Winning Ways to Sell Your Seminars Online and Off

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7     

There are so many ways for speakers to market their seminars today. In fact, there has never been a better time to be a speaker. There are strategies that can be employed both online and off. Some of the most successful speakers recommend using a combination of the best in online and off line marketing. Here are some basics to keep in mind for both.

The many technological advances available today make it easier than ever to connect with a global audience. The centerpiece of your online efforts must be your website. This is the first place potential clients will go to learn more about you. Don't make the mistake of having an amateurish looking website. It would be a good investment in yourself and your career to get help with the creation of your website. Your site should be slick, professional and easy to navigate. It is your calling card and your portfolio. On it you should include your background, endorsements and most importantly a video sample of your work. Select a short video clip that shows you at your most dynamic and entertaining. Your website will also be the place that customers can purchase your DVD's, audio, books and ebooks. If you haven't started creating products like these, what are you waiting for? Products will play a huge part in your income as a speaker.

The additional products you create can serve two functions. Of course they provide great income, but they can also help you market yourself as a speaker by helping you build a reputation as a subject matter expert. As I said, you can sell your products on your website, but you should also have products available at all of your live events. Your audience will have found you so captivating during your talk that they will want more of you. They will be far more likely to purchase your books, DVD's and CD's following a great live event than at any other time. It is acceptable to promote your products during your talk, but you must be careful not to let it come across as a sales pitch. Casually mention them once or twice. This is a time for the soft sell. A lengthy sales pitch will only be a turn off to your audience. Do let your audience know that there is more information to be gained in your products. They won't buy a rehash of the same information, but are very likely to buy if they know there is more you haven't yet revealed.

Some speakers are more successful at selling themselves and their products than others, but it is a skill you can learn. There is much more to selling yourself and your products, so learn all you can about both online and off line marketing strategies.

Speaking on Cruise Ships for a Free World Tour

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7    

Would you like to be treated like a celebrity? There can only be one answer, and that is YES! Who does not want to be treated like someone important? Aside from dreaming and fantasizing about it, few people actually put in the effort to attain celebrity status. If you are truly committed to transforming your celebrity dream into a reality, here is one way to do it--consider speaking on cruise ships.

Speaking on cruise ships is not only a very promising career option, but can also turn out to be highly lucrative. In addition to the monetary compensation, speaking on cruise ships can bring in a lots of perks such as free travel, stay and food on the cruise, free ports of entry, free crew services, free recreational facilities, Crew luggage tags, special boarding privileges and other special privileges.

If you enjoy being approached by the cruise passengers and seeing your photos and videos splashed all over the cruise TV, then speaking on cruise ships is something that you should consider. After people have heard your speech, they will recognize you and may come up to get an autograph or take pictures with you. Does that sound enticing?

Remember that you will not be treated as a celebrity, simply because you speak on a cruise ship. You need to market yourself as the complete celebrity package. You have to think, talk, interact and behave like a celebrity to be considered one. So, the first step in doing this is to hone your skills. Become an expert in your field, and be confident when taking questions from the audience. Being capable of speaking on cruise ships and commanding respect and admiration from your audience requires that you become an SME, which is an acronym for subject matter expert. Your audience has no time to waste, so you have to ensure that your speech is of excellent quality.

The usual time slot allotted is between 40-60 minutes. This is more than adequate to connect with your audience. Remember that people who are on a cruise are on vacation and they want to be entertained. Take the advantage of PowerPoint slides, visuals, presentations etc. to enhance your speech. If you bore your audience you will not be invited back.

Once you finish your speech, you can ask the audience to evaluate the presentation. This is very important because a lot of positive reviews will help you build a great reputation. The cruise ship company will want to engage your services again and again, if you prove your worth to them. And the best way to do this is by gaining excellent audience feedback.

Once you have proven yourself to the cruise liner, then you can look forward to more invitations to join the enrichment programs that most cruise liners have. This could translate in to long-term assignments and even a permanent position as a crew member for the lucky and eligible few.

Inspirational Speakers Play a Key Role in Boosting Morale

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7   

Have you ever thought about inspirational speakers and the significant role they play? Businesses often hire inspirational speakers to give presentations to their employees. These speakers can have a huge impact on these individuals. If you have ever heard an inspirational speaker before, you understand what I am talking about.

Let's start by looking at role of an employee in a company. It is not always easy to work for another person. If you have ever worked for someone else you can easily appreciate this fact. An employee has to meet the expectations of his or her employer every day.

These expectations can at times be very demanding or even unrealistic. It can be even more difficult if the person is working at the management level. It is almost like being sandwiched between 2 different sets of expectations. They are under pressure to cater to the expectations of their superiors, while having to deal with the issues of their subordinates.

An average day for any manager is made up of multiple sessions of employee counseling, displaying self-confidence in any situation, enforcing the different policies of the company and inspiring others to be successful in what they do. Doing the work that is expected of them, while inspiring other employees to achieve the goals set forth by the company, is not an easy job at all.

