are in charge of booking programs. Many students will receive your marketing brochure in the mail or hear you speak at a conference and they’ll want to bring you to speak on their campus.

There is something VERY important to be aware of when it comes to working with students. Make sure to always ask to talk with their campus advisor anytime you are ever contacted by any student who wants to book you for their campus. I had learned the importance of this the hard way.

A few years ago, a student leader contacted me several times and ‘booked’ me to speak at an event on her campus. She assured me several times that all was fine with the college, despite the fact she never returned my speaking contract.

I made the mistake of taking her word for it and even paid for a non-refundable $600 airline ticket as the date was approaching. I even turned down another speaking engagement for the same date.

As the date was getting to be about 10 days away, I noticed the contract still wasn’t returned by the student so I decided to track down and call the campus advisor to ask if she would return the contract for the student.

I introduced myself and said I was speaking for her students on November 7th. Imagine my surprise when she replied, ‘No you’re not. We have a hypnotist coming in on November 7th.’

When I told the coordinator that her student had called me several times and that I even mailed her a contract several weeks earlier, the advisor informed me she knew nothing about it.

Because I made the mistake of not contacting the advisor for confirmation immediately upon being contacted by the student, I lost the $600 I spent on the airline ticket plus the $3,500 fee for the other speaking engagement I turned down.

The majority of students are wonderful to work with when they contact you. However, every now and then there may be one or two who don’t follow through. Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of talking with the advisor for confirmation anytime you are contacted by a student.

James Malinchak, ‘America’s Hottest Young Speaker,’ is the creator of the two top-selling speaker courses, ‘How to Make BIG Money As a Speaker,’ and the ‘College Speaking Success Home Study Course.’

Susan’s note: James offers an incredible Bootcamp-Speak at Colleges, November 29-December 2, 2007. Learn more

James and Susan at the NSA Conference

My colleague James Malinchak weighs in today telling us how to get booked to speak at college commencement ceremonies.

Colleges do pay for speaking. Remember all those student activitiy fees your parents paid or perhaps you are paying right now? Some of those fees do go for paying speakers.

Speaker James Malinchak, ‘America’s Hottest Young Speaker, is the creator of the two top-selling speaker courses, ‘How to Make BIG Money As a Speaker,’ and the ‘College Speaking Success Home Study Course.

If you are interested in breaking into the college market James teaches a bootcamp called College Speaking Success and it is scheduled for November 29-Dec 2, 2007 in Las Vegas. Click here to learn more about the program.

If you are curious about it you might want to purchase the CD from the hour talk James did for the Speakers’ Summit on How to Get Booked to Speak at Colleges. Click here to check it out. I can send it as a CD or an MP3 let me know how you prefer it.

Here’s James and me at the NSA Convention in July ’07

As a speaker, if you get a college President who likes you and wants you speak on their campus for commencement, you´re in. However, while it may sound prestigious to serve as a commencement speaker, it´s really not because you have to sit through the entire commencement ceremony.

Some of these college commencement ceremonies can last five or six hours. As a commencement speaker, you´re usually sitting right on stage with the President, school trustees and other faculty members.

I don´t care how you attempt to maneuver it, it just doesn´t look good if the keynote speaker leaves in the middle of the commencement ceremony.

However, if you don´t mind the ceremony, then you could do very well as schools have budgets for good commencement speakers. I used to do 5-6 commencement speeches a year in the month of May. If I made an effort to market to college Presidents, I know I could easily get booked to speak for 20-30 a year.

Several years ago, one school even paid me a speaking fee of $2,500 to deliver a five-minute talk. (This is not a misprint!)

Actually, it was the most difficult talk I have ever done in my life. What can you possibly say in five-minutes that is effective? I told two quick inspirational stories and said, “Go get em!”(ha, ha).

You may think that charging them $2,500 for a five-minute talk is absurd. One thing you must begin to understand is that you cannot under value and under price your time, knowledge, experience and expertise.

