SPEAKER SERVICES NEWSLETTER, October 2002 http://www.speakerservices.com *** Important Note for Subscribers *** If you receive our e-mails at a web-based address like Hotmail or Yahoo, PLEASE put our reply address (susan@speakerservices.com) in your "address book." If not, future issues could be accidentally filtered by Hotmail or Yahoo, in their efforts to block unsolicited commercial e-mail. As you know, our e-mail list is 100% opt in-only, but unfortunately some e-mail services will not deliver them unless our reply address is included in your address book. I apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your help. 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. A Note from the Publisher, Susan Levin 3. Promotions/Advertising 4. Tips and Advice 5. Articles: 1. Confessions Of Shameless Self Promoters & Confessions of Shameless Internet Promoters Debbie Allen 2. A Tried and True Radio Talk-Show System by William A. Gordon ***************************************** New Speakers for October '02 Entire List of Speakers http://speakerservices.com/categories/allspeak.html Gloria Albert: http://speakerservices.com/free/albert_g.html Discover new coping skills that conquer stress and enhance wellness Toni Galardi: http://speakerservices.com/free/galardi_t.html Psychologist who escaped three near-fatal experiences teaches the seven steps to mastering crisis so that nothing can keep you from fulfilling your dreams Eliane George: http://speakerservices.com/free/george_e.html Trauma preparedness training fosters strength and healing when life disasters strike Mirek Gorney: http://speakerservices.com/free/gorney_m.html Newcomer to the U.S. shows how to achieve impossible dreams with "The Power of Possibility" Terry Healy: http://speakerservices.com/fee/healy_t.html Facially disfigured cancer survivor offers lessons of a life-affirming journey Naz Keynejad: http://speakerservices.com/free/keynejad_n.html Marketing whiz's do's and don'ts maximize direct-mail results. Mary Lou Kenworthy: http://speakerservices.com/free/kenworthy_m.html Hypnotherapist harnesses the power of thoughts for life-changing results Jeff Korn: http://speakerservices.com/free/korn_j.html Never forget a name again with the unique "Good With Names" system Daniel Phoenix: http://speakerservices.com/free/phoenix_d.html Interactive "Treasure Map" process reveals path to achieving professional and life goals Marianne Simon: http://speakerservices.com/free/simon_m.html Landscape designer leads audiences to imagine and create their ideal gardens John Santangelo: http://speakerservices.com/free/santangelo_j.html NLP specialist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and success coach reveals secrets of successful communication. Sheri Ross: http://speakerservices.com/free/ross_s.html Coach who has "walked the talk" offers practical options for balancing life and work. Dina Weinberg: http://speakerservices.com/free/weinberg_d.html Dina uses travel as a metaphor in today's ever-changing business environment ************************************ A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER, SUSAN LEVIN Many of you who are on our e-mail list are not aware of the various services we offer for professional people to grow their businesses through speaking. You may think Speaker Services is just an E-mail Newsletter and a great resource and it is-however, we are so much more then all that! In 1992 I had the vision to create a service which would bring speakers and audiences together and created a print publication in S. California. In 1994 as the web was just getting known I grabbed a ring and jumped in and was one of the first 1500 people to have a website. So here we are eight years later totally on the web, attracting speakers and meeting planners from all over the country and Europe. I can say our directory is successful. I asked our speakers to share some of their success stories so that you could see how effective speaking has been for them. SPEAKER SERVICES SUCCESS STORIES Scott Hunter: http://speakerservices.com/fee/hunter_s.html Shortly after listing with Speaker Services, I was contacted by the California Dental Association to facilitate their Leadership Conference for a fee of $5,000. That exposure to the dental community has lead to paid speaking engagements for the Sacramento District Dental Society, The American Academy of Dental Group Practice, The Gholoian Consulting Group and MasterPlan Alliance. Those subsequent bookings have been worth in excess of $10,000. Kathryn Tull: http://speakerservices.com/free/tull_k.html After a few short and exciting months in the speaking business, Kathryn Tull is on her way to a sparkling international career! On September 27, 2002 Kathryn will be delivering the Keynote Speech at the First Annual Conference on Domestic Violence hosted by the Family Advocacy Program of the United States Army at its base in Stuttgart, Germany. Kathryn says," Thanks to the invaluable