Many managers are not good inspirational speakers. Most are not equipped to handle this much multitasking and invariably end up with a largely unmotivated staff and their own feelings of frustration. It is common knowledge that an unmotivated staff is like a bomb waiting to explode. Not only does it destroy the output of the work force, but also prevents any further growth.

Inspirational speakers can be a great help in such a setting, and can help increase the general productivity of the company. Inspirational speakers are not only gifted speakers, but they know what effective management techniques will lift the morale of the work force.

A lot of businesses are employing inspirational speakers as a strategy to educate the staff about correct management techniques in constructive and enriching ways. Inspirational speakers can have a great impact on group managers. They can give them confidence and motivation to do high-quality work for the corporation and with the employees they are in charge of.

Inspiring speakers draw on stories of victory and triumph to inspire managers to have more trust in their own capabilities. Inspirational speakers can help managers see which strategies are not effective. For example, a speaker may teach them that treating employees with respect is a far more effective strategy than shouting at or demeaning them.

This is why for businesses it pays to hire inspirational speakers to boost the morale of employees.

Do You Know How to Sell Your Products As A Professional Speaker?

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7  

There are many products available in the field of public speaking. Some of them are exemplary and some of them are not. Some of it catches on and impresses even the most critical consumer. What makes the difference? What makes people choose one product over another even if they are of equal quality? Speakers, there are ways to create products that will outsell your competition.

The Internet has created an environment that provides many opportunities to sell the products you have created to accompany, and expand on, your speaking services. Here are some things you must keep in mind if you want to be successful in your sales endeavors.

Create a killer description of your product.

You know that words are at the core of this business. They are also the foundation of your product, and if you master the art of selecting the right words then you stand a good chance of selling your products. In order to sell your products you must present them in the most appealing way possible. You should highlight their qualities, benefits and possibilities. Show the prospective customer how this product can solve a problem and change their life for the better. Show them that the product is one of a kind and will ease their pain like no other. Your product has to fill a need that others cannot, and if you aren't convincing in this then you can forget about selling them. This is the foundation of your marketing strategy.

Use all available resources.

To be a success in this business you have to stay on top of the latest trends and methods for selling your products. Don't make the mistake of putting a sales plan in place and then neglect to make adjustments as the sales environment changes. You must also know how people will find you and your products. As you know, the Internet is the primary method used today to find information and products. You have to learn how to use the Internet to your advantage. There are many ways you can use the Internet to sell your products. Some of them include article marketing, social media networks, video sites such as YouTube and the many online shopping platforms. All of this is out there waiting to be accessed and leveraged to your advantage. Take the time to learn all you can about Internet marketing for your products; it is the best investment in time you will ever make.

3 Keys to a Successful Speaking Career

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7 

If you are going to be successful as a professional speaker there are three things that you must do. Being a successful speaker means selling your name along with your products and services. Take a look at 3 of the most important strategies for doing just that.

Key 1: Focus on Building a Reputation

As a consumer you know that before you purchase a product you take a look at which company has the reputation for being the best in that field. You may check with your friends and family to find out which product they selected and why. Before you make a purchase you make sure that the company you are dealing with has a solid reputation and track record. The field of professional speaking is no different. Before an individual or organization hires a speaker for their event they check around to find out who is most knowledgeable and most engaging. It is critical that you create a name for yourself in the industry. One of the best ways to do this is to become an expert in your niche. You should also work on your presentation skills to ensure that you provide the most polished and dynamic presentation possible. Don't be afraid to get out there and sell yourself as the best.

Key 2: Know Your Competition

Knowing who you are up against is crucial to your success. There is not a military strategist or sports coach out there who does not know who they are about to take on. Take a page from their book, and learn all you can about who the top speakers are in your niche. This can help you in many ways. First, it will give you an idea of what is working. Examine their methods, tools and presentations. I am not suggesting that you steal from your competitors, but you can certainly learn from their success. Looking at the leaders is a great place to begin. Any information that you glean from your research should be molded to fit your style. Be creative and unique. Looking at your competitors can also show you where the holes in the market are. Look at what is missing, and how you can provide it.

Key 3: Take Advantage of Current Technology

Don't get stuck in old school ways of doing business. Fully embrace the Internet and the many ways it can ignite your business. Learn to make the most of your website, blog and social media. It does require some effort if you are going to maximize its potential, but it is well worth it. There is nothing like the Internet for connecting with others, marketing your products and building a rock solid reputation. The value of using the Internet as a primary strategy in your plan for success cannot be stressed too much. You can use to Internet to literally build a worldwide reputation.

Be a Successful Public Speaker for Life!

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7 

Public speaking is an art and there is no other profession quite like it. Some think that it is a talent a person is born with. While it may be true that some people have more natural ability as a speaker, public speaking is still a skill that can be learned and mastered. All it takes is practice, discipline and determination. You would be surprised to know how many gifted speakers started out extremely shy and some even struggled with speech problems. What made it possible for them to overcome these problems is that they used their difficulties as motivation to become a successful public speaker.

There are some strategies that you can use to become successful in your professional speaking career. In fact, you could go on to serve as an example and an inspiration to others. Here are 3 tips that will help you become a success.

