SPEAKER SERVICES NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2001 http://speakerservices.com To unsubscribe: susan@speakerservices.com Remove in subject line Get Listed in the Directory: http://speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html Content: 1. New & Renewing Speakers 2. Promotions/Advertising 3. A Note from the Publisher 4. Tips and Advice 5. Article: How to use transcriptions to enhance your speaking business - Become an instant author by Adele Levitan _______________________________ New & Renewing Speakers for Free & Fee Entire List of Speakers http://speakerservices.com/categories/allspeak.html 1. Theresa Ashby: Consultant cranks up the volume on "organizational hum" 2. Jackie Black: Stalking victim offers other crime victims, friends and loved ones new information and powerful resources to fight back. 3. Andrea Brandt: Therapist focuses on healing properties of anger and conflict resolution 4. Patricia Bramhall: IT pro's seminars help employers maximize human capital 5. Judith Marty: Attorney, mediator and communications expert offers skills for lifelong problem-solving 6. Jeff Rubin: Journalist-entrepreneur creates success by combining marketing and basic human values 7. Virginia Swanson: Independence! Isn't it time for yours? 8. Sid Walker: Sales Performance coach shares secrets for getting in the mood to prospect for new business ____________________________________ A Note From the Publisher, Susan Levin In the November issue of our e-mail newsletter I have compiled resources for you relating to speaking, databases, publishing, resource books and inexpensive suggestions for marketing.... Adele Levitan offers us great suggestions in her article on How to use transcriptions to enhance your speaking business -Become an instant author . This translates in dollars for you! Do you need a Video Demo? Speaker Services is having a Video Demo Showcase February 2 in Los Angeles. Please call or e-mail me for further details. Also request a sample video for your review. Our work is professional and our speakers are getting booked. If you'd like to be in the audience let me know and I will send you the information. Learn the tips of the trade from me at my next seminar Market Yourself as a Speaker, on November 27. Here you will get an overview of the lecture circuit. Not in Los Angeles-let's do it on the phone. Have a happy holiday. Regards, Susan Levin 310-822-4922 or 877-773-2800 ___________________________________________ PROMOTIONS/ADVERTISING Want to stay in touch with clients and prospects more regularly? Send a professionally written and designed newsletter like John Alston, CSP, CPAE, Kevin Davis and Lynne Tully. Theirs bring them increased visibility and more business. My services include writing, editing, typesetting, design, printing and mailing. Call/e-mail for great samples. Jeff Rubin 877/588-1212; jeff@put-it-in-writing.com. http://www.put-it-in-writing.com ___________________ You talk. I'll type. Specializing in Transcription for Speakers. Contact Adele (Ask for NSA references.) "Adele is fast, efficient, reliable and affordable. Who could ask for more!" Dan Janal, author of "Dan Janal's Guide to Marketing on the Internet." Toll-free: 877-Type-4-You (877/897-3496). http://www.type4you.com ___________________ Improve your historical, telecommunications, multi-media, and/or platform presentations. Diane Howard, Ph.D., is a performance studies/communication artist, professor, and presenter and an expert in distance communication and historical presentations. Available for onsite or distance coaching/consulting. Be enhanced by communication/media technology, not diminished by it. Resumes/Vitae/Videostreaming: http://www.dianehoward.com, dhoward@vvm.com, (254) 939-6082. ___________________ Laughter=Longevity. In work and in life. FunnyWorks creates "productive humor" for businesses and individuals. FunnyWorks founder Claire Berger has 20 years of motivational speaking, stand-up comedy and improvisational experience and she's waiting to hear from you! FunnyWorks is YOUR department of humor resources for comedy customized for YOUR presentations. www.FunnyWorks.com FunnyWorks toll-free number is 877-50FUNNY. E-mail: FUNNY1234@aol.com ___________________ SPECIAL REPORTS #1 Speaker Bureau List compiled by Susan Levin, Speaker Services. Includes phone numbers, e-mail address, website. Over 160 bureaus including Europe, Canada, Asia and Cruise Ship Contacts. $39 via e mail #2 Trade and Professional Associations with Conferences and Meetings Vol 1 & 2 Over 450 contacts, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and websites $59 each, via e mail each, $100 for both. Associations from education, health, nursing, libraries, human resources, business and more plus a list of industry magazines To order e-mail to susan@speakerservices.com or call 310-822-4922. New #3. Storytelling Report 57 pages, articles, worksheet, 53 copyright free stories that illustrate Relationships, Choice, Creativity, Making a Difference, Celebration compiled by Jack Barnard and Susan Levin, $39 sent as a PDF