Seminars are a great way of promoting professional services. They have been part of my promotional mix for as long as I can remember. People buy from people and they tend to buy from people they have actually met.
Here are some practical tips and ideas on how to plan successful business seminars:
* Brainstorm for suitable topics and get some feedback from your clients re this.
* Decide on some mid week dates which would suit you, two to three months from now.
* Find a suitable venue with flexible cancellation terms (i.e. no financial penalty if you cancel a week in advance), and agree the date / timings with them in writing.
* Create a web page for your event. If you have a CMS (Content Management System) such as WordPress, you can do this within the twinkling of an eye.
* Write a compelling email invitation and send this to your list. (Yet another reason to have an email newsletter subscription process!)
* Consider sending out a press release.
* Start phoning people and keep notes of responses.
* Ask your Alliance Marketing Partners to help you to promote your event
* Produce a DL sized postcard with something useful, interesting and helpful printed on the back (ask for one of mine, next time you see me); so that you can place the postcards on the semninar seats.
* Produce a Mind Map of your presentation. On the day, don’t use slides – show the Mind Map.
* Start rehearsing your presentation (or find someone else to deliver the presentation).
* If your presentation skills could use a brush up, talk to Walter Blackburn at Presenting Success Limited. Walter is friendly and supportive. He can show you how to overcome nerves and deliver talks with confidence and style.
* Create a special offer for the attendees. What can you give them that they will value, which doesn’t cost you any money?
* If the bookings are thin on the ground – tell those who have booked that they are welcome to bring a colleague / friend along with them (and tell them the type of person who will benefit from your presention).
* Always follow up the attendees by email and telephone, within a week of the event (and preferably sooner).
By the way, you can present the event in different ways, i.e. a business seminar, a masterclass or a networking event including a brief presentation.
If you have any questions on how to plan successful business seminars – just ask. I must dash now, as I am presenting a seminar this afternoon!
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Having run very successful business seminars over the last 30 years I believe that Nigel is absolutely right in his post. But it’s not always easy on your own – sometimes it takes something or someone to get you going. My advice would be to start by presenting your ideas to a small group of friends. Remember that every great presentation that you have experienced (or play or comedy show) will have been delivered many times before it reached the high quality that you have experienced. So don’t be put off if your first attempt is less than brilliant (which it probably will be!)If you need help with getting it together then contact me at walter.blackburn@presentingsuccess.co.uk and I’ll be happy to help.