Tip #1 Know Your Topic

First of all, you must have a complete understanding of your topic. This is a requirement that can't be overlooked. There is no shortcut to becoming an expert in your field. It will take time and lots of research. Find out all you can about what is up and coming and the very latest information on your topic. Use your expertise to provide information that no one else has. Once you know your topic inside and out, spend time in preparation for your talk. There is no substitute for being well prepared. Don't forget to have a clear-cut understanding of the purpose of your talk. Is it to inform, persuade or educate? Being able to identify the purpose of your talk along with thorough preparation will go a long way to ensuring your success.

Tip # 2 Be Passionate About What You Do

If you aren't passionate about your topic, if you aren't passionate about being a speaker, then your talk is going to fall flat and so will your career. When you love what you do and you are enthusiastic about the topic it is contagious, and will be communicated to your audience. Your talks will naturally flow more smoothly than if you are going through the motions on a topic that you don't care about.

Tip #3 The Audience Is Key to Your Success

The audience is the single most important determining factor in your success or failure as a speaker. You must tailor your talk to the audience before you. One size does not fit all. Know who your audience is, and find ways to appeal to their particular interests and needs. Nothing is more important than how well you are able to inform, inspire and empower your audience. What they gain from your talk is what moves your career forward, and helps you get more speaking engagements. Always ask for feedback from your audience, and use the information you get to make adjustments where necessary.

Three Ways to Make the Internet Work for Your Professional Speaking Career

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

There is a vast super highway that connects the entire world, allowing its travelers to move at lightning speed. It is of course the Internet. As the Internet has grown it has changed the way we do business in the world. It has also brought everyone and every place much closer. The Internet has changed the way businesses market themselves and their products or services. This is true for professional speakers as well. The Internet should be the primary marketing tool for speakers.

The field of professional speaking is expanding, and the competition can be intense. But don't let that deter you. There are ways to distinguish yourself as a speaker, and the Internet can be you greatest ally in your efforts to stand out from the rest of the pack. Being a great speaker is only half of the equation. You must also have lots of Internet marketing savvy. Here are some strategies you can use to make the Internet work for you in your marketing efforts.

Article Marketing

Writing articles and submitting them to article directories is an outstanding way to use the Internet as one of your marketing strategies. Write high quality, original articles, and include a link to your website and blog in your author resource box at the end of the article. This can significantly increase your traffic. Other bonuses of article marketing are that it increases your presence on the web, and can help you establish your reputation as an expert in your niche.

Create an Online Portfolio

Creating an online portfolio is another way to make the Internet work for you. Your website can become a dynamic business card. Create a section on your site that pertains specifically to your successes as a speaker. Gather your very best samples of your talks and post them there. Don't forget to include the glowing comments and feedback you have gotten from you satisfied customers. Always, always, always get feedback after every talk. And make sure you make adjustments as needed based on that feedback. Don't be shy about showing the world what a great speaker you are. When you create this section for your website be sure that the links to these pages are clearly evident on your home page. Take your time and make this page the absolute best it can be.

Provide Free Samples of Your Work

Giving a bit of your work away is a wonderful way to build your reputation and your client base. The Internet is the perfect vehicle for this strategy. It is easy to post samples on your site and on video sites such as YouTube. YouTube is a site that has grown dramatically in recent years. More people are now watching videos on YouTube than are watching TV. A compelling video that shows what you have to offer can work wonders for you as a speaker. If they like what they see they will want more.

Quick Tips on Selling Your Services as a Professional Speaker

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

The first thing you need to know about the field of professional speaking is that it is expanding. It is a field that many have chosen. To be a success you have to be a top quality speaker. Nothing will help you succeed more than that. Do whatever it takes to be the absolute best you can be. Follow the tips outlined here to help you sell the first class presentations, services and products you have created.

#1 Make connections.
One of the key factors in the field of professional speaking is human relationships. That is really what it is all about. The connections you make with your audience are important, but you may not realize the importance of your connections with other speakers. Seeing other speakers as a threat and being unwilling to form relationships with them is very shortsighted. Don't underestimate the value of good relationships with other speakers particularly with those who are more experienced than you are. Joining speaker's organizations is a great way to meet and network with other speakers. Be on the lookout for someone who may be willing to take you under their wing, so to speak, and show you the secrets to their success. A good mentor will share how to improve as a speaker, and how to market your services.

#2 Make a name for yourself.
In order to get anywhere in this business you have to build a solid reputation. The only way to do that is to get out there and deliver as many talks as possible. Even if you have to offer your services at no cost or low-cost in the beginning. This is a case of spending money now in order to make money later. The more talks you give the more you can build your reputation, promote your products and generate a buzz. Once you are known, people will trust you and recognize your expertise in your chosen niche. You should also find ways to set yourself apart from the crowd. How can you be unique in your field?

#3 Take advantage of the Internet.
The development of the Internet has made it possible for people from all around the world to connect. This is done largely through social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. There are outstanding avenues for selling yourself, your services and your products. For every connection you make on a social network site you are expanding your reach exponentially. When you make one connection you are in effect connecting with all of that person's connections. On and on the web grows.

Should Speakers Compete or Collaborate?

