Happy 2008,

How was your holiday season? I spent much of my time catching up with friends and seeing movies, updating my files, visioning and mapping out my marketing strategies for 2008. In 2007 I successfully launched the Blog www.speakerscommunity.com/blog and the Speakers’ Community www.speakerscommunity.com (you can still join and get 30 days complimentary). I added 5,700 new meeting planners to my monthly e-mail out reach to let them know about the speakers/authors in our directory www.speakerservices.com .

In 2008, you can look forward to seeing more collaboration with my colleagues in the form of teleclasses and seminars. I am also learning how to record video on my mac laptop so you can actually see me on your desktop talking right to you. Soon I will be offering you a webinar on how to do webinairs with the folks at webmeetlive.com. It’s been 16 years since I founded Speaker Services and I am still committed to serving your speaker, author marketing needs.

Do you have your action plan in place? On the last Inner Marketing Circle teleclass for the Speakers’ Community www.speakerscommunity.com one of the participants said, “I am working on my 2008 marketing plan and I am not sure what to do first. Should I be branding myself, doing a blog or creating an e-zine? The answer was first the branding then the e-zine which will drive traffic to the blog. I wrote an article for you today on How to Map out a Marketing Plan for your Speaking Business which includes what meeting planners are looking for and tips on creating videos.

Speaking of videos do you want to have a video presence on your website? The BizSpeak and Video Workshop is coming up February 2 & 3 in LA. Take a look at the video samples and info at http://www.speakerservices.com/bizspeak.html . Once you have a video you can distribute it other sites ie: google, youtube and more and that is a great marketing tool for getting more business even if you are not a speaker.

Check out a short video on what others are saying about our services. Click here to view http://www.audioacrobat.com/playv/WHL0WfCx

I would be delighted to talk with you to discuss your marketing/speaker needs to assist you in designing a plan that works for you. Feel free to call me and I almost always answer the phone.

Susan Levin
Speaker Services & Speakers' Community
310-822-4922 PST
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Meet our New & Renewing Speakers/Authors, January '08

See all speakers/authors:
www.speakerservices.com

Ben Berkley, Author,  S. Caifornia
Attorney takes stress out of estate planning, probate and related issues and shows how you and your loved ones can prepare for the future with grace and ease.
Estate Planning, Organizing, Wills/Living Trusts
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/301
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Joy Chudacoff,  S. California
Founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions shows how to re-ignite passion and purpose, rev up your energy, create effective business and marketing strategies, and design the life you choose to live.
Business Solutions, Motivational, Personal Development, Work/Life Balance
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/303
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Teri Fisher,  S. California, Nationwide
Business leader reveals secrets of Succession Planning, growing internal leadership and the importance of spending less time on tactics, more on vision and employee development.
Management, Motivational, Succession Planning
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/34
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Loree Taylor Jordan, Author, Video, N California, Nationwide
Holistic health educator known as the "Diva of Health" blends humor and healing in hilarious one-woman show that uses outrageous characters to spotlight harmful health habits and offer life-saving solutions.
Health, Humor, Inspirational
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/302
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Marie Elena Rigo,  S. California,  Author with Video
Feng Shui expert, interior designer and life coach reveals how to transform your office and home to support success, productivity and peace of mind.
Business Spirituality, Clearing Clutter, Feng Shui, Interior Design
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/304
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Carol Woodliff, Audio, Greater Los Angeles
Certified Hypnotherapist and coach with 20 years management experience helps you tap into your power to live well.
Alternative Healing, Stress Management, Success, Work/Life Balance, Creativity
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/93

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Get listed in Speaker Services www.speakerservices.com - E-mail (contact us link at top of page) and request the speakers' guidelines.

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TIPS & ADVICE

Teleclass - Monday, January 14, 2008, 10am PST and 1pm EST

TOPIC: Grow Your Speaking/Training Business by Becoming the King of Content with Susan Levin and special guest TJ Walker

Speaking/Training expert TJ Walker will teach you how to create text, audio and video content to build your business. Specifically, you will learn how to use and re-use content in your sales/marketing process, your training, and your post-training.

You will learn the following:

• The easiest way to start a newsletter
• The #1 blunder people make with their newsletters
• How/When to add audio content
• How/when to add video content
• How to use multi-media content to justify higher fees
• How to use content to get more repeat business

This call is Complimentary for all Speaker Community Members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with Susan's special complimentary 30 days Speakers' Community Membership trial.  Learn more and sign up at www.speakerscommunity.com
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Join me on Saturday, February 9, at the Skirball in Los Angeles for the Amazing Woman's Day 2008 is a celebration of the power of feminine leadership?  Over 300 women are expected to attend.  

