How Speakers Use Audience Hot Buttons

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 order to have an audience respond positively or buy into your speech, it is important to push their "hot buttons". Hot buttons are emotional cues that people naturally respond to, leading them to agree with an idea, purchase a product or take some other action. If a speaker's message appeals to an emotional need or desire, it is much more likely to motivate the audience than a message that appeals only to the intellect.

Some audience hot buttons are:

Master of Your Domain: People want to get control of their time, their money, their relationships and their life. By using this hot button, a speaker tries to convince audience members that they will gain control over some aspect of their lives by buying into a message. For example, financial planners share information and offer products that provide tools to help individuals master certain elements of uncertainty in their finances. Speakers on healthcare topics appeal to the desire to control the potential for illness by offering methods for maintaining or improving health.

Self-Improvement: We are always looking for ways to feel better, be healthier and have more fun. Self-help sections of bookstores are often among the most popular, because most people feel that they could use some improvement in an area of their lives. Weight loss programs are a great example of self-improvement programs with mass appeal. Speakers who make audience members feel that their lives will be somehow better for having heard a particular speech have pushed this hot button.

Status: Speakers who appeal to the status hot button motivate audience members to believe that they will have greater respect and standing in the community as a result of information provided in the speech. For example, a speaker may offer "insider secrets" for a particular profession or area of interest, which may give audience members an edge over the competition.

Emotional Connections: In general, people desire connections with other people who are like themselves. A successful speaker will tap into the group mindset and help the audience members feel that they are part of something that is larger than themselves. Emotional triggers may include a sense of belonging, shared personal and corporate goals, and the audience members' support systems, such as associations and families and communities on the job and off the job.

There's never enough time: On this topic, a speaker's job is to show the audience that there is enough time, always. Probably the number one stressor in modern life is the inability to exercise good time management skills. With the recent slump in the national and local economies and increased layoffs, people have had more thrust upon them. Stress levels have skyrocketed. Explaining time management concepts can help audience members to gain control of their time and their lives and better connect with the goals of their company.

Speakers who demonstrate a gift for using hot buttons to communicate with their audience are rewarded with the gift of having their audience listen and better grasp the meaning of their messages.

The Biggest Mistakes 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

Have you ever wondered why some speakers just never seem to hit a home run when they give a presentation? Some of the most intelligent people step up to the platform and never get the audience fully engaged and excited about their talk. Here are 5 mistakes that speakers make that make their presentations less than what they would have liked.

1. Failing to Adequately Prepare - Some speakers will have someone prepare a speech for them or take some presentation that has already been given and think that they can just go with the notes to make a good presentation. Even if you prepare your own speech, giving the presentation requires organization and purpose. Do not just write a rambling presentation and expect to deliver it flawlessly. Good presentation skills require preparation of the notes or slides, preparation in the style of delivery that best suits your audience, research into the topic, and consideration of audio/visual aids that may be used to enhance the presentation. Speaking is like any learned skill; it takes time and practice. Also, use relaxation techniques just before taking the stage as all speakers have some anxiety before giving a speech.

2. Starting slow or with a whimper - Most untrained speakers start with "Hi, I'd like to talk about so and so" instead of something that will be an attention grabber such as a startling statistic, an aggressive statement, a news headline, or an interesting quote. Try to grab your audience's attention right away to get them thinking that this is going to be a presentation that I will enjoy listening to. It will prepare the audience to be in a more receptive mood when you make the presentation.

3. Reading a speech word for word - Nothing is more boring than having someone looking down at their speech and reading it word for word. Audiences would rather you hand out your speech than recite it. Instead, use an "outline" or "slides with bullets" that will prompt complete thoughts as you speak. Remember to look down at the outline or over to the slide, then look into the eyes of your audience before you speak. Let the audience feel you are speaking to them personally, not just at them.

4. Speaking without feeling or passion - The best speakers give you the feeling that they care about or are passionate about their presentation topic. If you treat your topic as "ho-hum" then the presentation will come off that way. In preparation for the presentation, find points that stir your interest so you can present with a feeling of excitement. Practice your presentation with an emphasis on creating feeling and passion for the subject. Your presentation will come alive, and your anxieties will fade, when you deliver it with some "heart and soul."

5. End with a bang - Instead of just ending with a question and answer session, have a strong closing statement that will be remembered. After the Q and A, relate a memorable story that will give the audience a feeling of satisfaction. Or close with a projected statistic, aggressive statement, news headline, or other interesting quote that will compliment how you started your presentation.

Remember that public 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 public speaking mistakes are easy to avoid if you know what they are. By avoiding these mistakes, you will find yourself in a position that will be enviable of your peers.

Cyber Speak for Speakers, How Speakers Use the Web to Market Their Products and Talks

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

Content is king. Free information is the lead in. And web 2.0 is the way to deliver the message. Today information is the new currency of the Internet. People are looking for and are hungry for new, better, faster, cheaper. Product and subject matter experts and information conduits are valuable commodities on the web.