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Have you been approached by someone you viewed as a competitor, and asked to collaborate on a project, and chose not to? Do you feel guilty about hoping others will fail so you have a better chance at success? Have others collaborated and you opted not to join them? If you answered yes to any of these questions you are in the majority. Let me offer this perspective, as a professional speaker, on collaboration.

There are many professional speaking opportunities out there that you may not take advantage of.

In addition, some of the professional speaking events that you could take are not that great. I have found, through my own experience that a speaker is successful because of the skills they develop, and not because of the speaking opportunities that are out there. With that mindset your success does not depend on the failure of someone else. In fact, when you help another speaker to achieve a successful speaking career you can feel your own status raise. In a sense, we as speakers are all in this together. It is a bit like the proverbial barrel of apples; one truly can spoil the lot. When professional speakers are substandard, all professional speakers suffer the consequences. This is because it creates a perception that more caution should be used when deciding on whether or not to use a professional speaker.

Competing by the omission of helping another can be more damaging to your own career than overt competition. It has been shown that a great deal of the help a speaker gets is created by the allegiances they formed when they helped another. Even a resourceful individual who can do many things on their own, can attribute their success in part to networking and collaboration.

Another form of collaboration is affiliate marketing. You can increase your income and the income of your affiliate best when you are seen as a subject matter expert promoting your affiliate's product. Pick your affiliates carefully because your reputation is at stake. Remember that collaboration is not one-sided and the affiliate must deliver their part. If they don't, find another. Additionally, if you offer a free article or ebook, to let others know about your expertise associated with the affiliate product, you will help sell your affiliate's product and set yourself apart from others.

Setting yourself apart from others through collaboration will help you become a successful professional speaker.

Three Secrets to Becoming a Professional Speaker

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

You have honed your speaking skills and you have still found filling the room, with an audience that makes the speaking engagement profitable, unlikely. Sound familiar? Are you discouraged and wondering what it takes to make a living at professional speaking? If you want to become a professional speaker, you need to know how to deliver an engaging speech, develop your speaking organization, market your organization, and supplement your profits with backend sales.

Delivering an engaging speech is not enough. If you would like to have the profitable professional speaking career you dreamed of, there are secrets to building success. Here are the three most powerful ways to increase your earnings and deliver your message to thousands of people.

I use the term secrets because most professional speakers start their career with an emphasis on developing an engaging speech, and give little or no thought to anything else. Additionally, most speaking groups are the same. This is an outdated approach to successful professional speaking and leads to discouragement and failure.

Here are the three secrets that few speakers and speaking organizations reveal.

1. Plan and execute: Develop your professional speaking organization. Whether there are one or fifty people in your organization, you need a vision, plan, and method to measure your success.

2. Develop marketable talks and products: Market your professional speaking and associated products. Success depends on having people fill the room that are willing to pay for what you have to offer.

3. Leave them with an impression they can take home. This means develop your backend sales. This could include CDs, DVD's, courses, coaching programs, books, workbooks, tee shirts, and more.

Developing your organization is the first step to any successful organization. Why should your professional speaking career be any different? Without a business plan, you are doomed for failure. I have seen this too often.Don't let your enthusiasm short cut this part of your business. Write out your business plan and make it a living document, continually updating it with the details and changes your organization discovers in its evolution.

Marketing produces sales. Without sales you are just playing at a hobby. Today, marketing is changing at light speed. It used to be advertising in newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, etc. Now social networking and utilizing internet are changing how to market and get the most bang for your buck. Great web pages and successful search engine results are critical.

Backend sales supplement your speaking engagement income and can account for more than half your annual earnings. Do not underestimate the difference this can make. Successful professional speakers spend significant time developing their backend products. To become a six figure speaker you will need to utilize as many methods as you can to generate income. Backend sales such as books, tapes, CDs, DVD's, courses, tee shirts, games, pamphlets, and more are investments for future sales. Backend sales can continue to generate income after the speaking engagement.

As you can see, the three secrets to becoming a professional speaker are not so much really secrets, just under-utilized skills. However, they are not what most speakers think about when they start their professional speaking career. In addition, you can read the current literature on professional speaking and little if any of this is written about by speakers who are successful front line speakers themselves. If you want to become a professional speaker, you need to know how to deliver an engaging speech, develop your speaking organization, market your organization, and supplement your profits with backend sales.

Take Your Speaking Career to New Heights

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

In spite of the difficult economic climate we currently find ourselves in, speakers are still in high demand. More and more people and businesses are seeking inspiration and motivation. You may be wondering how you can take your career to new levels. This article describes ways to help get you to the top of your field.

#1 A first step in moving your career forward.
One of the most important things you can do for your career, regardless of your current level of expertise is to surround yourself with the leaders in the field. This is a great way to learn from the best. It is also a wonderful way to find a mentor. Find someone with more experience and/ or greater success, and soak up all of the knowledge you can. You will be surprised by how much this can benefit you and more quickly than you would imagine. Finding a mentor can also help you in your networking efforts.

