Business Goodies

7 Tips to Get on a Panel at a Conference

2008-01-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

by R. Scott Lorenz

Admit it. You've been to an industry conference and you look at the people on the panel and you wonder, "How in the heck did 'that' guy get on the panel? I could do that."

Well, you're not alone. Like getting asked to the Junior High Dance you can wait to get an invitation or get aggressive and make it happen. As a publicist I am often asked to get a client on the convention dais and as a result I've got couple of tried and true tactics that really work.

Here are seven tips to help you land that panel gig:

Bring a big name to the party
If you have little name recognition organize a panel around a topic and call in a favor from Bill Gates or other notable friend, client, customer or vendor by creating your own panel. Pitch the "ready made" panel, which includes yourself of course, to the conference organization. They have less work, and you get more editorial control over the discussion. Big names draw big crowds. All conferences like big names.

Create a catchy title
Even if you have a big name on your panel, an unexciting panel title and no mention of the big name will not be as interesting to the conference planner. Take a page out of the entertainment industry. Would people rather watch "Desperate Housewives" or the same program titled "Five Bored Housewives on Wisteria Lane?"

Make a promise
Tell conference planners what prospective audience members will learn and what they will take away from the presentation in the copy describing the program. For example: Tell them they will learn to do X, Y & Z and will be able to implement something tangible in their own business or practice.

Offer to promote the conference
Tell conference planners you'll promote the convention to the prospective conference goers. This helps drive more people to the conference and they will surely like that.

You can offer to promote the event using:
- A PR campaign to industry and consumer media.
- direct mail piece to YOUR clients and customers.
- series of emails to YOUR clients and customers with a link back to the conference's web site.

Bring something to give away
Tell conference planners you'll be giving away 'something of value' to audience members if you get the engagement. Items such as a free video, autographed book, new software etc. are often welcomed by conference planners as they make them look good.

Make yourself the logical choice to speak on a particular topic
Demonstrate expertise by showing conference planners your articles on the subject. Nobody wants to take a chance on an unknown person with shaky credentials. But, if the conference planner can "Google" you and find your web site and numerous articles you've written or your quotes in news, that takes the uncertainty out of the equation and they're more apt to book you.

Plan way in advance
Most conferences are booked into convention halls years in advance and most programs are decided upon many months in advance. If you really want to get on a panel, make your pitch before your competitor does several months in advance. Now, there's always a chance of a last minute booking but more than likely it's best to plan way ahead.

These are just a few ways to get on a panel or to deliver a presentation. If you'd like to share more ideas please email them to me and I'll use them in future articles on the topic. Remember: Just like the Junior High Dance, you can wait around until they ask you or you can do the asking and make it happen.

THE BOTTOM LINE

You've got to market yourself!

Get aggressive and initiate the opportunity!

About the author
Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm which specializes in marketing authors, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly News, ESPN, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, NPR, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Family Circle, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few. To discuss how Westwind Communications helps its clients get all the publicity they deserve and more visit WestWindCos.com.

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All posts from Business Goodies

2008-01-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of all posts from Business Goodies. Check it out often because this blog is frequently updated.

JANUARY 2008

7 Tips to Get on a Panel at a Conference by R. Scott Lorenz
Admit it. You've been to an industry conference and you look at the people on the panel and you wonder, "How in the heck did 'that' guy get on the panel? I could do that."
Read more

Top 10 Ways to Create a Freelancing Empire by Shama Hyder
Sure, you are great at what you do, but have you ever considered building a freelancing empire around your skill set? If you have ever had a Pinky and The Brain moment about your services...
Read more

How To Be A Newsletter Writer For Hire by Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian
Some weeks back, a business owner approached me to ask if I'd consider writing for his newsletter. I'm an infopreneur, and turning words into wealth in any form sounds attractive to me. I decided to try it out and found it interesting enough to keep doing it.
Read more

Promotional Pens - Apt For Any Kind of Businesses by Tina Rinaudo
Use useful gifts for promoting and popularizing your brand so that it is visible to everyone and can promote and advertise the brand easily. The products thus chosen should relate to your brand so that the consumers are reminded of your brand when they use it.
Read more