Web 2.0 is information based marketing, marketing that is customer centered. The old way to sell was to 'push' product to the consumer, called Web 1.0. That focus centered on product features, and little about consumer need or desire. Today a shift has occurred. The new focus is pull marketing, Web 2.0. The focus now is to uncover the customer based needs, wants, and desires first. Then accentuate the appropriate and right benefit based information, followed with listening to feedback to see if needs were satisfied or not.

Give them what they want and do it well and they'll be back for more...which leads me to my next topic: Web Traffic.

Web traffic and list building will be your most important job in marketing your services. Targeted visibility is the new mantra. Speakers can now market their services and products to the world. When your market effort gets your information to interact with your prospect's needs, wants and desires you ignite hot buttons that can only pull in interest. The focus is to serve first and sell second. Give and it will come back to you as you monetize your services that meet your prospect's needs.

Those that are pulled to come to your websites, who have answered an ad, read an article you wrote, or have responded for a call to get more information, become high value prospects. These are prospects who have already expressed an interest in the subject matter by their being drawn to your site. They are looking for ways to learn a little about you. What they looking for as they explore your products and services is an experience of a level of trust and credibility. Show them your expertise by giving them client testimonials, job experience, share your product knowledge. You want to show them our credentials so they have an experience of trust. You can't do that on the web by looking at them in the eye, so you have to tell them and show them in as many ways as you can until you get the message across that you are the fix for their needs.

If people email you seeking more information, then email them with a professional response, much like you would do with a direct mail piece and follow-up. Give them relevant personalized service. Do that and prospects and clients will want to hear from you. Build your list of interested prospects and clients and that list becomes as valuable as gold.

Make your website informative, fun and interactive. Let your site be more information based and less selling based. An 80/20 mix is good. 80% information that builds on customer needs, wants, and desires is the focus. Be creative as you express new and better ways for prospects to fulfill their desires. Be the focal point as the service or product provider. No hard selling. If you are writing good client centered copy, you will be able to create the need with tools like a time limit, i.e., "the sale price ends in 3 days"; scarcity, i.e., "I only have 50 workshop spaces available"; or special insider information; i.e., "only members get this information for free".

Web marketing for speakers is exciting. The world is now your audience and your marketplace. As you begin your prospect outreach, remember to always test your results. Good luck as you better use the web to market your products and talks.

Blogging Mistakes 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

If you want to get your name as a speaker "out there," it is not enough to have just a website. You should also have your own blog. Blogging should be at the center of your social networking, and should be cross referenced to your other social networking sites. However, remember not to make the following three mistakes that can make your blog less effective.

1. Failure to make your blog the center of your social networking system - Neglecting the power of your blog can be a big mistake. Making your blog the hub of your system means that you can communicate more clearly and more in-depth and people will spend more time on your blog and reading your posts. Use a "WordPress" blog to connect to the rest of your social networking sites. Each time you post a blog, it will automatically be posted to your other sites such as Facebook and Twitter. You can also set it up so that all your articles from ezines and tweets from Twitter show up on your blog.

2. Failure to post often to your blog - If people go to your blog and you have not posted in a while, it indicates that your blog is not important or relevant. It is likely to even turn people off. You should post at least weekly, but several posts a week is even better. You can always find new things to post even if it's just an update of something already posted. You can post a "tip" of the week, recent articles you have written, videos you have created or ones from others that are relevant to your blog. You can even invite guest bloggers to write posts for your site.

3. Failure to encourage readers to comment on your blog - If you do not have comments posted to your blog, then something is wrong. Comments make your blog seem active, current, and relevant. Make sure you invite comments from readers whenever you announce your blog through email, twitter, Facebook, etc. Be sure to start off your comments by posting your own and then ask others you know to comment as well. When readers see previous comments on your blog which encourages them to comment. Often, people do not want to be the first in line to do something and that includes making comments.

Your blog can be a real asset to your marketing strategy, and can make people interested in learning more about you. Be sure to make your blog effective by avoiding these three big mistakes.

Strategies for Creating and Sustaining a Career 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

Many speakers chose to become professional speakers because they felt called to share a particular message with the world. Some enjoy the energized feeling they experience when they are in front of an audience. Regardless of the reason for entering the field, the truth is that many speakers are good, but they never become excellent speakers. Some wonder if becoming a professional speaker will be worth it in terms of personal satisfaction and financial gain. So, how do you get the most out of a career in public speaking? Here are some tips that will help you make your professional speaking career work for you.

#1 Get Into the Mind of Your Audience

Enjoying a high level of personal satisfaction as a speaker is wonderful, but it won't put food on the table. To really make your career work for you financially, you must look at what it is you have to say. One way to look at your presentation is from the perspective of your audience.

What would interest you? What inspires you? What motivates you? What problems do you have? What solutions are viable for those problems? Watch video of your talk with the mindset of an audience member. If you can really put yourself in your audience's place you are a step closer to a successful speaking career.

#2 Sell What You Know

Once you have developed a dynamite presentation, take the information you have and turn it into other products. With the help of the Internet you can extend your reach to a global market. You can create products such as audio and video materials, eBooks, teleseminars and subscription newsletters. Offer a variety of materials at different price points. Regardless of which products you decide to create, it is imperative that you provide something that is top quality and unique. Find a new twist on your niche; solve a problem for your customers. Keeping it fresh and cutting edge will help you stand out from the crowd. This is an important point if you want to achieve the success you are looking for. When you have other products to sell you are still making money even when you aren't speaking.