The day long program will empower through an active discovery and exchange designed to identify each woman's unique calling of greatness while expanding a web of personal relationships and setting free new possibilities for a brighter future.

Michele Bohbot  will receive The RAW SPIRIT AWARD which was  created to honor the most compelling voices of feminine leadership.

I will be hosting a table and also will be An Empowered Leader.  When you sign up please let me know so we can sit together and also on the sign up form it does ask who referred you.

Read more and to sign up
http://www.amazingwomansday2008.com

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TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FOR FREELANCE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
from Dan Poynter www.parapublishing.com

If you have WRITING EXPERIENCE (with published works to back it up) and are confident that you have the experience, resume, and a how-to-do-it
mindset and writing style, we need you.

Specifically, we have dozens of freelance writing assignments for online learning materials.  (You don't need to know a thing about online content
authoring -- we'll teach you all you need to know -- but you MUST KNOW YOUR SUBJECT).

Below are a few SAMPLE areas where we need materials; however, because we're looking for a broad array of content for teacher professional
development topics, please do not restrict yourself to these topic areas.  If it's something that's covered in teacher training or continuing
education, we're likely to be very interested:

Effective classroom management
Preventing school violence
Teaching gifted students
Preventing bullying in schools
Dealing with bloodborn pathogens in schools
Special needs education

We are interested in these and other school and classroom management issues.  Educators with Masters or PhDs who have done or participated in
studies in these areas are especially encouraged to apply.

Please send your resume with a cover letter SPECIFICALLY stating what content areas you are capable of writing.  Send to mwerner@infosourcelearning.com.
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Media Outlets
John Kremer- www.bookmarket.com

Psychology Today

This bimonthly consumer psychology magazine relies on  professional psychologists and authors to write articles for them. They also do book reviews related to psychology and lifestyles. Finally, they also feature books as resources for articles they write in house.

Send review copies and info to the editors at Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 115 East 23rd Street, 9th Floor, New York NY 10010;
212-260-7210; Fax: 212-260-7566. Letters email: letters@psychologytoday.com. Web: http://www.psychologytoday.com.

&

Waterfront Media

If you are the author of a health or diet book with some sales or fame, you should check out Waterfront Media, the online conglomerator of health and diet sites including Dr. Weil, The Maker's Diet, The South Beach Diet, and about ten others. They are continuing to look for more content to acquire or people to partner with. Check them out at: http://www.waterfrontmedia.com/about.aspx . Kaja Perina, Editor in Chief. Email: kaja@psychologytoday.com.

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Do you know about free ebooks available at FreeBooksforAll.com?

John Kremer hosts this site not only can you download e-books of interest but you can submit your ebook as well.

Great marketing idea.
 
Sample of e-books

Book Publishing Options for Authors <http://texanapublishing.homestead.com/Book_Publishing_Options_for_Authors_N15.pdf>  by Dana Smith

Money for Nothing (And Your Clicks for Free) <http://cobrand.squidoo.com/ebooks/uuuEbook.pdf>  by Seth Godin

The Power of Article Marketing <http://www.freebooksforall.com/ArticleMarketing.pdf>  by Timothy Gorman

The Secret of Successful Failing <http://www.ginaml.com/pdf/SecretofSuccessfulFailingEbook.pdf>  by Gina Mollicone-Long

What Journalists Want to See on Your Website <http://www.vocus.com/wp/whitepaper-whatjournalistswant.pdf>  by Vocus Inc.

For more free ebooks, see http://www.freebooksforall.com.
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POWER TO THE INDEPENDENTS!
Clint Greenleaf, Greenleaf Book Group LLC  http://www.greenleafbookgroup.com

The harsh reality of the U.S. publishing industry is that a small group of powerful people controls most of the decisions about what books will be available to thirsty readers.  NothingBinding.com is a new online social network created to destroy that system.

Using Web 2.0 technologies, Nothing Binding provides independent authors an easy way to connect with prospective readers and like-minded writers. Writers can create profiles, upload photos, form writers¹ groups, enter titles into a searchable database, and chat with other writers for free.
The unique services that set Nothing Binding apart from other online publishing communities are its digital marketing products, which includemp3 audio files, podcasts, video readings, and video interviews. Use these tools to form an emotional connection with prospective readers, and expand
your grassroots marketing to the World Wide Web. Independent writers unite!
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Blogging Your Way to Great Speaking
TJ Walker- www.speakingchannel.tv

Ironically, one of the best ways to become a better speaker is to become a better writer. And there is no better way than to write a daily blog. As the most successful bloggers will tell you, a well-written blog sounds exactly like a real person talking in a real conversation. And the sheer act of writing forces the mind to organize thoughts in a more cohesive pattern.