Scratching A Niche by Claire E Cunningham
Even if you're selling something with broad appeal - like toilet paper, corn flakes, or cell phone service -- you've probably thought about vertical or niche marketing. How do you go about it, though?
Read more

You Too Can Make Money Online by Khush Want Singh
Have you ever wished that you could make money online from the comfort of your home? Are you confused about all the schemes that are promoted as valid ways to make money?
Read more

Small Business Accounting Firm - The Key to Inevitable Success by Alvis Brazma
The primary reason behind running a business is to earn maximum profit and to have a good reputation in the industry and the market. Whenever a person establishes a new business, the main thing he keeps in his mind is to earn god revenue from the business and to be able to expand the business.
Read more

Top 10 Ways to Create a Freelancing Empire

2008-01-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

by Shama Hyder

Sure, you are great at what you do, but have you ever considered building a freelancing empire around your skill set? If you have ever had a Pinky and The Brain moment about your services, read on.

Set yourself as the Go-To Guy or Gal in a Specific Industry
It is very tempting as a freelancer to offer your services to everyone you meet, but this method will bring you scattered results. However, if you hone in on a certain industry, you can really create a name for yourself. This doesn't mean that you only work with that niche, but that does become your primary target market. For example, let's say you choose to do web design for law firms. Now you can focus on that specific target market of attorneys. You can build a name for yourself within that group. Does this restrict you to only working for law firms? No, of course not. But it does help you create a name for yourself in a certain industry and reap the benefits of a strong reputation.

Network Outside of your Regular Group
If you only hang out with fellow freelancers, you won't get very far in terms of building your empire. It is necessary to spend time with colleagues, but you won't always get more business that way. If you really want to brand yourself and get more clients, you have to network outside of your regular group.

Always Ask for Testimonials
What do all the top dogs have in common? They have built up one heck of a reputation. And you can too. Always ask for a testimonial for work well done. It doesn't matter if you don't need them at the moment or don't have a place to display them. If they liked your work, get it in writing. Just collect them for future reference. You never know when they might come in handy.

Always Ask for Referrals
If you do a good job on a project for a client, always ask if they know others who could use your services. I am shocked at how many freelancers don't do this. Don't assume that your clients don't talk to others about your work. Most people love to brag about a job well done. Be sure to make it clear to them that you appreciate referrals and would love to be of service to their friends and associates.

Build a Relationship with Clients
Let's say you bid on a project and win it. The client provides the details, and you do a fabulous job for them. They pay and you move on to the next client...UNLESS, they pay and you keep in touch with them. Every now and then send them an email, and see how that project you did for them is working out. Do they need anything else? If so, you would love to work with them again. Did you mention that you just got married? And did they have a good Thanksgiving? Build a relationship with your clients. Keep in touch and communicate. Let them see you as more than a just a freelancer. If they start seeing you as a friend, the chances of you receiving future work and more referrals skyrockets.

Create a Marketing Plan
If you want to build a freelancing empire; people have to know about you. So, spend time marketing your services. And I don't just mean having an elevator pitch ready when someone asks you what you do. You should have a full fledge marketing plan in place. What mediums (online and offline) will you use to market your services? How much time and money will you spend with each medium? How will you check to see if the marketing efforts are providing you with a good return on investment?

Think of it in TERMS of a BUSINESS
So many freelancers consider themselves artists-and rightly so. But more than that, they are also in the business of providing a service. If you think of freelancing as one job or project after another-you start thinking short term. It is easy to forget that your services are actually a part of your business! The life of each job ends when you get paid and a new job or project begins. In order to create a freelancing empire, you have to see the separate jobs as a series of projects that are all connected. You are not just a freelancer, but a business owner who freelances.