#3 Find Sustainable Platforms

It has been said, and it is true, that it is harder to close the first sale with a client than it is to close subsequent ones. This can be true for getting speaking engagements as well. Look for jobs that have the potential to offer repeat performances. For example, many businesses hold quarterly meetings for their employees, and may want you to develop a series of talks that can be presented over time. Some organizations have multiple locations, and may want a speaker to present the same talk at all locations. Become known as the "go to guy" in your field by becoming a subject matter expert.

Jumpstart 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

Getting started in any career can seem daunting. This is certainly true for professional speakers. The field of public speaking can be highly competitive. Even so, it is possible to become a successful, in demand, speaker. There are no guarantees that your career will blast off, but there are some tricks that can help jumpstart your career.

#1 It's All About What You Have to Say
Step one to jumpstart your speaking career is to focus on the content of your talk. You want to both inform and entertain your audience. You must also provide information that is not easily available to everyone, or information that not every speaker in your niche is providing. Look at what the greatest needs and problems are of your target audience, and provide the solutions. Stay current. Be up on the latest in your field. Find unique and interesting ways to present your information. Know your content inside and out. Your audience will be able to spot it in a second if you aren't thoroughly familiar with the subject. You may be new to the field, but don't let that show.

#2 Say it With Style
After you have developed a talk with cutting edge information, it is time to develop and hone your presentation skills. Become a student of what makes a presentation first rate. Find out who is the best in the business, and take a page from their book. What do they do that makes their presentations sought after? How do they warm up the crowd? What is their style and energy level? How do they present themselves as individuals? I am not suggesting that you copy anyone else's style, just notice how they fully developed their own unique style and abilities. Examine your own strengths and weaknesses, and then play to your strengths, always play to your strengths. How can you define your uniqueness? Never be afraid to be yourself as a speaker. It is one of the best ways to make a real connection with your audience.

#3 Know Where to Market Yourself
The Internet is by far the best place to market yourself as a speaker. There are many ways to go about doing this. First, have a professional looking website. Once you have your site up and running, there are a variety of strategies that will get your site and YOU noticed. Some of the best strategies include article marketing, establishing a strong presence on social networking sites, participating in discussions on forums and groups, writing a blog and posting videos on sites like YouTube. Use a variety of strategies to maximize your exposure.

Outside of the Internet you may find that offering to speak for free, in the beginning, will give you the opportunity to hone your skills, and begin to make a name for yourself.

Speakers, Grow Your Business Online

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

 As a professional speaker you may be wondering what sets those speakers who draw a worldwide audience apart from those who are not reaching a global audience. If you are wondering how you can expand your reputation beyond the bounds of your current arena, then you must look at how you can expand your business online. Here are some tips that will help you become a speaker with a global reach.

#1 Build a Reputation
The great thing about the Internet is that it offers far more opportunities to build a reputation that have ever been possible in the past. Step one is to have a dynamite website that serves as your portfolio. It should include short video clips of your talks so that visitors can see firsthand what a dynamic speaker you are. There are many other opportunities online to build your reputation outside of your website. You can establish yourself as an expert in your niche by participating in groups and forums related to your field. You can also establish your presence using the social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn. There are many others social media sites. In addition to your regular website, having a blog can go a long way toward helping you make a name for yourself. A blog is a more informal platform than your regular site, and it is easy to add informative posts on a regular basis. Post short, sample videos of your talks on video sites such as YouTube. Write articles and publish them in online article directories. Establish yourself as the "go to guy" in your field.

#2 Be Adaptable
Top tier speakers are always changing, and adapting, with the times. To be a top speaker you have to know how to use the latest technology, and online strategies, to your advantage. It also means knowing how your niche is evolving and changing. What are the latest problems and needs that your audience would like addressed? Maintaining an online connection with your potential audience will show you what their latest concerns are. Show them that you are on top of it, and ready to provide the answers. Maintaining regular contact on the social networks, groups and forums and your blog are some of the best tools for helping you adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. The fact that you are focusing on the current state of things now, sends the message that you are a topnotch professional.

#3 Expand Your Offerings
If you really want to expand your business as a speaker, use the power of the Internet to promote products other than your speaking services alone. Get out of your comfort zone, and think about what else you can offer to the global market online. There are many options. Set up a Member Site for your loyal followers. Host teleseminars on a regular basis. Offer an online newsletter. Create CD's and DVD's of your talks, and sell them on your website. Write an ebook, and publish it yourself. These are just a few of the options that you can use to expand your business with the help of the latest technology and the Internet.

Tips for Optimizing Your Website 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

Do you want to be recognized as a professional speaker, but aren't quite sure of how to go about it? Because the Internet is the primary means for locating information today, it has to be at the heart of your marketing efforts.

Once you learn how to use the Internet to your advantage, you will see an amazing increase in your visibility as a speaker. Using the Internet is the best way to make a solid name for yourself, and establish yourself as a leader in your genre. This will quickly translate into more speaking engagements for you. The centerpiece for all of your marketing efforts is your website.