#2 Provide the best resources and information.
Obviously the field of public speaking is focused on concepts and words. To become a master of your craft you have to know what you are talking about and find ways to convey that information that are unique, interesting and compelling. You must practice until you are able to clearly present your information without losing the flow of the presentation. During your presentation you have to be able to take questions and provide solid, thoughtful answers. You have got to show that you are an expert and aren't stumped by tough questions. Being a subject matter expert will help you be seen as the "go to guy" in the field, putting you in high demand.

#3 Stay on top of current trends.
To be at the top of the speaking field you should have a thorough knowledge of the latest trends and current events. This includes your particular niche and the broader market in your field. Know what the most pressing concerns and issues are in your market. You also need to know what your competitors are doing. Know what they are talking about, and how they are delivering their presentations. Staying on top of trends also means being familiar with the latest developments in terms of the Internet and technology. Leaders in public speaking know how to leverage these to their advantage.

#4 Build your reputation.
Making a solid name for yourself is critical to being a top-tier speaker. In order to do that you have to take advantage of all of the tools available. The days of old school marketing efforts are over. The Internet has opened up the world and brought new meaning to the old saying, "The sky's the limit." Not only is the Internet a great avenue for building a dynamic reputation, it is one of the best ways to market your speaking services and accompanying products. Let the world see that you have something powerful to offer, something that is worth buying.

How to Be an Elite Speaker

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Are you ready to take your speaking career to the next level and join the elite? To do that you have to look at what defines those great speakers, and examine how they got there. Elite speakers are those who have taken their careers global. They are very often sought out as consultants for businesses and organizations around the world. They have mastered their material to the highest level of expertise. They are leading authorities in their market.

Take a look at some of the things all truly great speakers have in common. The great news for you is that elite speakers are not born; they grow and develop their craft tirelessly. You can do the same.

#1 Elite speakers always start with a story.
The beginning of your talk is extremely important. This is where your audience settles in to your talk and decides if they like you or not. The importance of making a good first impression is as important in your talk as it is in any social setting. The beginning of your presentation sets the tone and draws your audience in. Start out with a bang. Tell a great story that is highly relatable or one that is surprising and attention grabbing. The appropriate use of humor will help you create a light and warm atmosphere in the room. Happy people are receptive.

#2 Elite speakers sense the mood of the crowd.
Don't stop at getting your talk off to a great start. As you move into the meat of your presentation don't forget to stay tuned in to what is going on in the room. If you pay attention, you should be able to tell if your audience is following what you say, if they are interested and if they are comfortable. Don't forget that you should be audience focused rather than focused only on delivering the speech you have prepared.

#3 Elite speakers offer solutions.
Just as important as the environment that a speaker creates is the content they provide. You have to know your market and your audience inside and out. Know what their greatest problems and needs are. Determine how your talk can provide solutions that others aren't providing. You have to know your subject on a very deep level. Elite speakers don't provide yesterday's news or outdated statistics and information. Your credibility as a speaker relies on how well you know your topic.

#4 Elite speakers offer explanations and examples.
To ensure that your audience if following your message and getting the most out of it, provide lots of examples and explanations as you go along. Using examples and explanations will make your message clear and easy to understand, particularly if you are talking on a highly technical topic. Know the skill or experience level of your audience so that you can tailor your talk to that level. Your presentation should not be perceived by the audience as either too complex or too easy.

These are the basics for honing your speaking skills to the level of the speaking elite.

Professional Speakers and Targeted Marketing

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Do you believe you have what it takes to become a successful professional speaker? Have you advertised for a speaking event with little or no success in attracting a paying audience? Have advertisers promised you they would increase your business, and then you found the results of the advertising will be tied directly to the amount of money you are willing to spend upfront? Do you believe name recognition as a speaker comes with your success, and your success as a speaker comes with name recognition, creating a catch 22?

Most speakers have limited resources for their marketing so getting the most out of what you spend is important. The best professional speakers spend their time and money on list development and on targeted marketing. Let's focus on targeted marketing. How do you locate a targeted market? It is not as complicated as it might seem if you take the time to think it through logically. For instance, would you spend your advertising dollars on a radio ad during a football game if you were speaking about women's health? Probably not.

Radio, TV, newspapers, magazines and journals, direct mail, and telemarketing, all have the potential to reach thousands of people. However, these forms of advertising must be repeated several times to embed name recognition. In addition, these methods are expensive and slow. On the other hand, there are times when used right they can have a reasonable rate of return on your investment. Be sure to consider who will see or hear these ads and determine if you are targeting the audience you intend.

Targeted marketing also focuses on 'picking the fruit on the lower branches'; reaping the rewards of the nearest, easiest market to tap. You may have a presentation you think everyone would want to see or hear. Yet, some may want to hear or see it more than others. Your target audience may have similar problems, wants, or needs. They may belong to a particular group, association or industry. They may live in a particular town or share similar demographics. They may all use a particular product or technique. They may work using similar job skill sets. For example, if financial planning is your speaking arena, you may find speaking about financial independence may be interesting to most people, but more so to a targeted market of people worried about developing their financial security. And the less financial security they have, the more they may want and need to hear what you have to say. Nevertheless, even after uncovering your target audiences perceived needs, you must still uncover whether they are willing and able to pay to hear your presentation and buy your products and services.

