Comments on: Speaking “Opportunities” – What is their REAL marketing value?

By: Anita

Anita — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:47:09 +0000

Hi Linda,

I couldn’t think of anything to ‘add’ to your wonderful post sorry… BUT I wanted to say how much I admire you and your expertise. Thanks for sharing your tips, info, and the many things we can learn from you.

By: Linda Mattacks

Linda Mattacks — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:18:40 +0000

Hi Elaine
From my point of view your input figuratively raps on the knuckles all of us who’d say: “Oh, but I don’t have printed books”, “My stuff is all online”, “Everything I do is tailored to the individual client” and so on…

If I understand you right it’s:

If a thing’s worth doing it’s worth doing well – and, in speech making, that means leaving behind more than a fleeting impression and a boring business card…

By: Elaine Sturgess

Elaine Sturgess — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:50:44 +0000

Great post Linda and excellent comments. Research is pretty much the key to understanding the value, even if it is just to practice for a future event. One thing I would suggest is to distribute a free handout – even if it’s just a sheet with the salient points from your presentation and your conatct details.

By: Linda Mattacks

Linda Mattacks — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:03:33 +0000

Hi Ida
Your contribution does make me think about how often flattery (and the implied opportunity for a bit of free marketing) is used by event organisers to keep costs as low as possible. From your point of view, as far as I’m aware, you don’t use your profile to make money for yourself, only for the women in Uganda. So darned right you should get your travelling costs covered, minimum!

I love the final point you make and wonder if an organiser’s inability to answer your question is because, maybe, it’s one that is so rarely asked by speakers?

By: ethnicsupplies

ethnicsupplies — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:26:55 +0000

You raise some interesting points Linda. Unless you work out what’s in it for you you risk being out of pocket. On a personal note I used to feel flattered that I was asked to speak but a conversation with Karen Skidmore concentrated my thinking on this. I have to ask why I should give my time for free and at the very least recover my travel costs. At a recent event an organiser was surprised that I had asked them for my travel cost. My response- you have told me that the person you had in mind to speak at this event has dropped out so you need me to step in last minute. I had not budgeted to travel to London on that day so do you think it is fair that I spend money that I did not plan to spend for your benefit? The organiser did see my point and paid up.

I al also amazed at the fact some of the organisers can’t provide the answer to -WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR AUDIENCE GET FROM MY PRESENTATION?

By: Sarah Arrow

Sarah Arrow — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:04:42 +0000

I agree with Jane that if you are looking to make back of the room sales you must have a product to sell. To many speakers get up and speak and then are approached after and have nothing to sell.

On a personal note, if an author has a talk I go and listen. If I like what they say I’ll buy a copy of their book. I recently bought a copy of Lara Morgan’s More Balls Than Most because I loved the way she spoke on stage. She was funny, practical and sold directly from the stage in a charming manner. She was hard to refuse and I knew I’d love her book.

By: Mary C. Weaver, CSCS

Mary C. Weaver, CSCS — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:22:04 +0000

Thanks, Bryan and Linda!

Bryan–love the tip about videotaping, and I’m going to do that.

Linda, thanks, as always, for your lovely support.

By: Linda Mattacks

Linda Mattacks — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:24:02 +0000

Hi Jane
I think what you’re particularly highlighting – and it’s a good one to remember as it applies to ALL marketing activity – is know why you’re doing it and what you’d like as the outcomes, in order of importance.

Thanks

By: Jane Hatton

Jane Hatton — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:54:07 +0000

I think it depends on what you are seeking to gain from the presentation. If it is speakers’ fees, then you have to be really well known in your field. If it is back of room sales, then you have to have products to sell. If it is onoing sales of services then you need printed material for them to take away with them.

I do speak as often as I can (not without difficulty – I have to be transported lying flat to the venue and then have a maximum of an hour to stand with back brace and crutches, not being able to sit!) but my goals are varied. If I’m speaking to disabled job seekers my goals might include helping them gain confidence in job search skills, to recommend they register on Evenbreak, to re-inforce how attractive they are to employers. If I’m talking to employers I’m aiming to promote the benefits of employing disabled people, and possibly encourage them to advertise their vacancies on Evenbreak.

The Evenbreak-related goals are very easy to measure, but the other, more important goals are much more difficult to quantify – but no less important for that.

By: Linda Mattacks

Linda Mattacks — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:45:10 +0000

Hi Bryan
And thanks for the very useful input – great advice!