There is a tremendous amount of information available about how to drive traffic to your website. In fact, there is so much information it can seem overwhelming when you are starting out. I recommend that you learn all you can about the many strategies for optimizing your website. That being said, there are some simple steps, fundamental to the process, that will get you started and boost your exposure.

#1 Provide Quality Content on Your Website.
The most important thing you can do to enhance your presence on the web is to provide quality content for your visitors. You can advertise all you want, but if your visitors find nothing of value on your website they won't return. What you offer should be unique content that can't be found all over the Internet. Do some research and determine what topics in your niche are not covered extensively. Figure out what the biggest problems are for your niche, and find a way to solve it.

#2 Link to Other Websites.
Networking with other speakers, and others who have an interest in your niche, can be tremendously important in building your reputation as a speaker. It is equally important for marketing your website. When you get another website to provide a link to your site, your ranking with search engines will go up. Note that you don't want links from just any site. Only link to high quality sites that are within your field or are related to your field.

#3 Become a Participant on Social Networking Sites
The power of social networking sites has increased dramatically in the past few years. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can extend your reach on a global basis. I can't overstate the importance of these networks for driving traffic to your site. It is important to note that these are social network sites, so you will need to be a good citizen of these communities and provide something of value in your posts and on your pages. These are not advertising networks and blatant sales pitches will not get you the results you want and may get you banned from the sites.

How Speakers Can Create a Winning Blog

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

Speakers, having a blog in addition to your website can do wonders for your business.  A blog provides the opportunity to connect with others, and interact in ways you cannot on your website.  If you have not already started blogging, I encourage you to do so.  Here are some tips for creating a winning blog.

The single most important aspect of having a great blog is providing high quality content.  There is no substitute for quality content and there is no way around it.  Whether you are blogging for fun, for your business, as part of your SEO strategies or to establish yourself as an expert you have to provide something worthwhile.  Read on to learn how to make your blog stand out by creating your own great content.  While determining what makes good content is subjective, there are some guidelines that apply to all content.

First and foremost you have to provide fresh content that can’t be found everywhere.  Your content will always be fresh if you are not writing about old news or outdated ideas.  Stay up on the latest trends and current events.  Know what people are buzzing about and provide your own unique insights on the topic.  Surf the web to see what is on the minds of the majority.

Know who your readers are.  Know your niche.  To really reach and influence your readers know what their concerns are.  Know what their biggest needs and problems are.  Find out what problems they want solved.  Find out what they like to talk about.  When you are armed with that information you will be able to write blog content that your audience wants to read.  If you try to write without taking the time to find out what your readers want  to know you won’t get the results you want with your blogging.  Be reader centered.

Be clear in your writing.  Sometimes bloggers forget that not everyone has the same level of understanding on a topic that they do.  Or even worse, they may want to flaunt their expertise by using terms and explanations that leave their readers confused and overwhelmed.  You should write your blog posts in a way that will be understandable to the average person.  If your posts are confusing or too academic in their style you will not be successful in your article writing campaign.  Write easy to understand content that others can learn from and will want to share with others.

Provide accurate information.  There is an immeasurable amount of information on the Internet.  Unfortunately, a lot of it is suspect or even downright false.  Do not contribute to the sea of misinformation on the web.  Make sure that all of the information you provide on your blog is accurate and verifiable.  You have to build trust with your readers.  This is the only way to build your readership. 

How to Use the Fear of Public Speaking to Your Advantage

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

Everyone knows that the fear of speaking before an audience is universal. Anyone who has ever had to get up in front of a group of people, regardless of how large or small, knows just what that fear feels like. You can overcome your fear, and actually use it to your advantage. If the fear you are experiencing feels overwhelming, and you are filled with dread every time you get in front of an audience, know that with some practice and experience these intense feelings of fear will begin to subside. Don't let your fears keep you from pursuing a fulfilling career as a speaker. A bit of nervousness before getting in front of your audience is normal, and you can turn it into a positive rather than a negative.

Ways to Use Your Fear of Public Speaking:
Ways of dealing with the fear of public speaking varies widely from one speaker to another. It is often related to how they deal with fear in other areas of life. The primary key to dealing with fear of any kind is to avoid reinforcing it with a lot of self-talk about it. You can decrease the power of fear by acknowledging you are feeling fearful, and then moving on to other thoughts and activities. Let it be there, in the background, without getting into a battle with it. Anything you fight against gets bigger. Use the energy produced by your nervousness to add spark and enthusiasm to your talk.

Here are some ways to help ease your fears.

· First, figure out what helps you relax. Perhaps it is deep breathing, meditation or physical activity. Make time before your talk to use the method that works best for you.
· There is no substitute for being prepared when it comes to helping you calm your fears. If you are confident that you know what you are going to say, this will automatically lower your anxiety level. Those who speak often will tell you that they now have little or no fear before their talks.
· If at all possible, before you give your speech, familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
· Get yourself motivated; use your fear of public speaking to build momentum. If you are going to keep your audience interested and engaged in your talk, you must have a high-energy and enthusiastic demeanor. We have all experienced a talk where the speaker drones on, for what seems like an eternity, in a monotone voice. If you don't project enthusiasm about the topic you can't expect your audience to be enthusiastic either. You set the tone and energy level.

