How would you like a powerful marketing strategy that can position you as a leader in your field, put you in front of your best prospects, and help you close sales quickly?
Here’s an idea you may not have thought about: Consider doing public speaking on the topic of business promotion. I can tell you from my own experience, the more you speak, the more your sales will increase. You’ll stand out, attract new business and have access to dozens of your best prospects all in one room! It’s a great way to leverage your time. You may even secure follow-up sales meetings before you leave the room.
Why does this marketing strategy work so well? When you speak in front of a group, you’re remembered. Prospects will get to know you, like you and trust you. You will be perceived as an expert in your field. People want to do business with experts.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
Before You Speak:
Prepare a speaker’s bio. Put a together a short bio about you and why you’re an expert on this topic—and be sure to include a photo. You’ll also want to send your bio with a short introductory letter to potential groups.
Have a catchy title for your talk. How to Promote Your Business is an ordinary title, 5 Powerful Business Promotion Secrets is better. You get the idea!
Contact groups. Chambers of Commerce, networking groups and service clubs are a few of the organizations frequently looking for speakers. If you’re willing to speak for free, venues are plentiful. Send your speaker’s bio and follow up with a phone call.
Get Started:
Start practicing. Practice what you’re going to say before you get out there. Consider joining a local Toastmaster’s group to brush up on your speaking skills. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do want to sound knowledgeable.
Participate on a panel. If you’re just starting out, being part of a panel is a lot less scary than speaking to an audience alone. Look for related businesses to share the spotlight with such as meeting planners, graphic designers and trade show display companies.
During Your Talk:
Share stories. Sharing true stories of how you’ve helped your clients is much easier than memorizing a speech. While you’re at it, unless you’re a graphics expert, ditch the Power Point. People will be a lot more interested in what you have to say than a bunch of boring slides.
Bring fun giveaways. Bring promotional items with your company logo to distribute to the audience. It’s a great way to get people to remember you and see the value in what you do.
Get the audience engaged in your topic. Have them describe their favorite promotional item. Better yet, have them pull out a promotional item from their pocket or briefcase. It will get everyone engaged in the topic and having fun.
Have a drawing for a promotional gift. Announcing a drawing for a gift is a fun way to get the business cards of the people in your audience. Let everyone know you’ll be following up with them and sending free business promotion tips.
After You Speak:
Follow up fast. Follow up with everyone in the audience by offering to send them free marketing tips or your company newsletter. Outbound Engine has a great turn-key newsletter for promotional products distributors that works like a charm will keep you and your company top of the mind.
Most of all have some fun and meet new people! Give this powerful strategy a try—it’s guaranteed to keep your sales pipeline full.
Want more proven strategies to increase your promotional products sales? Download my just updated 2014 Promo Biz Sales-Boost Kit at www.promobizcoach.com It has dozens of ideas you can use instantly use to increase your business and exclusive supplier savings to put more money in your pocket.
Promo Biz Coach Rosalie Marcus is a promotional products business expert, coach and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher profit margins and dramatically increase their incomes! Get a FREE special report: 10 Big Mistakes Promotional Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them and a FREE Skyrocket Your Sales audio download at www.promobizcoach.com.
