Greetings,

Last month for the Speakers' Community I interviewed TJ Walker and we talked about Content is the King.  He gave us simple, easy steps to repurpose and repackage our expertise into multiple products.  Sometimes, I need to hear a simple reminder from someone else and then I just do it.  One day I found myself repurposing and bundling my book Market Yourself as a Speaker and putting it together with 3 MP3's that I had produced in different settings along with 2 PDF special reports and offering it to my clients for $47-a savings of over $50.  It worked!  What do you have in your file cabinets and drawers? The results have been quite amazing.  You can see the offer for yourself http://www.speakerservices.com/teleclasses/detail/85 .

Yesterday the Speakers' Community had its monthly The Inner Marketing Circle teleclass and my guest was Jean-Noel Bassior, The Book Mentor.  We had a great discussion about how to focus your expertise for talks and books.  I opened the call up to all of our readers.  If you missed it you can listen to the replay or download the mp3 at http://www.speakerservices.com/teleclasses/detail/86 and get the special report too.

In mid February I'll be speaking to Linda Hollander, The Wealthy Bag Lady about how to obtain Corporate Sponsorship.  You can be on the call too  if you join the Speakers' Community and you will get 30 days  complimentary membership and reap all the benefits.  Check it out www.speakerscommunity.com.  BTW we have 60 members in the Community and whether you are a member or not you can learn more about their services and call on them.  Take a look at the Community Listings when you stop by www.speakerscommunity.com .

Webinars are on my radar screen.  When Tim Romero introduced webmeetlive.com a web conferencing company to me I had no idea how powerful this technology could be for speakers and event coordinators.  Shortly after our first conversation, I received two e-mails from event planners requesting speakers for their webinars and to boot they are paying good fees for an hour webinar.  You can learn more about how webinars work on Feb 7 when  I will be interviewing Tim.  The first half hour is on the telephone (teleclass) and the second half hour we will be just be on the internet in a web conferencing room where we will continue the conversation and get an experience of how it all works.   Learn more and register http://www.speakerservices.com/teleclasses/detail/84 .

How would you like to learn how to communicate your message more effectively so that your audiences, employees, customers, clients, and colleagues will understand your message and remember the most important elements of your presentation—every time? You can when you attend  The Game: Speakers' Bootcamp, March 26-30. This  is your ticket to play the game.

I've been through oodles and oodles of workshops and seminars and not one of them even comes close to what I took away from last weeks Bootcamp.  I actually have a solid foundation to work from.  It's been fun telling everyone about this great experience I just came through.  I'm looking forward to participating in more services you and Jack provide.
- Marlin Keesler, Author, Our Life on the Run

The Bootcamp will prepare you for speaking to small to large audiences- media interviews- facilitating workshops- one-on-one presentations- client presentations-panel discussions-industry conferences- annual meetings- sales presentations plus you will be branded. Learn more/register
http://www.speakerservices.com/services/thegame.html . We only take 20 attendees-grab your spot.

Enjoy the following articles in today's E-zine From Free to Fee and The 7 Most Common Marketing Mistakes Speakers Make.

Susan Levin
Speaker Services & Speakers' Community
310-822-4922 PST
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Meet our New & Renewing Speakers/Authors, February '07

See all speakers/authors:
www.speakerservices.com

Darlene Basch, LCSW, Video, Los Angeles,  S. California
Body psychotherapist offers powerful tools for instant relief of anxiety and panic attacks.
Body-Mind, Holocaust, Sexuality, Stress Management
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/221
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Marvin G. Brown, Author, Cerritos, CA, S. California
Business Development, Financial Consultant and author of Change Your Mind and Become Wealthy, shows you financial strategies to help you build, expand and grow your enterprise by creating successful cash-flow models and portfolios that produce income.
Business Building, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Wealth Building
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/314
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Francine Florette, Author, Video,  S. California
Plan To Find Your Man with the "The Love Lady," who empowers single career women to find the man of their dreams.
Lifestyles, Relationships, Women's Issues
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/284
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Dr. Mick Hall, Author, Costa Mesa, CA, Nationwide
Naturopathic Doctor presents breakthrough system that reverses aging and degenerative disease, ends fear of illness, and puts you back in charge of your health
Alternative Healing, Health, Wellness
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/311
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Eileen Joyce, Los Angeles, S. California
Certified Coach and Grief Recovery Specialist shows how to get through times of loss and recovery and how to talk to co-workers, friends and loved ones who are going through difficult life changes.
Change, Grief & Loss, Parenting and Children, Productivity
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/310
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Gurutej Kaur, Author, Los Angeles, S. California
Green guru teaches essential techniques for greater energy in business and groups.
Green Business, Positive Work Environments, Employee/Team Productivity, Stress Management
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/309
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Jean Shula, Author, Video, New Hampshire, Nationwide
Life Coach/author trains "Third Agers" to tap into their passions and life experience to heal themselves and the world around them.
Boomers & Beyond, Healthy Aging, Strategic Planning, Third Agers
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/308
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Otto Siegel, Author, Video, Phoenix, Az, Nationwide
Master Certified Coach and co-author of Yes, You Are a Genius – Whether You Know It or Not  shows how to tap your inherent genius potential for new high levels of performance.
Diversity, Leadership, Personal Development
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/306
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Mark Austin Thomas,  S. California, Nationwide
Veteran broadcaster and News and Program Director gives rare inside glimpse of how the news and entertainment media work and why we feel overloaded with information yet, at the same time, uninformed.
Broadcasting/Media Relations, Race Relations, Spiritual Politics
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/146

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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/LEADS

Get Speaking Leads from Mitch Davis

- Contact the American Veterinary Medical Association by Feb. 2 for speaking consideration during its 145th annual convention in New Orleans, July 19 through 22.