Marketing is complex and should not be left to guesswork. Testing to determine if you are reaching your targeted market can be systematically achieved. Testing your marketing campaign means measuring results, while changing one aspect of your marketing champagne, will show you what and who to focus on. The best professional speakers either know how to do this or pay someone else to do it for them.

The Internet and social networking offer those who want to do it for themselves an inexpensive method for targeted marketing. Additionally, the Internet also provides several easy ways to measure for results. Measuring the number of hits or responses can be strategically employed by emailing similar ads with specific ad copy variations, like changing the headline, and seeing which one had the best results. By changing one phrase or component in the same ad, you can focus on what works. In addition, by emailing the same ad to different demographics, you can target your audience, seeing which demographics pull in greater ad responses.

Professional Speaker Networks

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Are you unsure of how to start your professional speaking career? Is the jargon that professional speaking consultants use confusing? Are the articles you read only making you need more information in order to take that first step? Do you need a road map to a successful professional speaking career? Are there steps you can take while you are doing your research? If you have asked any of these questions you are not alone. Most successful professional speakers have found a way to tap into a network of experts.

Creating a network of people who can help your successful professional speaking career develop will always be unique. It can be as easy as hiring a coach or you can take advantage of connections you make on social networks like Twitter or Facebook. However, any method you start with is just that; a start. You will find there is a lot of misinformation, hype, and advertisements out there. Finding a good coach and/or making your way through the mine field of misinformation is not easy.

What I have found helpful for developing a network is keeping in mind what is in it for the other guy. It can be said that there is no such thing as altruism. People don't give of themselves unless there is something in it for them. It may be as small as a thank you. However, the more you are willing to give, the more you will receive.

With this in mind, a good starting point is developing an email list of people interested in professional speaking. Sharing your list may attract others you can network with. The bigger the list, the more attractive it will be. In addition, the more reliable, the more attractive it will be. Separating your lists into focused groups can also be helpful to you.

You can bypass some of the work, of developing your network, by being willing to spend some money. Keep in mind that hiring a marketing firm, paying promoters and event organizers, utilizing a coach, all present their own challenges. For instance, how do you find the right coach or marketing firm? How much should they cost? What will be the rate of return on these investments? These are important factors and require research. On the upside, they can allow you to focus on delivering your presentation. If you can afford professional help go for it. But use caution and discretion.

Networking is critical, and can be expedited if you keep in mind that people join networks because there is something in it for them. With a little work, by developing a network of professionals, you can get your professional speaking career on the fast-track.

Be a High Ticket Speaker

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Professional speaking is not just another business. It is an art. To rise to the top of the field you must be very skilled and have a knack for captivating an audience. The world is changing rapidly, and this requires speakers who can adapt to any given situation and can shift how they do business to keep pace with the world. Don't be discouraged by how hard it may seem to make a go of a speaking career. There are lots of opportunities out there. In this article I will describe some things to keep in mind as you strive to build a truly successful speaking career.

#1 Conquer your fears.

The first thing you have to do is overcome your fears. Whether it is a fear of taking the stage or a fear that you won't succeed, it will be difficult for you to reach the levels you want if you don't acknowledge, and master, your fears. The world of high ticket professional speaking is no place for cowards. Your fears, whatever they may be, will be a block to your success. It takes nerves and steel, and great determination to make it in this business. Don't wimp out here; this is your first real test-are you willing to throw caution to the wind and believe in yourself? High ticket speakers are not paralyzed by fears or negative thinking.

#2 Create a unique style.

There may be a number of high ticket speakers within the same genre of speaking, but make no mistake they are not like every other guy in pack. They have found a way to set themselves apart from the crowd. Look at what the big guys do, but use your creativity to develop your own style and spin. What can you bring to the table that is new and different? What problem are you solving for your audience? Tell interesting stories that are unique to you. Don't be afraid to be yourself.

#3 Be adaptable.

High ticket speakers are constantly evolving. They read the flow and energy of the room just as a surfer senses the flow of a wave, and adjusts his stance when needed. Have you ever attended a talk where the speaker seemed oblivious to the fact that the crowd is restless, it is thirty minutes past lunch and it's 90 degrees in the room? You probably didn't think much of the speaker or get much from the talk. When the crowd seems restless or confused make adjustments. Always have something up your sleeve that you can go to when you know you need to make a change in the direction or pace of your talk. Master speakers move about, and are aware of everything that is going on in the room. They know what it takes to win over an audience and how to keep an audience on their side. Get as much feedback as you can on your talk, and incorporate the necessary changes. Your presentation should always be a work in progress.

3 Keys to Internet Marketing for Successful Speakers

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Marketing is a main ingredient to success for all businesses.  If you want to be successful as a speaker you have to learn to apply a variety of marketing strategies to attract potential clients.  In today’s market you have to learn to leverage the Internet to your advantage so that you can build your reputation and grow your income.

Here are 3 key to successfully using Internet marketing.