file To order special reports online: http://speakerservices.com/products/index.html _________________________________________________________ TIPS AND ADVICE More effective marketing -- Jeff Rubin (jeff@put-it-in-writing.com) What's the one step speakers can take to make their marketing more effective? Concentrate on the benefits an organization receives from having you speak, rather than the features of your talk. There's an old axiom in golf -- "drive for show, putt for dough." Features are for show -- benefits are for dough _________________ For speakers and consultants: Go to the following website and download a FREE 24-page workbook on how to create your own marketing plan. This nifty tool can help you attract more clients. http://www.actionplan.com/1snn.html _________________ Compilation of Cheap Marketing Ideas >From Speakernetnews: (http: speakernetnews.com/subscribe.html) Tom Letourneau (TomSpeaks@aol.com) Constant, relentless networking with class and style. -- Dana May Casperson (danamay@authoritea.com) _________________ Free speeches to target audiences. Teaching adult classes through University Extension. -- Rita Risser (Rita@RitaRisser.com) _________________ Free talks with an evaluation form designed to ask for referrals. -- Elaine Dumler (FraklySpkg@aol.com) _________________ Develop a database and do e-mail marketing. Create your database by having drawings at your programs. Ask for business cards and give away free subscriptions. -- Philippa Gamse (pgamse@CyberSpeaker.com) _________________ Write articles and place them in article archives and newsletters around the net. -- Bonnie Jo Davis (bonniejodavis@earthlink.net) _________________ I wrote an article for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter about marketing to libraries. -- Nancy Miller (Nancy@RoundsMiller.com) _________________ Write articles for magazines and plug one of your books or tapes in the article. Send your book or tapes to the decision-maker. It gets through better than any media kit. -- Michael Lee (seminars@netvista.net) _________________ I print my handout and an evaluation/referral form on the same sheet. Participants rip off the evaluation/referral (about 1/3 of the page) before they turn it in. I also publish an electronic newsletter. -- Dave Crowley (dcrowley@ownyourcorner.com) _________________ I use a 1/3 page evaluation form with space for the participants name and contact information. Send copies of your book. They are as cheap as a good brochure if bought in quantity. -- Joel Blackwell (GrassRootsGuy@joelblackwell.com) _________________ Use e-mail to send valued information to others and daily send out one thank-you note or note of encouragement to someone.-- Alan Allard (selfleadership@msn.com) _________________ Buy a color laser printer and your color copies will be only 20 cents each. Do professionally printed stuff only when you know when you're going to need it.-- Brad Montgomery (brad@bradmontgomery.com) _________________ * Create and grant an annual award * Build relationships with the media before you need them. * Recruit your suppliers as marketing agents. They work for free. * Write "tip sheets" for your clients. * Do something crazy and newsworthy once a year. -- George Torok (George@Totok.com) _________________ * Help others promote themselves by interviewing them. * Make you web page a source of free items like screen savers and e-zines. * Send out your products for review. * Set up hot-links with other speakers. -- Valerie Hardin (vhardin@hotmail.com) _________________ Create a one-page web resources sheet listing the best 10 web sites. Include a two or three line synopsis of why you think they're good. Of course, include your site in the list. -- Bill Henthorn (humorhelper@rocketmail.com) _________________ Resources: * 4-color business cards: www.diacolor.com * 4-color postcards: Mitchell Graphics, Modern Postcard (800) 959-8365 and Mr. Postcard (925) 820-5379. * 4-color flyers, Tu-Vets (800) 894-8977. * 4-color flyers, 4-color labels, memo pads: Color For Real Estate -- Rebecca Morgan (Rebecca@RebeccaMorgan.com) ________________________ >From PUBLISHING POYNTERS DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com; http://ParaPub.com; _________________ WANT TO RESEARCH A TRADEMARK? See http://www.uspto.gov/web/menu/tm.html _________________ OPRAH'S MAILING ADDRESS. See http://www.oprah.com/tows/program/tows_prog_faq2.html _________________ BOOKS, INFORMATION AND NEWS RELEASES WANTED on all aspects of human endeavor: business, scitech, politics, spirituality, health, etc. for a coast-to-coast radio talk show called The Shafer Idea Xchange. Contact, Dan Shafer, dan@GUI.COM _________________ FOR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION, see http://www.copyrightwebsite.com/ _________________ 4,500 NEWSPAPERS„WORLDWIDE. US publications are listed by state, and international publications are listed by country. See Cyber Paperboy (http://www.cyberpaperboy.com/PICKMN.htm). _________________ For newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations, see