Seek out Mentors AND Mentees
You may think mentors are strictly for corporate cubicle workers who want to move up the ladder, and not for a freelancer like yourself. But you must seek out mentors if you want to create a freelancing empire. These mentors don't have to be freelancers themselves, but just seasoned business owners who you can learn from. On the same token, become a mentor yourself. There are plenty of young freelancers out there who could use someone to teach them the tricks of the trade. A big part of building a freelancing empire is giving back to the community. You can start here!

Have a Website/Portfolio and Constantly Update It
You do good work,-display it! I hesitate to tell you the number of "serious" freelancers I have met, who don't have a website or portfolio. And many of those who do have a portfolio never bother to update it. It is not exactly confidence inspiring in a client when the last piece in your portfolio is dated 2000, and is an ad for Y2K.

Get Good with Numbers
You may hate math (and I did for a long time), but there is no getting around this one. You have to get comfortable with numbers if you plan on building your business empire. At the least, know your costs, your revenues, and your profit margin. I really love Win Web's free accounting software that is especially designed for freelancers and small business owners. You can check it out at http://www.WinWeb.com.

Here is to you and the start of your freelancing empire!

About the author
Shama Hyder is an expert marketing consultant to independent professionals and professional service firms around the world. As the founder of After The Launch, Shama serves clients through her one-on-one consulting work, and through her company's several online and offline marketing services.

You can get her free report "101 Ways to Market Your Business" at AfterTheLaunch.com.

How To Be A Newsletter Writer For Hire

2008-01-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

by Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian

Some weeks back, a business owner approached me to ask if I'd consider writing for his newsletter. I'm an infopreneur, and turning words into wealth in any form sounds attractive to me. I decided to try it out and found it interesting enough to keep doing it.

How can you be a newsletter writer for hire too?
- It's easy if you consider two things:

First - business owners are too busy doing things and often don't have the time or energy to manage their newsletter.

Second - if you have knowledge or expertise in an area, and are familiar with newsletter writing, it becomes more attractive for business owners to outsource the work to you than trying to do it on their own.

So the best way to become a newsletter writer for hire is to develop expertise in an area and find business owners in the niche to write for.

Become Expert in a Niche

If you are already an expert or specialist in a popular niche, good for you. If you are not already a specialist, you can become one by studying the available resources - websites, forums, newsletters, books and courses - until you are reasonably familiar with the niche.

Wait until you can confidently present yourself as a newsletter writer with some competence and knowledge.

Develop Expertise as a Newsletter Writer

The best way to learn the intricacies of publishing a newsletter is to do it yourself. Pick a subject you have skills, knowledge or experience with. Then start becoming a newsletter writer for real.

Create complete issues. Publish them electronically, or even in print. Offer them to your own audience. Gain experience in the various steps of the process. Figure out how to overcome hurdles and solve problems.

Find Business Owners To Contact

Search for relevant businesses that may be able to use your newsletter writing skills to add value to their customers and prospects. If you have gained expert status in dog training, look for businesses that sell things to dog owners like dog food, dog collars, dog kennels and more.

Once you have a list of potential businesses that may find your skills as a newsletter writer of value, approach them to discuss a proposal where you manage their newsletter for them in return for a payment.

Make an Irresistible Offer

When you contact the business owner, remember to focus on the right 'angle' - what's in it for them. Don't harp about your knowledge, expertise and skills at writing. Instead, sell them on the value of having a newsletter.

Teach them how it opens up a line of communication with their prospects and customers. Show them how they can run product endorsements and special offers within the content of their newsletter and generate more sales. Explain how their newsletter will brand their business and attract buyers more frequently to their store.

Once they are convinced that publishing a newsletter is in the best interests of their business, you can start positioning yourself as the best person to be their newsletter writer and create a newsletter for their business.

Run projections about how much extra profit you will help generate for their business, and then show how the rates you charge will come out of added profits, making it a zero cost venture for their business, one with infinite upside potential to grow their business massively.

By becoming expert at a niche topic, learning the intricacies of being a newsletter writer, and identifying a target market of related businesses to write for, and then convincing them to let you write for their newsletter, you can take advantage of this overlooked infopreneur opportunity and profit in a big way - easily.