Whether it´s a five-minute program or forty five-minute program your fee should be the same. I explained to the school coordinator who booked me for the five-minute talk that whether I talked for 45-minutes or five-minutes, my fee didn´t change because I still had to go through the hassle of traveling to the engagement, etc.

I just got back from the National Speakers’ Association in San Diego.

It was great fun.

We found that many of the speakers were interested in the Video Demo-3 camera shoot coming up in November. I think we will be full. We only take 18 people. I was showing demo samples on my computer in our exhibit booth.

Also of great interest was the MediaSpeak Symposium, October 11-13. Several people signed up right away when they heard the early registration fee for 3 days was only $347. This is our third year offering the Symposium.

I need to send out the Speakers’ Guidelines to about 20 people so they can get listed in our Directory. Since 92 we have been bringing speakers and audiences together.

The Speakers’ Bootcamp is full for August and we have a wait list at this time.

BTW: My mentor for Web Marketing 2.0 and this blog Michelle Price tells me that she is taking on new clients to help them get their blogs plus also creating a marketing strategy for them so that it brings them mucho business. Take a look at her website AThirdMind.com

Here’s some photos I took at the conference of friends and colleagues.

Jovita Jenkins (r) and Terry Green (l)
Jovita is the author of Get Out of Your Own Way and Terry is a VA. Her business is Fastype and she helped me out during the conference.

This is Scott of Beyondee taking a photo of a client. Beyondee takes your photo and creates business cards for you- 1,000 cards for only $59.

I’m hoping he’ll be at the MediaSpeak Symposium so the attendees can take advantage of the great deal.

Jack Barnard relaxing -Jack is our master branding, media and presentation coach

Jack and Susan in the Speaker Services Booth

Jill Lublin (r) and me. Jill is one of the speakers at the MediaSpeak Symposium. Her company is Promising Promotions

Blanche Katz stopped in for a visit.
Blanche is an ElderCare Educator

Marilyn Snyder of Interactive Concepts
She is all about Power Point Design

Acutrack
On-Demand CD/DVD Services. Acutrack enables you to create, produce and deliver your content on CDs and DVDs.
Terry Green won their give-away of 100 CD’s and she gave it to me. Can’t wait as they will do all the work for me.

James Malinchak, The College Success Bootcamp King. He had a great booth and he offers an awesome College Bootcamp.

Marketing Tip:

Thanks to my colleague James Malinchak for sharing this short article with us on the benefits of attending marketing seminars.

A Hidden Secret to Growing Your Speaking Business – Attending Live Marketing Seminars! By James Malinchak

Recently, I was asked what was one thing that changed my speaking income. Without hesitation I responded, ‘When I decided to take a chance and attend a marketing seminar, rather than a speaking seminar!’ I remember that moment like it was yesterday. There were a few things that concerned me.

The fact that the seminar was about how to market your business and that it wasn’t specifically a speaker-related seminar. I remember other speakers telling me I was crazy for choosing to attend this marketing seminar rather than attend the National Speakers Association’s Annual Convention.

The fact that I was going to spend more on the registration fee to attend this one marketing seminar than I spent on two, even three speaker-related seminars the previous year. And, I was attending a seminar where I didn’t know anyone else. It was me, all-alone attending a seminar in a strange (and uncomfortable) environment.

Looking back, that was the smartest, most-lucrative decision I’ve ever made and is one decision that made me a very wealthy speaker. When I learned what top marketers knew and then simply applied it to my speaking business, my income literally TRIPLED the next year. And, my income has increased EVERY year since attending that first marketing seminar while the amount of time I actually spend traveling, sitting in airports, and being away from home has decreased over the years to where I now only spend about 10-20% of my time traveling to speaking engagements. The majority of my business is now done in the city where I live.