Tricks of the Trade:
Below are some simple suggestions for dealing with a fear of public speaking.

· Look out over the top of the crowd, just above their heads.
· Find something to focus on such as a painting or any other object.
· Make sure you aren't looking down at your notes all of the time. Being too dependent on your notes can actually make you more nervous.
· Be aware of your audience, and notice the reaction of the crowd to gauge how well your talk is being accepted. Make adjustments when necessary. Have a few humorous stories up your sleeve. Humor is a speaker's best weapon for keeping the audience engaged.

The Top 4 Tips for Promoting Yourself 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

Promoting yourself as a professional speaker is not like promoting any other product because what you are really marketing is yourself. That fact alone should shift your perspective as you consider the best ways to market your business. The strategies you choose will have a huge impact on your career.

Here are some things to consider as you begin to promote yourself as a professional speaker.

#1 Who is Your Target Audience?

The first step in selecting your marketing strategies is to clearly define your target audience. Look closely at your niche market. What are the main concerns, pains, needs and issues within that niche? For example, if you are concentrating on being a motivational speaker for teenagers, you must know what makes them tick and what is relevant to them. Similarly, if you want to be a business speaker, it is critical that you have a solid understanding of the world of business. Once you have identified your target market, you will be able to tailor your promotional efforts to that specific group.

#2 Professionalism

To have a great career as a speaker, you must present yourself in a highly professional manner. This is of the utmost importance. In order to come off as a professional, you must handle all of your business with maturity and a high level of skill. Demonstrating your dependability and integrity are critical. It is through these traits that you will gain credibility as a speaker. Always deliver what you promise. Better still, deliver more than you promise. Respond promptly, and make yourself available, to your customers and potential clients. Speak from the heart to make genuine connections with your target audience. Don't be afraid to show them who you really are. These are the things that define a truly professional speaker.

#3 Who is Your Competition?

Know who your competition is, but just knowing who they are is not enough. Any winning sports team understands the value of studying their opponent, and so should you. Be on the lookout for what they are up to. What does their website look like? Is it optimized? What other products and services are they offering? How often do they speak and where? Once you have sized up your competition then you can develop your marketing strategies in new and inventive ways that will set you apart as the "go to guy" in your niche. Think about new and innovative products you can offer that will distinguish you from the rest. Try new ideas, and adapt to change as new competitors enter the market.

#4 Spending

Obviously promoting your speaking business will require that you spend some money. However, before you go out and invest in a lot of expensive marketing, take the time to learn all you can about alternative marketing strategies. Now that the Internet is the primary way most people gather information, there are many ways you can use it to your advantage.

Learn how to use your website and blog, the social networks, video sites like YouTube and pay-per-click advertising to your advantage. These are just a few of the many highly effective ways to market yourself at a fraction of the costs of old school marketing strategies. The time you invest in learning how to use Internet marketing strategies will pay off for you in a big way.

A Guide to Increasing Your Speaker's Fees

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 amount of money different individuals, within the same profession, earn varies widely. This is certainly true within the public speaking profession. Being a professional speaker can be as lucrative as it is rewarding. However, some professional speakers are not reaping the monetary rewards they are hoping for. The truth is there are some who are disgruntled, and are even on the brink of giving up because they have not able to command high fees.

The First Step to Increasing Your Prices as a Professional Speaker

The ability to get higher fees is in large part dependent on how a speaker perceives his or her own skills and abilities. Experts suggest that professional speakers should give their career a good head start in terms of the fees they charge. This is done by charging clients a lower fee in the beginning of their career. From there the speaker can increase their fees accordingly for later engagements if their audience response was good.

Some Basic Facts to Consider

If you decide to increase your prices as a professional speaker, then you have to look at the facts. First, you have to consider the topic that you will be talking about. Is it something that is entirely new and unfamiliar for you? If so, then you have to do a great deal of research to be able to give a truly engaging speech. If you can demonstrate that you are a subject matter expert you can increase your prices.

Another basic fact that influences whether or not you can increase your fees is the location where you will be conducting your speaking engagement. If you have to travel a long distance then you will likely be able to increase your fee. You should either ask for your travel expenses in addition to your fee or factor them into the fee you charge. Request a 50% down payment of your fee. This will allow you to pay for your airline tickets and so forth, so that you can book your travel arrangements without going out-of-pocket. In some cases, if the client is paying your travel expenses separate from your fee, the event planner will handle all of your travel arrangements for you.

If you want to increase your prices as a professional speaker, it is also of utmost importance that you be able to identify the audience you will be speaking to. Is the audience large or small? Is it made up of college students, businessmen or highly regarded social and government figures? The make-up of the audience is a determiner in the fee you can expect to receive.

Whether or not a speaking engagement is a one-time talk or a series of seminars or workshops will be a factor in the fees you will charge. A speaker should set their price based on the amount of time and effort that he or she will have to put forth for a given speaking engagement.