About the author
Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian is an Internet infopreneur who has helped hundreds of business owners build online information empires. For more powerful tips, ideas and secrets about achieving success and building massive wealth visit InfoProfitz.com.

Promotional Pens - Apt For Any Kind of Businesses

2008-01-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

by Tina Rinaudo

Use useful gifts for promoting and popularizing your brand so that it is visible to everyone and can promote and advertise the brand easily. The products thus chosen should relate to your brand so that the consumers are reminded of your brand when they use it.

It should relate to the target consumer and clients also or in other words, the products should be able to create a relation between the consumer and the company. The personalized pens are the perfect items and are apt for any types of business. The promotional pens are useful to everyone and are used in our daily life.

The promotional pens can be used as gifts and can be gifted to the consumers on various occasions and events. They have the brand name imprinted on them which advertises the company and remind everyone about it.

These printed pens are the most convenient items as they are easy to carry and are mobile in nature. They can be carried easily in your bags, pockets and purses.

They are useful to small children, office goers, house wives, old people and almost everyone. To note down something, to play crosswords, for calculation and various other things, a pen is needed.

The personalized pens can be distributed to the target consumers during exhibitions and trade shows. They can be handed over to people attending the event so that they are pleased with the free gifts and get to know about the brand through the name printed on them. It would attract them to the particular company and work like an advertisement.

The printed pens can be the ideal corporate gifts for your clients and business associates. You can make use of branded promotional pens that can be used as business gifts and gifted to the clients on special events like parties seminars and meetings.

It would create a positive impact on them and help the company to get better business deals in the future. The personalized pens can serve as motivational gifts for the employees of the company and can be gifted to them as rewards to boost their moral. It would help in motivating them to work harder and in turn increase the productivity of the company.

Log on to the internet to find a range of such customized pens and other items that can be personalized and used for promoting the brand and its products. The UK based website has good branded pens like Parker, Prodir, Balmian, Papermate and other such companies.

It has many other different types of writing material also. All these printed pens can be viewed on the website and are priced reasonably to suit everyone's budget.

About the author
Tina Rinaudo is one of the leading lights in the UK promotional pens industry. She is a key member of YesGifts, the UK's fastest growing online promotional pens resource specializing in promotional pens, mugs, mouse mats, umbrellas, conference items and much more. For more information please visit YesGifts.

Scratching A Niche

2008-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

by Claire E Cunningham

Even if you're selling something with broad appeal - like toilet paper, corn flakes, or cell phone service -- you've probably thought about vertical or niche marketing.

How do you go about it, though?

Here's how to be successful:

1) WHICH NICHE?

Choosing the right market for your service or product is where it starts. There are lots of places to go for insights.

Current customers, for instance. What groups can you identify?
Take a look at inquiries/leads, too.
Talking to sales reps can yield information.
Trade publication articles and market research reports can point out trends.

You may wind up with several market ideas. Pick one. It's easier to deal with one new market at a time. Plus, while you're working in this first niche you can establish a procedure to follow in the future.

Not sure how and where to start?
- Call in a marketing consultant for advice.

2) TALK THE TALK

To become a successful vertical marketer you may need to learn a new language - the jargon of the market you're going after. You'll gain credibility faster by using recognizable images and words.

TRUE STORY: An adhesives manufacturer had a product they wanted to introduce to the hospital market. Their first ads used generic photos and headlines and didn't generate much interest.

Then we brought in nurses who would actually use the new product. They showed us how to depict and talk about the product realistically. The result was an advertising and direct mail program that pulled in lots of well-qualified inquiries.

3) FOLLOW THE RULES

Once you've picked a niche and learned the language, it's about following the basic rules of marketing communications.

Identify a Central Message. Pinpoint the primary benefit your service or product brings to this market.
Use a Mix. Make use of all the tools you can -- publicity, Internet strategies, advertising, direct mail and more. Build your entire program around your Central Message.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. It takes lots of exposures for a message to sink in.
Measure and Learn. Look at results. (Inquiries generated are a common measure.) Find what works best.