Then, if you add up a lot of blog entries, you very well may end up with the raw content for a great speech. Of course you will have to sift, edit, refine, scrutinize and eliminate much of your blog writings. But all of these actions are faster and easier than coming up with new material form scratch.

The best public speakers in the world always recount real experiences with real people. If you start writing a daily blog, even if you have only two readers, you will begin to build a vast database of stories, examples, and insights that can serve as the basis for all of your future spaces. Blog entries that you post that receive lots of comments form visitors and or start a debate can serve as a focus group for your real speech audiences.

These days, most top business speakers from Seth Godin to Guy Kawasaki have blogs. If you aspire to be a great speaker or just a better speaker, you can begin to fine tune your "voice" today, by writing a regular blog about your experiences in business and life.

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Map out a Marketing Plan for your Speaking Business by Susan Levin

Establish yourself as an expert through speaking - a powerful marketing tool that lifts your business or service to the next level. Begin now to build a profitable speaking business that gets your message out to the world.

- Design an irresistible presentation kit that makes meeting planners want to hire you.

In this kit would be your one-sheets for each topic you speak on


- Customize your talks with targeted pre-program questionnaires


- Launch new product ideas based on solid game-plans

- Produce powerful video demos

- Create powerful websites, blogs and e-zines

What Meeting Planners Look for When Working with Speakers

• Are you easy to work with? The desirable speaker or trainer is organized, professional in all communications, and is flexible as opposed to "whiney" and demanding. Make their job easier and they will use you again and recommend you to others.

• Are you an expert in your topic? They look for a presenter who can communicate effectively with impact, drawing in and captivating the audience.

• Do you take the time to learn about their organization and customize your presentations for their people? They want someone who will take the time to research, and then adapt your presentation so that it is relevant and appropriate to the culture and climate of their organization.

• Do you engage the audience? Decision makers want a presenter who will get the audience involved and invested. They look to see if your audience seems sincerely interested and responsive to you, as opposed to someone who is just tolerated.

• Will you help the company achieve its goals? If their goal is to create long-term change, they need to be convinced that you can accomplish this before they invest in you. If they are looking for entertainment, they want to know that what you do will achieve this for the majority of their people.

• Do you have a video demo? Is it streamed on your website?

A great video demo can be your ticket into places you could have never reached without it. It can increase the number and the caliber of your bookings. It can be sent through the mail, streamed on your website, and even sent by e-mail. For most serious speakers and trainers, it is an absolute necessity for success.

Many meeting planners and executives will not even consider a speaker or trainer without seeing them in action. So your video demo can get you in the door, but then you have one chance to impress your prospect quickly. There is a lot of competition out there, and most professionals have a demo video. To stand out from the pack it's essential for your video be creatively and intelligently designed, with excellent quality. It can mean a significantly higher income.

It makes sense to invest in a demo, but to increase the return on your investment, you need to design your demo to target, reach and persuade those who have the power to say yes or no to you. With that type of planning, you're shooting at your target with laser guided precision! Without great planning and execution, you are just shooting arrows with a blindfold on.

Of course every speaker and trainer is unique, so each video should be unique. The tone, pace and image of your video will differ from others because of who you are and what you do. However, there are some basic attributes that appeal to most decision makers. It is up to you and your video production company to communicate that you have those qualities.

Tips on Video Demos:

Your demo video is like a five to seven minute sales call. A quality three camera professionally produced demo video lets your client know that you are a professional, experienced and in-demand speaker. A poor quality video has the opposite effect, and will usually not be watched at all.

• Stream your video and post it on your website so that you can be seen right away.

• Make a CD or DVD of your demo to send out to the planners when it is requested.

A quality demo video can:

- Help you get in the door and past the "gatekeepers" to the decision makers.
- Make a quick and great impression.
- Show your unique style and how the audience responds to you.
- Entice potential clients. Grab their interest so they'll want to hear more of your presentation.
- Give you a quality tool to reach thousands of potential clients by streaming on the web.
- Increase the caliber of your bookings.
- Get you hired and increase your income!

See 1 camera video samples from the BizSpeak Workshop http://www.speakerservices.com/bizspeak.html .  Next workshop February 2 & 3 .

See 1 camera video samples from Authors SpeakEasy Workshop http://www.speakerservices.com/authorsspeakeasy .  Next workshop April 4-6 .

See streaming video samples of 3 camera video demos that Speaker Services produced for their speakers at the Video Demo Showcase http://www.speakerservices.com/videoprod.html .  Next showcase is June 8, 2008..
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And in the BLOG
www.speakerscommunity.com/blog

Speaking On The National Associations Circuit: How To Catch The Fast Track To Bookings

Why do you Want to Speak?

Interview Tactics

10 Tips Writers Need to Know about the Publishing Game

Do You Have A Blog But Not A Lot Of Time?

Why Book Tours are Passe