How Speakers Can Make Money with eBooks

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

 An eBook is an electronic version of a printed book, and was originally introduced to promote educational and technical information. However, the popularity of the internet and the introduction of highly advanced cell phones and mobile gadgets paved the way for the high demand of eBooks on a wide variety of topics and content. Electronic devices and eBooks are changing the way people read. When eBooks first emerged on the scene there were those who did not believe they would ever catch on. The increasing popularity of reading on computers and electronic readers such as the Kindle has caused a tremendous surge in the number of people who are looking for eBooks. Some believe that paper books will go the way of the horse and carriage.

eBooks are also quickly becoming a great way to make money. They are now recognized as an important tool for businessmen and entrepreneurs to market themselves, and increase their customer base. The same is true for professional speakers who use eBooks to establish their reputation and expertise, and to generate additional income. Writing an eBook is great way for speakers to establish themselves as a subject matter expert. They will find it easier to establish a niche for themselves in the speaking circuits by using eBooks as promotional materials. Once they have established their authority in their niche the money will begin to roll in.

An important aspect in the creation of an eBook is determining how market it. If an eBook is to make you money then having a sound marketing plan is important. You must maximize the power of the Internet. Writing and publishing articles, and developing a website or blog, are highly recommended. This is where you can outline the specific details of the services you offer, your expertise in your field and of course, the products you have to offer such as your eBook.

Another avenue for marketing your eBook, so that it generates money for you, is through your speaking engagements. Every time you are invited to give a talk be sure to mention and promote your eBook. The successful marketing of your eBook at your speaking engagements will be reinforced by your mastery and skill as a speaker.

Once you have your eBook launched and earning money, you will continue to promote the book and keep it available so that this income stream continues. You can promote it even as you launch new materials in the future, and sooner than you think, you will have a wide range of products available.

Everything You Need to Know About Online Training 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

Every professional needs a certain amount of training and instruction. This training can help to bring out the very best in them, hone their skills and contribute to the making of an expert. Many professional speakers can benefit from training and direction, and there are numerous courses available online.

Online training is unquestionably one of the most expeditious methods to get training because of there are no restrictions on time and place. You can participate in online training any time you wish, and from any place you want.

Before you decide on online training, you need to focus on a particular niche. Remember that running off without focus, in different directions, will not get you the results you want. Instead of scattering your efforts; focus on one particular niche, and then do your best to become a SME (subject matter expert) in this niche. The best public speakers have become successful because they have found their niche and worked hard to focus on it.

When looking for online training, always check the credentials, and the background, of the person or institution that is offering the training or the course. Because it is much easier to get cheated online than in a brick and mortar set-up, don't jump at the first online training course that you come across. Do your homework, verify credentials, compare and review several sites and then decide which is best.

Be sure to check that the online training course offers the chance to practice before a live audience. No amount of training through videos or audio lessons will give you the confidence you will need to face a live audience. That comes only from experience and repeated exposure to an audience. Your online training must offer this component if you are going to gain anything in the long run.

Public speaking is not merely the art of speaking to an audience; it requires a wide variety of skills. You need to polish your acting, entertainment and presentation skills as well, if you really want to be seen as a celebrity speaker. So, do not limit your online training exclusively to public speaking skills. Take online training courses for acting or entertainment along with speaking courses. These will help you in the long run, and will prove to be the difference between a mediocre public speaker and an outstanding public speaker.

Last but not least, try to find a mentor. Developing a close bond with a mentor is possible, even with an online training course. This relationship can be invaluable not only for your speaking skills, but could provide valuable connections as you build a network of professionals that can help you advance your speaking career.

Motivational Speakers for Young People Are in High Demand

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

Wouldn't you agree that no other age group needs more motivation than young people? But, the hard part is that no other age group is more resistant to suggestions, and more difficult to motivate than teens and young people. It is no wonder that a motivational speaker for young people is so highly regarded, and often seen as a speaker with extraordinary skills.

A motivational speaker for young people can talk to teens and youngsters in a variety of settings such as churches, schools, colleges or at special events organized specifically for them.

A motivational speaker who works with young people must make use of a variety of techniques designed to grab the attention of their young audience. The youth of today are tuned into a digital world of images, sounds and experiences that change at lightning speed. The speaker must understand how to reach young people who have grown up in this environment if they are going to be able to transform lives for the better. Using a variety of techniques, he or she can encourage, inspire and educate their audience of young people.

The speaker may want to use stories from their own life, and entertain the audience with funny tales. The purpose of using anecdotes is two-fold. First, the speaker needs to show the audience that they understand what it is like to be young, and that they have had experiences that the audience can relate to. Second, the subtle lessons and warnings about the many dangers that go with this age group can be woven into the stories. This may include warnings about drugs and alcohol abuse, and other issues such as teenage pregnancies, unprotected sex etc. If the speaker is successful, the young people will be fully engaged and open to the insights and wisdom presented.

Anyone who has ever tried to have a discussion with a young person is familiar with how difficult it is to get their attention and have their talk taken seriously. There is no amount of sweet talk, warnings or threats that will convince young people of the risks and dangers associated with many of their day-to-day activities. A motivational speaker for youngsters must be highly skilled, and charismatic,in order to get the message across to youngsters who don't think they need advice or suggestions, and believe that they already know everything there is to know.