#1 What is the basis of successful Internet marketing as a public speaker?
The first thing is to make sure that you have strong, quality content. The Internet is vast so what you have to say on your website and blog, and in your posts on social networking sites, must be something unique that is perceived as high value. The web is saturated with weak, superficial content; make sure yours does not fall into that category if you want to be seen as an authority in your field. A lot of the same content is repeated throughout the Internet; you have got to stand out! Give potential clients a reason to select you over the competition. Answer some pressing need or want that they have. Show them that you are the one to choose.

#2 How do you do it?
Once you have developed some quality content you can begin to focus on how you will get yourself out there so that you can be noticed. People are spending more time online than ever before. They are often on social networking sites and video sites. Social networking sites such as Facebook, and there are many others, is a great way to begin to establish your reputation. On Facebook set up a personal page and a fan page. The connections you can establish through social networking can prove to be invaluable. Remember, that quality posts are very important. If you don't offer something of interest, your followers won't return.

YouTube is a site that has grown rapidly. Millions of individuals spend more time watching videos on YouTube than they do watching television. This is a market you can't afford to pass up. Create some short videos that give a sample of what you're all about as a speaker, and watch yourself go viral.

#3 Build a reputation.
Get out there and book as many public appearances as possible. Offer to speak for free in the beginning if you have to. It will pay off in the end because once you start to build a reputation people will be hungry for the other products you can provide. The Internet is the number one source for information today. That is where people will go to get more of what you have to offer. You can have products that you sell online such as CD's, DVD's and ebooks. You can even offer teleseminars online that can easily, and inexpensively, reach a global audience. Any initial investment you have to make now will pay off when you learn to use the Internet as a way to market yourself.

Make Your Presentation Skills Sing

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Audiences today have short attention spans. In older cultures, the people would sit around together and tell stories.  Around the turn of the century, there were approximately 3 million telephones. This gave rise to shorter but more frequent conversations. With the invention of the television we were introduced to news clips and sound bites and eventually MTV. Computers and email took sound bites into written form. We then transitioned into social networking and texting, which has evolved into 140-character tweets. Not only has technology given us shorter and shorter communication abilities, we are inundated with a barrage of quick images and video. All of this leads to a shortened attention span. We want our information quick and we want it now!

If you are going to make it as a speaker, you must keep this development in mind. In order to maintain the attention of their audiences, communicators must show that their message will benefit the audience members in some way. Simply presenting interesting information is no longer enough. There needs to be an attention grabbing "Wow" factor.

It is important to maintain our ancestral ability to tell a good story, which is personal and appealing to the audience. Dry facts from a talking head are not nearly as interesting as a heartfelt experience. At the same time, it is important to encapsulate the information, bullet point by bullet point into a memorable sound bite. Surely you have experienced attending a great talk, and came away with one or two powerful statements that really made an impression, and that you will remember long after the talk is over.

Prior to preparing a speech, the speaker should become familiar with the audience's point of view. In other words, do some research to find out what aspect of a topic would most concern the audience members, and tailor the talk accordingly. Try to put yourself in their shoes, and give them what they want.

Online resources are often helpful in providing insight into the group's focus and goals. The internet is an invaluable tool for designing a speech for a specific audience, making generic presentations seem outdated and obsolete.

If possible, arrive early at your venue, and chat with audience members to build rapport. Ask genuine, open-ended questions and really listen to the responses. Listen for key words, specific problem and jargon that are particular to your group. Then use that information to further refine your speech.

Common Mistakes Motivational Speakers Make

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

Are you a motivational speaker or have been assigned the task of giving a motivational speech? If so, be sure to avoid these 5 common mistakes that unsuccessful motivational speakers make.

1. Failure to start off with an attention grabbing introduction.

The best way to get your audience's attention is to start off with a great introduction. Grab the attention of your audience by starting off with a mind bending statistic, a controversial statement, a motivational and inspiring quote or a current and controversial headline. Start off with something that will give your audience something to think about that will not easily be forgotten. The best motivational speakers start and end their presentations with a bang!

2. Failure to adapt your speech to your audience.

Many motivational speakers have a themed presentation that can apply to many audiences, but the best motivational speakers adapt their presentations to the audience at hand. Research the demographics of your audience before your talk, and gear your presentation to the group you are speaking to. The motivational speech that went over well with business executives will not go over as well with college students. So study your audience and get the information that they would like to hear. Adapting your motivational speeches to the audience will give them the feeling that the presentation was prepared just for them, and for their interests, instead of the general presentations of some speakers.

3. Failure to tell stories and/or moralizing too much.

Get your point across by telling interesting stories, preferably about your own experiences or even stories that you have heard and have interested you. Stories can get teaching points across without moralizing which tends to turn off some people. Relate to your audience not from a position of "I'm above this," but from a position of "we are all in this together and we can be motivated to do better." Leave preaching to the church ministers on Sunday.

4. Presenting too many or overly complicated points.

Keep your main talking points to five or less, and avoid complicated statistics or theories. Audiences of motivational speakers can usually remember from three to five main points and get turned off to things that are too complicated. The main purpose of a motivational speech is to inspire and motivate people to want something better or to do more for a particular cause. To accomplish this, it is better to keep the main ideas simple and to a number that can easily be grasped by your audience.