http://ajr.newslink.org/news.html _________________ Triple, even Quadruple Online Book Sales in Just One Month Judy Cullins: Cullinsbks@aol.com If you want to double, even quadruple your Web book sales like I did in just one month, you'll want to investigate opt-in ezines. Better than search engine placement, banner ads, ezines and news groups, the informational article is the number one way to market your books and other Online products. Content is King on the Internet. People want your free information. That is why they go Online. When they see your useful, unique information, they will be more inclined to buy your books and other Online products. Here's how you can do it too: First, you subscribe to the particular ezine, for instance try article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com. In turn, they notify you to confirm the subscription with directions on how to submit. When you get the correct email to post, you simply send out your article with your signature box including a link back to where you sell your books. Imagine how many more sales you'll create next month! ============= Judy Cullins, M.A., Publisher, Author, Book Coach Write Your Ebook or Other Short Book - Fast! Quadruple your Book Sales this Month with Free Short Articles http://www.bookcoaching.com/products.shtml 18 clients published since 1999! The Book Coach Says - Free monthly eZine Just reply with 'subscribe' in subject line ___________________ >From Larry Chase's Web Digest For Marketers Directories and Databases Subscribe: http://wdfm.com TRADE WAND: http://www.wand.com/ "The World's Largest Directory of Products and Services," WAND is an advanced trade directory with listings of over 60,000 products and services. Available in 16 languages, this service connects buyers and sellers from nearly 1 million companies and 165 countries. There are several ways to search WAND. If you put in a search by product category, say for "scanner", 21 categories of scanners are returned; next you get companies carrying that product and you can drill down from there. You can also search by company name, general product or service categories, or by 6-diget HS code, which they'll help you find. There's also a database of tradeshow listings, global news, country information, and check out the information about listing yourself as a buyer or seller. _________________ COMMERCIAL Websters Online: http://webstersonline.com This site is a resource for over 1,000,000 industrial and commercial products, services and brand names. Businesses are listed with company profile, including address, toll-free numbers, fax number, SIC Codes, NAICS Codes, products, brand names and web URL. The site is searchable by SIC codes (Federal Standard Industrial Classification Codes), NAICS Codes (North American Industrial Classification system), product or service, or brand name. To narrow the search, enter city, state/province, and country. You can access a list of SIC and NAIC codes on the site. The home page conveniently lists industry categories by SIC code, from manufacturing to transportation. Click on acategory to drill down. _________________ SALES & MARKETING Harris Info: http://www.harrisinfo.com Harris' database is a reference tool for sales and marketing professionals. It contains information on more than 600,000 U.S. businesses. The database covers the entire manufacturing sector, including branch and headquarters locations. The three major groups covered in the database are manufacturing, services and all-business, a combination of manufacturing and services. Segment coverage includes high tech and electronics manufacturers. Company profiles list mailing address, telemarketing information and full profiles with 35 information fields. There are several ways to purchase this information. The traditional print directory has four sections that allow you to find prospects in specific geographic areas or industries. Prices vary by state - for Washington, it's $125. There are print and cd-rom versions of both the Reference Directories and the Selectory Databases,that give you search, sort, print and export options. See the web site for additional custom options. _________________ B2B American Express B2B Directory: http://amexb2b.disk11.com/ If you're an American Express cardholder, you may want to bookmark this site. Here's where's you'll find a listing of B2B Directory information for over 500,000 businesses and services in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. You can search by company name, industry category, SIC code, by location and a level of data capture. Very refined and targeted searches can be conducted. See site FAQ for details and instructions. _________________ Guide to Manufacturers: http://mniguide.com/index.asp A free guide to 440,000 US manufacturers from Manufacturers' News, the nation's oldest and largest compiler and publisher of state manufacturers directories and databases. This is the online version, where you can search for manufactures by product or service and individual states, or the entire U.S. First you enter a general category, like "computer", click and get the return detailed list of computer forms, computer consultants, etc. From there the results bring you specific company links. Companies pay to be on the featured list. _________________ RESEARCH Infospace: http://www.infospace.com Here's a portal that started out as a Yellow Pages channel and has added all kinds of information. There are public information guides: yellow pages, white pages, city guides, maps and directions, as well as the typical classified listings of autos, personals, auctions, etc. Link to entertainment, health, shopping, game, online gaming, business service and community board channels. Infospace is now a major wireless services provider. The company sells its content and applications as private label products. If you have Verizon wireless, you'll be getting Verizon destination pages, a streaming ticker featuring personalized headline news, stock quotes and sports scores; an entertainment channel, including movie videos, trailers and clips and music downloads; a platform for single and multi-player games; and integrated account management tools, compliments of Infospace. _________________ INSURANCE Risk Management Library: http://www.rmlibrary.com Here's the Risk Management Internet Services Resource Library, an insurance resource site with 16,000 risk management and insurance resources. The Library covers topics such as insurance, laws and regulations, environmental engineering, and many other subjects. The newest category is Disasters, with topics on agriculture, alerts, animals, biochem, bomb threats, dam safety, counter-terrorism, etc. When you click on a category, a list is returned of the latest bulletins and alerts. In order to drill down further, you need to subscribe. Annual subscription is $300; a one month subscription is $35. Educational discount rate is $180 and $24. _____________________________________________ HOW TO USE TRANSCRIPTIONS TO ENHANCE YOUR SPEAKING BUSINESS - BECOME AN INSTANT AUTHOR by Adele Levitan Do you have an up-to-date copy of your presentation? Successful speakers speak...and speak...and ad-lib...and customize... and come up with new material.. and add it in... and before you know it your basic presentation sounds nothing like the original presentation you wrote up so many years ago. "One of these days..." you keep reminding yourself, you will sit down and type up your speech. Very few speakers take the time to do so. Getting it done now is as simple as mailing an audio or video tape of your most recent presentation to a transcriber. Provide your client with a value added product A transcript of the customized speech you plan to give to your client is a great value added service. Tape the speech ahead of time during a practice and transcribe it. Present the client with a single copy ahead of time and give them permission to make a certain number of copies for distribution. If the speech is one that you have given often and have already had transcribed, the transcription cost will be minimal. If you have a speech, you have a book. Larry Winget, CSP says it so often..."If you have a speech, you have a book." A one hour speech is just about all you need to have a book. Have it transcribed, and then spend a few minutes to a few hours at the computer breaking your speech into chapters. Print it, make a table of contents, a nice cover and volia! You have a book. You can bind it quick and easy or go all the way and have it published. THEN, "If you have a book, you have a tape." Make an audio product by reading the completed book. This will give you a tape product to sell in the back of the room. Writing a book? Save time. Just tape it and transcribe it More than one NSA speaker has said it..."The most difficult part of writing a book is pressing your [seat] into a chair and starting. Being busy with speaking and marketing makes this difficult for all of us. One way to make it easier is to tape it on a good quality cassette tape recorder, such as a Walkman (not a microcassette) and have the cassettes transcribed. As the transcriptions come back by mail or email you can watch as your book gets built. If you want a ten chapter book, you could finish it in ten trips to the airport talking into your Walkman. Does your client want a text copy of that great keynote you just made? So often after a great keynote you get requests for "a copy of your speech". So often you may find that you ad-libbed, customized or answered key questions that aren't in your basic back of the room sales line. If you taped the speech, you can transcribe it, print it and sell it. The client can purchase rights to sell it to those who didn't attend, or use portions (with your permission) for the basis of their action plan following your presentation. Write new speeches quickly and easily. Customize old stand-bys quickly It's critical to update your speeches, customize for clients, and write new speeches as your business improves. Transcripts makes this a breeze. When you have your speech on paper, you can quickly customize for your new client, cross out sections that