It's no wonder that a motivational speaker for young people is held in such high regard, and looked up to by parents and educational and religious institutions. The reason for this admiration is due to the fact that these speakers are good at a very tough task that may seem impossible for others to accomplish.

If you have the skills, deciding to become a motivational speaker for young people can be a great career decision because the public speaking industry is in search of effective and vibrant speakers who are especially targeted at the youth. As long as young people don't heed the advice of their parents and guardians, the demand for speakers in this niche will not diminish.

5 Things Speakers Bureaus Don't Like

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

No doubt you have heard a lot about speakers bureaus and their importance in building a career in public speaking. You may have articles that tell you how to get in good standing with them. All of the articles have likely told you what these big guys, in the world of public speaking, like. However, they probably did not tell you what they don’t like. Not to worry, this article is going to take you into the minds and psyches of speakers bureaus, and let you in on the secrets about what they don't like.

Before you go, stop reading, close your eyes and try to imagine yourself at work. What do you dislike about dealing with the people who want to work for or with you? Hmm, got a long list I bet. Now, open your eyes, get back here and read on.

Speakers bureaus are not just organizations; they are made up of people just like you and me. So, the secret to knowing about what they don't like lies in understanding how people think.

#1 Speakers bureaus don't like over exaggeration:

If you thought that the best way to impress a speakers bureau with your talents is to use superlatives to describe your skills and achievements, then you are hugely mistaken. No one likes to hear a lot of hype or bragging so do not include that in your application.

#2 Speakers bureaus don't like long-winded applications:

Keep it short and concise. The individuals, who screen applications are busy, so respect their time, and send in only a brief overview of your work. To do this effectively, you will need to spend time determining the best way to briefly highlight the most important aspects of your work.

#3 Speakers bureaus don't like introductory emails:

If you are thinking of testing the waters first by sending an introductory email and then following up with your actual resume and other details later, don't bother applying at all. As I said earlier, they do not have no time to waste so pack everything into a single, short communication.

#4 Speakers bureaus don't like being pestered with follow-up communications:

If you don't hear from the speakers bureau, do not send in follow-up emails asking if they received your first email. This is one sure way to end up on their spam list. It may take a while to hear back from them. Be patient.

#5 Speakers bureaus don't like overly friendly behavior:

Do not try to establish yourself as a dear friend of the person you are dealing with at the speakers bureau. They will see that you are simply trying to get the contract. You are liable to come across as creepy and desperate. Keep your relationship professional by conducting yourself as professionally as you would with any other business associate.

Article Writing Helps Speakers and Coaches In Many Ways

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

Article writing helps speakers and coaches in a big way. Considering the cut throat competition in these fields any suggestion that helps you stand out from the crowd, should be welcomed.

Article writing is a strategy that helps speakers and coaches accomplish one of their primary goals which is to drive quality traffic towards their websites. Articles help speakers and coaches by focusing on the keywords that describe, or characterize, their particular niche. This generates, and drives, in much more focused traffic, which means that the people, who are actually searching for that particular niche, have been directed to their website. This kind of focused traffic is more beneficial, and has a better chance of getting converted into actual business because these visitors are already interested in the niche.

Article writing helps speakers and coaches get 10-15 % more traffic than they would get by paying for visitors to visit their sites. There are other paid methods used to attract visitors such as pay-per-click, email marketing, buying links, banner ads etc. None of these methods can beat the quality and amount of traffic that can be generated by article marketing.

Article writing is helpful only if certain criteria are met by the articles. First and foremost, an effective article should be high quality. Articles need to generate interest and provide valuable information. Articles that provide nothing more than fluff and repetitive content are never going to generate quality traffic.

For speakers who don't want to, or have the time to, write articles it is possible to hire a professional article writer, or an expert ghost writer to help with the article marketing. There are many benefits to hiring professional writers to do the job. First of all, they will focus and design the article to bring visitors to the speaker's site. Secondly, they understand the proper use of SEO, keyword placements and article submission to article directories. They can also provide a series of good quality articles in the same niche or on the same topic.

Regularly submitting good quality, unique and informative articles will help you be seen as an SME (subject matter expert). When people consider you a subject matter expert in your niche, they will begin to trust you, and trust is the foundation of any business.

Article writing helps speakers and coaches in more ways than one, and should be one of the primary methods used in marketing their public speaking skills to prospective clients.

Speakers, Sell Your Coaching Services Online

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

Many accomplished public speakers offer their own coaching courses designed to help other speakers become as effective as they are. Perhaps you have built a successful speaking career, and would like to share your expertise with others. You can learn to sell your coaching services online using these 4 simple and effective tips.

Tip # 1 to sell coaching services online:

The best way to begin is with the basics. Concentrate on your website first. If you don't have a website yet, build your own site or hire a professional website designer to design and host one for you. The most important step in getting the most from your site is to optimize it for the search engines. SEO (search engine optimization), if done correctly, will drive a lot of traffic to your website.

Include prominent advertisements on your website that describe your coaching courses and services.

Tip # 2 to sell coaching services online:

Make use of affiliate marketing strategies. Reach out to affiliates and offer them an incentive in return for every sale completed. This is a great way to reach out to a large number of prospective clients. Affiliate marketing basically works like a vast network. Each affiliate has his or her, individual share of network links, and they utilize these links to get your coaching sold online. If you are able to find a substantial number affiliates, then it becomes much easier to sell your coaching services online.