coaching and mentorship of Heidi Parr and Susan Levin, I am taking my own Next Bold Step and stepping into my own as an international speaker. Thank you and bless you, Speaker Services!" Greg Mooers: http://speakerservices.com/free/mooers_g.html A NEW BREED OF SPEAKER: Toastmasters hired me to train their district managers. They were tired of being "lectured" by speakers, they wanted something different. My presentation, "The Speaker Who Listens" drew meaningful information FROM THE AUDIENCE about the meeting planner's subject -- the testimonials were amazing! So for those of you are considering speaking as a way to grow your business I encourage you to take a look at our services See Get Listed in the Directory: http://speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html and let meeting planners find you. As you know we offer private coaching in speaker marketing, presentation and speaking sales skills. We've added a new class called Ready Set Close which debuts on October 16 in Los Angeles see http://speakerservices.com/services/la.html for full description of all classes. Our next Video Demo Showcase will be February 8, 2003. Sign up early to get your three camera shoot. http://speakerservices.com/videoprod.html In this Newsletter speaker and author Debbie Allen shares an article on Confessions Of Shameless Self Promoters & Confessions of Shameless Internet Promoters. October Is Self Promotion Month and this special event was created out of the discovery that most people do not feel comfortable actively promoting themselves - nearly 80% of our world's population doesn't GET IT. Read William Gordon's insightful article about A Tried and True Radio Talk-Show System. Enjoy and please call me if I can assist you in anyway. You will be surprised I actually answer the telephone myself. Susan Levin Speaker Services 310-822-4922 or toll free 877-773-2800 __________________________________ PROMOTIONS/ADVERTISING Introducing a simple, inexpensive way to find free and low-fee speaking opportunities! Simply Speaking is a new online service that simplifies the process with a database of organizations actively searching for speakers. The database may be searched by topic, date, or location. For more information, visit http://www.simplyspeaking.com/ssn or contact info@simplyspeaking.com. Phone: 866-372-8768. __________________________ Cartoon Resource provides affordable cartoons on all niche speaker/author topics. Stock and custom cartoons are available. Review thousands of outstanding cartoons on their searchable cartoon web site: www.cartoonresource.com. Clients include: Dr. Tina DuPree, Rita Risser, Larry Winget, Edna Junkins and scores of other successful speakers and authors. Contact: Andrew Grossman, Director: andrew@cartoonresource.com. 757-220- 3076/757-220-3079 fax __________________________ "People appreciate our newsletter," says John Alston, CSP, CPAE. "They say it's of value to them. It adds to our professionalism. It's more of an investment than an expense. It generates good will and bookings." Hire Jeff Rubin to get similar results from your newsletter. Great sample packet. Jeff Rubin, 877/588-1212; jeff@put-it-in-writing.com. http://www.put-it-in-writing.com ************************************************************* ******** TIPS and ADVICE TARGET MARKETING ePodunk: http://www.epodunk.com This is a great site. ePodunk provides in-depth information on more than 25,000 communities around the country, from Manhattan to Los Angeles, Pottstown to Podunk. (Podunk actually exists in upstate New York.) So, when you're looking to target markets and you want to learn about the audience you're reaching, this is a good place to get the lay of the land. Enter a city or community name for the search, and you'll receive the population count, cultural notes, information on colleges, parks, museums and other local attractions, area newspapers, census and economicconditions -- an invaluable snapshot of the area that (to our knowledge) cannot be matched anywhere else online. BTW, did you know that locals of Podunk are known as Podunkers? __________________________ National Women's Calendar of Events: http://www.nationalwomenscalendar.org A direct route to women leaders across North America. The first medium of its kind -- The National Women's Calendar is distributed nationally and internationally, as a free, rich eNewsletter, to women leaders in government, industry, trades and not-for-profit organizations. It is currently being sent to over 20,000 women leaders and over 7000 women^(1)s organizations representing millions of members, in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Africa, Australia and Europe. Not-for-profit orgs serving women and/or youth are invited to post their events for free; For Profit^(1)s, for a small fee. Speakers have found that many of these organizations are happy to include their names in the "description" portion of the listing. __________________________ WomensRadio: www.womensradio.com "Real Talk for Wise Women" WomensRadio is producing and syndicating digital audio programming with professional women broadcasters to the most lucrative niche in the world ? women! Currently this content is being syndicated on the Web. As WomensRadio progresses, it will also add digital radio, terrestrial radio, and audio channels of digital TV, private channels in the transportation field, and then wireless, to target and deliver this specialty market segment. WomensRadio also offers women writers and experts a place from which to speakS(even with audio. ************************************************************ Confessions Of Shameless Self Promoters & Confessions of Shameless Internet Promoters Debbie Allen : Debbie@DebbieAllen.com October Is Self Promotion Month This special event was created out of the discovery that most people do not feel comfortable actively promoting themselves - nearly 80% of our world's population doesn't GET IT. Why is that? ... Most people do not feel comfortable with the concept because they feel that they will appear boastful or pushy. Most people were raised with the belief that it is not polite to talk about yourself, therefore holding themselves back from numerous missed opportunities. In fact, what they fear the most is not lost opportunities, but the fear of REJECTION! Now let's think about this ... Not promoting yourself goes against the grain of all marketing and sales concepts! Doesn't it? If you don't promote, how willothers know what you have to offer? And how can you ever be truly successful? Let me ask you this ... Are you passionate about what you do? Are you the expert in your field? Do you help others to receive satisfaction with your products and/or services? Do you receive wonderful testimonials from your customers and shameless fans? Sure you do! Therefore, you must tell as many people as you can about how and why you can help them. Wouldn't you like to help more people and create more satisfied customers from your products and services? If you help them, they will help you in return by supporting your success. Are you getting it yet? ... If so, you must tell everyone about it, and from the rooftops shout it! Getting it RIGHT ... Tell people what you do in a HELPFUL manner - not a self-serving manner. Don't promote just to make the sale. If you truly care about helping your customers and want to help more prospective customers, you must learn how to be a successful self-promoter - NOT a pushy sales person. Everyone enjoys BUYING things, but no one enjoys being SOLD. 5 BIG tips to developing shamefully successful self-promotion: 1. Develop a strong belief system. Work on your personal growth as much, if not more than, your professional growth. This will help you to create better customer service, increase your self-esteem and personal success. 2. Seek out and act upon opportunities everyday. Sometimes the most important strategies appear to be so simple we tend to ignore them. Keep your eyes open and your laser beam focus tuned in. 3. Build a strongly connected group of strategic alliances. Co-market and connect with other businesses that have the same core customer base. Promote others like crazy - even promote your competition. 4. Ask for referrals and testimonials. Refer others too - become a referral source. Use testimonials from your shameless fans in all your marketing materials. 5. Take your expertise to a higher level. Discover the EXPERT within yourself by becoming a life-long learner. Absorb as much information as you possibly can about your chosen career. Develop an award-winning portfolio that is built around your expertise. Promote your expertise to the media in print, radio and TV. Since discovering the science of self-promotion, I have helped people from around the globe learn the art of successful self-promotion. By sharing these concepts, it has opened the eyes and ears of thousands that now accept a new belief system. A belief system that has turned around many businesses and helped to build many careers. This was and still is, the most incredible rewarding experience of writing my book Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters. If you have not yet read the book, and do not know what thousands of others have learned, you may begin by downloading a free chapter of the book at www.ConfessionsofShameless..com ________________________________ A Tried and True Radio Talk-Show System by William A. Gordon You do not have to hire a publicist or advertise through a booking service to promote your books on talk radio. My friend Stephen Schochet and I have been scheduling our own radio appearances for several years. Working independently, we have, between us, logged over 600 interviews, and we continue to sell our books, CDs, and audio tapes year in and year out. Our system may not be right for everyone. After all, we are both pretty good amateur publicists. We know how to dangle bait and reel the