are dated, and add new material. If you work from printed text during your speeches or keynotes, print the new speech in large type, double spaced, and you are ready to go. Market with excerpts "Have you ever talked about 'change' as it relates to the healthcare industry" asks the client? A quick search of your recent transcripts will allow you to say, "Yes, as a matter of fact I'll email/fax you a portion of a speech I gave to ABC Industries last year when I keynoted to their national convention." Use a transcript when you don't want to send a tape or video You still have to mail a tape or video to an interested client, but you can email or fax a transcript. If you are a content-rich speaker, this will be especially effective and a great cost savings over a video or audio. Get to the press The easier you make it for editors and reporters to obtain your material, the more likely they will be to give you press coverage. Providing industry and local reporters with copies of your presentation will help get you and your client publicity. Fill your web Entire presentations or portions of your transcript can easily be placed on your website since you have the text in electronic form. Build your database of "Frequently Asked Questions" If you have a question/answer period during your workshop, keynote, or seminar, you have a wealth of information on what clients want and need. Carefully record these sessions, by either making sure the speaker has a microphone, or fully repeating the question. Once you have done this, and have gotten them transcribed, you will have plenty of material to build new topics and good information to build "Frequently Asked Questions" Answer Sheets for handouts or websites. Get instant referral letters Your speaking business is built on referrals. However, it is sometimes difficult to get the client to write the letter and get it into the mail for you. It's not always their top priority after you have finished their keynote and wow'ed their audience. Asking a happy client to send you a referral letter is fine, but even easier is to recommend that the client, "just put it on tape now while the presentation is fresh in your mind". Offer to have it transcribed so the client can check it before you use it. Also, you can walk around and get other instant referrals at the same time. Double your market instantly -Go international The speaking business is becoming more international. If you want to speak internationally and don't have the language skill for the countries you are targeting, get your speech transcribed and get it translated. For many international clients who speak English as well as their primary language this could get you the booking. Providing the transcript will allow you to give the speech in English, but also provide a translation in their primary language. Also, the transcript of the speech can be given to the simultaneous translator if you are using one. Script your video Are you getting ready to make a video? A transcript of your presentation is an excellent tool to provide to your video team. This will let them easily plan your video product. Make a work book to go with your video If you have a video and want a workbook to go with it, have the video transcribed and use the text to build your work book. Focus Your Focus Group Do you tape focus groups? A transcript of your focus groups is one of the best ways to review and evaluate your results. By focusing on the session and reviewing the results in text form after, you easily draw your conclusions and action plans. Adele Levitan, specializes in transcriptions for speakers Toll Free: 877/TYPE-4-YOU (877-897-3496), MomAndAsh@aol.com *********************************************** PROMOTIONS/ADVERTISING RATES: Get your message out to speakers 4,000 plus and meeting planners in this fast growing newsletter. $50 a month, 25-50 words of text and a link to your website, or 6 months for $275 paid in advance. Terms: Deadline is one week before the end of each month Payment must be received in advance To get started: 1- Email your advertising copy to susan@speakerservices.com 2- Provide payment by credit card-specify length of time ************************ Previous issues are available at http://www.speakerservices.com/nl/index.html To contribute information to this newsletter send via e-mail to: susan@speakerservices.com. Letters and comments are happily accepted. To remove yourself from this newsletter send an e-mail message to susan@speakerservices.com with remove in subject. ************************ Book Speakers: http://speakerservices.com. Get Listed in the Directory: http://speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html Workshops: http://speakerservices.com/services/la.html Video Production Services: http://speakerservices.com/videoprod.html Speaker Audio Tapes/Books http://speakerservices.com/products/index.html ************************ Speaker Services Susan Levin 4023 Meier Street LA, CA 90066 310-822-4922 FAX: 310-822-9025 Toll free- 877-773-2800 e-mail: susan@speakerservices.com website: http://speakerservices.com