Tip # 3 to sell coaching services online:

Find other websites to help promote your coaching business. Try to expand your network by contacting other websites in your niche that are doing well. If you are not able to approach websites in your niche, try to find other websites that are related to your niche. For instance, you can approach websites related to educational online courses to promote your public speaking coaching courses.

Once you have found some good websites, ask the owner to help you market your courses by putting up links to your site or to your sales landing page. You may need to offer a monetary incentive in order to get this done. Other websites may ask for a link exchange. If that is the case, you can get the link you want for free by posting links to your site.

Tip # 4 to sell coaching services online:

Keep in mind that people are looking for quality and value. So, one of the best tricks to selling your coaching services, and to build the trust of potential customers is to offer a money back guarantee. Prospects are much more likely to become paying customers when they see that they can sign-up for your services with no risk.

How Professional Speakers Sell Seminars in 4 Easy Steps

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

Selling a seminar is actually a much bigger concern than producing one. Nevertheless, you must produce a good quality seminar, before you can begin to think about how to sell it. Professional speakers have always considered seminars as one of their best tools. So, if you are a professional speaker, and want to learn how to sell seminars in a quickly and easily, follow the steps outlined here.

Step # 1 of How to Sell Seminars:

Make sure that the seminar that you want to sell is high quality. When you market any product or service, the best thing you can do is to put yourself in your prospective client's place, and think about your seminar from their perspective. When you do this, you will be in a much better position to think about what the buyer wants in a product or service.

You should use the same principle when you are thinking about how to market your seminar. Craft your seminar so that it is sure to appeal to your audience and prospective clients. Give them what they are looking for, and they will go out of their way to attend.

So, the bottom line is to make sure your seminar is high quality, and craft it so that it provides maximum value to your audience.

Step # 2 of How to Sell Seminars:

Create extras to go along with the seminar. These days you really can't get the attention of the public unless you are seen as someone who is versatile. You need to provide a variety of products and services to your prospective customers before they will settle on any one and make a purchase.

Concentrate on creating some residual products such as CDs, DVDs, ebooks, books, etc.

Step # 3 of How to Sell Seminars:

Once you have your merchandise ready, you can go out and find prospective clients. Contact groups, organizations or companies who want to arrange a seminar in your niche. There are many civic groups, church groups or networking groups that are frequently on the lookout for professional speakers like you.

Step # 4 of How to Sell Seminars:

Another idea that may help you in your mission to get your seminars sold is to offer some free mini-workshops that provide some information for the audience. Offering free versions of your seminar is a great way to get you the exposure that you want. This is your chance to show off your speaking skills and your expertise in your niche. The audience will be hooked by the free version. Once the interest is generated, then you can be sure to get paid for your full seminar.

3 Effective Ways to Make Money Online As a Public 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

 Being a public speaker has its perks. For one, you can branch out to the many forms of media available today and you don't have to confine your talks to the traditional live audience approach to public speaking. These days the Internet contains information about almost everything pertaining to human relations and lifestyles. The Internet has become a remarkable vehicle for speakers to expand their niche and share their expertise.

You can make money online as a speaker. The following tips describe some of the different methods available to you online.

Tip #1: Make money online as a public speaker with a blog or website.

One great way to make money online as a speaker is to create, and maintain, a blog or website. You can get help from online experts to build your site or blog. However, the content must be your own. This is a great way to make money online as a public speaker because more and more people are turning to the Internet to keep themselves updated about the latest trends and information. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a huge part of driving traffic to your site and there are many strategies that experts in this area use. In fact, there are many methods you can learn and employ yourself. That being said, there are SEO experts you can hire to outsource these tasks. On your own, word-of-mouth marketing is still a very effective way to get clients.

Your website or should provide up-to-date information and helpful content regarding your career as a speaker. You can also provide tips and techniques on public speaking as well as your own experiences as a speaker. Be creative and include other personal anecdotes.

Tip #2: Make money online as a public speaker with webinars.

Webinars are basically seminars that are held online and they are a great way to make money as a speaker. With the help of video conferencing, you can easily organize and facilitate webinars to a group of people for substantial earnings. Endorsements and invitations can easily be extended through the use of social networking sites such as Face book, Twitter and blogs.

It shouldn't be hard to make money online as a speaker, if you make your presence known in the blogosphere by highlighting testimonials and feedback from previous clients, who attended one of your talks or webinars, on your website or blog.

Tip #3: Make money online as a public speaker with Ebooks.

Another effective way to make money online as a speaker is through ebooks. You can write and offer ebooks quicker and easier than you might imagine. The purpose and content of the ebooks should be unique and provide valuable information to the readers. The outlines from your talks are the perfect place to start when looking for content for your ebook. Writing an ebook can help you reach a greater audience than you might with a hard bound book. You will also be able to avoid the endless hoops an author must go through in traditional publishing. EBooks are also cheaper and more convenient for your readers.

Realistically, it can take time to make money online as a public speaker. Be patient and believe that you can make things happen.