Today, I invest (not spend) a minimum of $20,000-$30,000 each year on attending seminars, going through home study courses and participating in Mastermind Coaching Groups. I even attended a seminar last month that cost $10,000 to attend. If you think investing $20,000-$30,000 a year is a lot, then you must not be making the kind of big money that I want you to be making. And, there’s no reason why you aren’t making this kind of BIG MONEY so that investing $20,000-$30,000 a year in continuing education isn’t even a thought for you.

Here are 3 reasons why you MUST start attending more live MARKETING events immediately:

1)   A New Way of Thinking and Acting:

When I was only attending speaker-related seminars, I thought like a speaker. When I began attending marketing-related seminars, I began thinking like a marketer. That is one of the first things I preach to the attendees at my Speaker Boot Camps www.collegespeakingsuccess.com/index_landing.htm and I continue to hammer it home to them all throughout the boot camp. Specifically. I say:

“You’re NOT in the speaking business.
You’re in the business of marketing your speaker services!”

Bottom line is this. If you want to become wealthy as a speaker, while working as little as possible, then you MUST think and act like a Master Marketer. Simply by attending marketing-related seminars, the thoughts and actions of Master Marketers that you are constantly around begin rubbing off on you.

2)  Incredible Networking Opportunities:

One of my VIP Platinum Mastermind Inner Circle coaching members once asked me how it is that I got most of the big Internet marketers, top platform selling speakers and big marketers to market my College Speaking Success Boot Camp to their e-newsletter lists when they won’t give most people the time of day. It’s simple. I met all of them at some kind of marketing seminar over the years where they were either speaking or attending.

Prior to attending any seminar, I always make my ‘hit-list’ of people who are speaking and who may be attending that I want to ‘get-in’ with! Then I make sure to do two things: (1) Introduce myself in a memorable way; and (2) Instantly create TOMA (Top of Mind Awareness) so they will always remember me.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret that I haven’t shared with many people. There have been numerous seminars I’ve attended, for no other reason, than to personally meet some of the speakers or attendees who I knew would be there! That’s right! I call it my ‘Attend-To-Get-In’ strategy. I’m always willing to invest in the registration fee just to be in the same room with certain people so I can meet and start a relationship with them. That’s what I mean when I say, ‘Think Like a Marketer, Not a Speaker!’

3)  Big Money Marketers Show You How to Play Big:

The quote that has had more impact on my life than any other is Jim Rohn’s quote from years ago. Others have tried to claim it as their own, but it was stated by Jim over 20 years ago. Here it is:

“Statistically you will become the average and your income will become the average of the five people you associate with most!”

I’ll never forget sitting there thinking, ‘Wow! If that’s true then what if I started associating with more than five who are all big money marketers!?!’ Surely their way of thinking and their money-making ideas would rub-off on me. So I made it my goal to associate with as many big money marketers as possible. And, it’s still a core focus that drives my business to this day!

One reason to attend marketing-related seminars to meet some of the guest speakers is because they are usually very accessible at these events. Especially if you invested in yourself by investing in their home study courses. I can’t tell you how many relationships I started with these big money marketers by bumping into them in the lobby, gym, hallway and in the bar. Many deals for promoting my Speaker’s Boot Camps have been made while sitting and having a drink with them at the bar.

Bottom Line…

I’m amazed at how many speakers moan and complain about not making the kind of money they want to make, yet their not willing to do anything differently that’s suggested. Is it a bit frightening to venture outside of your comfort zone to learn more about marketing by attending marketing-related seminars rather than speaking-related seminars? Absolutely! But suck it up and just do it! Can it really make a difference in your income? No! It can make a HUGE difference!

Speaker James Malinchak, ‘America’s Hottest Young Speaker,’ is the creator of the two top-selling speaker courses, ‘How to Make BIG Money As a Speaker,’ and the ‘College Speaking Success Home Study Course.’ To learn more about his step-by-step systems and to sign up for his FREE ‘Speaker Tips’ E-zine, visit: www.Malinchak.com

To learn more about his upcoming College Bootcamp November 29-December 2, and or order a one hour CD or MP3 Get Booked to Speak at Colleges