5. Failure to close powerfully.

As important as the introduction is, the ending end of your presentation is equally important. Try to end with something complementary or an answer to the statistic, statement, quote, or news headline that you gave in your introduction. It will show that you have come full circle, and will remind the audience of your main point. Most audiences remember the introduction, a few main points, and the closing. Try to connect these aspects of your motivational speech, and end with something that leaves the audience with a good and satisfied feeling. The best motivational speeches start and end with a bang!

Remember that motivational speaking is an acquired skill that takes time and practice. But with practice you can learn to give presentations that are enjoyable both to you and your audience. Common motivational speaking mistakes are easy to avoid if you know what they are. By avoiding these mistakes, you will find yourself in a position that your peers will find enviable.

Sales Lead Generation Steps for Professional Speakers

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

The most important aspect of public speaking is making real human connections with your audience. If you fail to make a genuine connection with them, it will be very difficult to sell them your materials. Before you can begin to think about selling products, carefully consider these questions. Are you in touch with your audience's problems, needs, desires? If so, can you come up with unique, sustainable solutions to their problems? After carefully answering the questions you are ready to think about sales lead generation techniques as a speaker. Here is a 3 step strategy you will find helpful.

Step One
By now you have carefully considered how to create and offer solutions to your audience, and you have created products such as books, ebooks, CD's or DVD's. Find ways to show what a unique and knowledgeable speaker you are. The competition in the field of speaking can be stiff so distinguishing yourself from the rest in some way is important. Demonstrate that you truly are an authority in your field. Being a subject matter expert, and making the all-important human connection I mentioned earlier, will greatly enhance your reputation, and bring you the speaking engagements you are looking for. After hearing a great talk, individuals are highly motivated to purchase products. They feel good, and want more of what you have to offer.

Step Two
It is important as you start out to determine the methods you will use to sell your products. Of course you will have products available for sale at your live events, but you can do much more than this. The Internet is the primary place people go to find information and products. Learn how to leverage it to your advantage. First, take the time to learn how to use the Internet to establish your name and reputation as an expert in your field. Second, learn how to use the Internet to drive traffic to your website and your products.

Step Three
Go global. The wider you audience, the more sales you can generate. You can take your speaking business global in a couple of ways. Join international organizations and groups. Very often these groups need speakers in places around the world. Also, they often hold international conventions or conferences. This is a great way to form a global network. Second, you can offer your talks as teleseminars using a standard conference calling service. People from all over the world can join the call. During the teleseminar you will be able to mention the products you have to offer. Just like with your live talks, your listeners will be motivated to purchase your products.

How Professional Speakers Can Improve Their In-Bound Marketing

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7

It's a great time to be a new, emerging or established professional speaker. Now more than ever the speaking business is able to level the playing field, and tap into larger corporations in the global market.

If you've been dreaming about growing your professional speaking career, now is a great time to act on that goal.

To build your consultancy you need to join organizations, write some articles, get clients and give speeches.You need to consider that you are the brand.

A stand-alone platform of conventional marketing no longer makes sense. Ad costs are rising. People are paying less attention to the flood of traditional media. It's a waste of time and money to blast out old fashion push marketing methods. If people don't like the marketing message, they simply aren't going to pay attention to the messages they don't care about.

Here are some strategies you can use to improve your inbound traffic.

Blogging and vlogging on the social network sites are two methods. The blogosphere now has over 100 million blogs online, and it's growing exponentially.

Your blog or vlog should be a canvas for "What do you do for a living?" It should answer your clients and customers question, "What's in it for me?" Your job as a blogger or vlogger is to find out what your prospects and clients need. That's what you should be talking and videoing about.

Focus on your niche market. You should be able to write about your target customer base in one sentence or less.

7 Important Points for Speakers:

1. The first point is, the better your blog or vlog, the greater the number of backlinks to your site. That in itself is one of your measures of the marketing success for your blog. The better the blog, the more posts, the more quality visitors,the more links and the more traffic.

2. The best speakers differentiate themselves. They don't try to be everything to everybody. They want to become a unique alternative, not just a competitive choice.

3. Remember the most frequent reason bloggers and vloggers fail is because they oversell their product or service with a push marketing focus. Push marketing is out, pull marketing is in.

4. You want to be the absolute best, a true authority, in your specific niche. Define and segment your prospect, customer and vendor database and determine what kind of client "relationships" you need to develop in each segment. Be flexible. Allow your current business model, even if it's successful to have a short lifespan. Why? Because the standard for being the best in your niche changes over time.

5. Link your blogging by expanding its delivery modalities. Just like people have different tastes in foods or music or art, they have different delivery preferences. Do blog articles, vlog, do white papers. Make video series, do webinars, Do web delivered PowerPoint presentations, do podcasts and webcasts.

6. Remember to "segment" your prospect and customer base and determine what kind of client "relationships" you need to develop. And then think monetization; remember that your revenue streams and cost structures are determined by your daily key activities.

7. Make sure you focus on monetizing your short-term efforts and then duplicate and develop that idea over the life of the project. Keep the whole picture in focus, but monetize your daily activities. Do something every day that makes money.