stations in, and our schedules are fairly flexible. But if you feel comfortable promoting your products, will work harder for yourself than anyone else will, and are well-organized and disciplined, you may want to take advantage of our experience. Opening Moves For starters, we work with a comprehensive database of radio shows--one that I research and constantly updateÜand contact the hosts or the producers directly ourselves. Sometimes we call them. Othertimes we fax, and sometimes we e-mail them. There is no one magical right or wrong initial approach. Each show operates a little differently, and we often like to mix up the routine. Regardless of how we make the initial contact, we always follow up.. We never assume that the show is not interested if we do not get an immediate response. Hosts, after all, are extremely busy people and on any given day they are inundated with pitches from available guests from all over the country. In fact, we often have to follow up several times. Steve once made as many as 15 calls to one show before he finally got booked. He was told (and he has often heard this) that the reason the producer finally called him was precisely because he was so persistent. Of course, you do not want to become a pest. Again, there are no hard and fast rules about how many times you may have to follow up, but my feeling is if you do not get a response after three or four attempts, just go on to the next show. Be sure to keep good records, though, of when you contacted a particular show and whom you talked to. Chances are that six months or a year from now the host and/or producer will be gone, and you can always try the next host and/or producer. Materials for a Broader List When we fax or e-mail, we always provide the hosts with a "TV Guide"-like capsule description of our books, a list of questions they can ask us, a brief biographical sketch, and information on where the book is available. I do not want to imply that many talk show hosts are lazy, but you would be surprised how many times the hosts repeat the information verbatim. Not every host will ask the same questions you provide them, in the exact same order, but many of them will. We also do not limit ourselves to the top 100 talk shows. Many news shows and drive-time morning shows on oldies, contemporary hits, and even country stations need to fill air space and are looking for interesting guests. These shows are not listed in the more popular media directories, but we have able to identify them simply by calling the station and talking to the programming director. Operating as an Expert We also get more interviews by positioning ourselves as experts in our fields (in our case, Hollywood) and by offering commentary and anecdotes about topics in the news. For example, even though I promote The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book outside of California, I rarely pitch myself as an expert on L.A. sightseeing. Instead, I offer to talk about breaking news stories like Robert Blake^(1)s arrest or the falsification of George Harrison^(1)s death certificate, and tie them in with other notorious Hollywood scandals and murders that my book covers. Similarly, after September 11, when talk radio seemed to be "all terrorism, all the time," Steve adapted and continued to get interviews by offering himself as an expert on Hollywood^(1)s response to wars and national crises. He also got Valentine^(1)s Day bookings by offering to talk about Hollywood romances, and bookings in March by talking about the stories and legends behind the Academy Awards. After a celebrity dies, he gets even more interviews by offering to tell anecdotes about that celebrity. Once we^(1)ve done an interview, we always send a thank you note to the host or producer. We also call the station^(1)s receptionist to provide information about the book because listeners who don^(1)t remember or didn^(1)t catch your name or your book^(1)s title may call the station for additional information. The receptionist is the first and very often the only person the listener will ever reach; so be sure s/he has not only your name and the title but also your URL and ordering information. William A. Gordon is the author of The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book (http://www.nrbooks.com/) and the editor of "Gordon^(1)s Radio List," a list of 1,000 locally produced and nationally syndicated radio shows that interview guests. He can be reached at info@nrbooks.com or (949) 855-0640. *********************************************** 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://www.speakerservices.com. Get Listed in the Directory: http://www.speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html Workshops: http://www.speakerservices.com/services/la.html Video Production Services: http://www.speakerservices.com/videoprod.html Speaker Audio Tapes/Books http://www.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://www.speakerservices.com