Is vertical marketing right for your service or product?
Need to select markets and design programs?
- Call in a professional who can help identify markets, analyze potential, and implement communications programs that speak the language.

About the author
Claire Cunningham is the president of Clairvoyant Communications, Inc. She helps companies jump start their sales with increased visibility. For more of her expertise visit ClairVoyantCommunications.com.

You Too Can Make Money Online

2008-01-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

by Khush Want Singh

Have you ever wished that you could make money online from the comfort of your home? Are you confused about all the schemes that are promoted as valid ways to make money? Are you unsure if it is really possible to earn a substantial income online?

The truth is that you can certainly make money online. But it is equally true that it is not "easy" and just like with anything else worthwhile, it will require work. And this is so even if you already know what you are doing. If you are new to the internet, or to internet marketing, there will be some things to learn.

So where does one start? It is a good idea to become familiar with the various ways to make money online. You see them promoted all the time. Some of the ways that are heavily promoted include working at home with an online based job, selling on eBay, making a website, promoting affiliate programs or writing information products (ebooks). People can and do make money using these strategies.

The next step would be to determine what you would like to do. Do you like to sell? Do you like to write? Are you creative? What skills do you have right now that could be applied to an internet based career?

One way to begin is to consider becoming familiar with affiliate programs and the world of affiliate marketing. Affiliate programs pay people to sell products and services for a company. You simply promote the affiliate program, getting potential customers to your "link", with the goal that they make a purchase.

One way to promote affiliate programs is through creating a website and then promoting the website. If you learn how to do this you will learn many valuable skills that could be applied to many ways of making money.

Making a website to promote affiliate programs will require you to learn about affiliate programs, html and website templates, internet marketing and search engine optimization.

This may sound daunting, but if taken slowly, you can learn how to do this. The reward can be very great.

For more writings by Khush Want Singh visit FreeEarningTips.com.

Small Business Accounting Firm - The Key to Inevitable Success

2008-01-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

by Alvis Brazma

The primary reason behind running a business is to earn maximum profit and to have a good reputation in the industry and the market. Whenever a person establishes a new business, the main thing he keeps in his mind is to earn god revenue from the business and to be able to expand the business.

Moreover, definitely the business owner would want to give good competition to his competitors, so that his business gains good reputation in the market. However, the size of a business does not really matter when revenue generation comes into the scene.

Whenever the question of revenue generation is brought into focus, the main stress is laid on the accounting department of that firm. Well, a big and successful business does not really need to worry about getting good accounting professionals but it becomes a problem for a small business. In such cases, outsourcing services from a small business accounting firm is definitely one of the most reasonable decisions.

A small business accounting firm knows all about the various aspects of accounting and therefore, they accordingly hire people for their firm. These people working in these firms are CPAs and therefore, it is quite evident that they will know their job thoroughly.

Running a business has never been an easy task and the person who is running the business knows exactly the various things that he needs to know, so that he can accordingly take care of his business. Whether a business is small or large, putting in effort to run that business successfully is inevitable; therefore, one has to make sure that they get the best services and the best people to run their organization.

In cases of small firms, it becomes a little difficult in the initial stages and therefore, taking help from such a firm is the best thing that one can do to do away with the accounting blues.

Accounting involves a lot of tedious tasks and one has to be careful that these tasks are meticulously done because a small error in the accounting books can lead to major hassles for the firm. Therefore, in such cases, taking professional help can be the best thing for a firm and therefore, taking professional help from a small business accounting firm can prove to be the best move.

Running a business is not a child's play and requires loads of expertise on the part of the person who is handling all the responsibilities. In such circumstances, looking after all the aspects of the business can be tiring. Therefore, it is essential to hire potential people whose services can benefit the firm.

There are many such firms that operate in the city. Therefore, you should make sure that the services offered by these firms suit the needs of your business. Therefore, keeping this in mind, you should make sure that you hire the services that completely suit the needs of your firm and can help your firm grow in the right direction.

About the author
Alvis Brazma gives advice to business owners about how to manage their business efficiently without any hassles. For more accounting sources visit www.impacctusa.com.