- The HFTP Annual Convention & Tradeshow is a once-a-year opportunity for hospitality finance and technology professionals to get practical information about all aspects of their profession. Submission deadline is Feb. 8 for the Sept. 24 event in Nashville.

- Public Relations Society of America has a Feb. 11 speaker/presenter submission deadline for its Oct. 25 convention in Detroit.

Visit www.SpeakerLeads.com for more leads.
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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 200 women are expected to attend. 

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 register http://www.amazingwomansday2008.com
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Wed., Feb 13 Teleclass
Top 5 Ways to Attract Corporate Sponsorship with my guest Linda Hollander, The Wealthy Bag Lady

Have you ever thought about sponsors for your speaking, business, book, events or charity?

America's most successful companies partner with sponsors. Why not you? How would you like to do what you love and have someone else foot the bill? There are so many opportunities for corporate sponsorships. Companies will spend over $13.39 billion for sponsorships this year. Linda Hollander, the "Wealthy Bag Lady", can help you. Linda has consulted with many businesses, speakers, authors, and charities to help them profit from the awesome power of corporate sponsors.

We'll discuss how to:
• Identify your potential sponsors
• Attract these sponsors
• Spotlight your assets
• Know how much to ask for (Don't sell yourself short)
• Turn a "no" into an enthusiastic "yes"
• Double or triple your results with media
• The biggest mistakes people make
• Get your sponsors to renew again and again

Linda Hollander is known as the Wealthy Bag Lady. She is the author of Bags to Riches and the founder of the Women's Small Business Expo. Her corporate sponsors have included Citibank, Fed Ex, Health Net, Southwest Airlines, Bank of America, Staples, Wal Mart / Sam's Club, Omega World Travel and IBM. She is a business strategist, international speaker and she consults with growing businesses on how to increase their profits.

This call is Complimentary for all Speaker Community Members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with my special complimentary 30 days Speakers' Community Membership trial.  Learn more and sign up at www.speakerscommunity.com
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Speak at Colleges-Complimentary teleclass with James Malinchak
Thursday,  March 6th at 10:00 am Pacific / 12:00 pm Central / 1:00 pm Eastern.
 
Would you like to add hundreds of thousands of "EXTRA M0ney" to your speaking, writing, training, coaching and consulting income?
Did you know that the college market is one of the most lucrative, yet overlooked markets that you could make BIG money from?
 
Most don't!
 
That's why I asked my friend, James Malinchak, to be on a special (no cost to you) teleseminar to share all of his secrets for
how you can tap into this unknown market.
 
James is called 'The King of the College Speaking Market,' and has taught numerous authors, coaches, consultants, trainers, and aspiring, beginning, and experienced speakers how to take  their message to the college market and make a 'T0N of M0ney!'
 
Click here now for all the details:  http://www.collegespeakingsuccess.com/levin
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4th Annual Speakers' Summit
May 2 & 3 in Los Angeles

Are you an entrepreneur, coach, or expert or business owner who wants to raise your game?   Are you a working professional who has always dreamed of polishing your speaking skills in order to enhance your effectiveness on the job – or in a future career as a speaker?

Here are just some of the areas that will improve as a result of your investment ($397) in the Speakers' Summit '08  http://www.speakerservices.com/speakerssummit08

•  PRODUCE presentations that captivate, attract attention, motivate action and get results
•  UNLOCK the secrets for spontaneity, communion, comfort and connection
•  CREATE one sheets that work and get you results
•  UNCOVER affordable ways to develop info products with the latest cutting edge technology
•  MASTER marketing web 2.0 the new generation of web interactive content tools. Blogging, Podcasting, Social Bookmarking, Social Networking, MySpace and more
•  ATTRACT corporate sponsors for your programs

Read more and register http://www.speakerservices.com/speakerssummit08
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Media Lead

Mildred Culp, who writes the syndicated Workwise column, is looking for people who retired but have gone back to work for the same company or a different company. She has research indicating that this group needs to be managed by employers rather than left on their own. She wants to interview those who agree or disagree. Don't be shy if you have a relative to suggest. Source must be post-retirement, 65 or older. Send leads to mailto:workwise@comcast.net
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INVITATION TO BE PUBLISHED from Sheryl Roush

Looking for success stories, tips, ideas and more from...Business Owners, Managers, Supervisors, Employees, Coaches, Mentors, Entrepreneurs, Self-Employed...YOU!

BOOK TITLE: HEART OF THE WORKPLACE
Creating Harmony, Health and Humor in a Happy Environment

CONCEPT: Bringing More of Your Heart to Work

SCHEDULED RELEASE: June 2008

Deadline for submissions ---- March 1, 2008.

MAIN CHAPTER SECTIONS:
Harmony - Health - Humor

CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED:
Original stories, up to 1,000-1,200 words
Quotations – original or your cherished attributed favorites
Original poems, rhymes, raps
Advice, Anecdotes, Philosophies
Ideas and Innovation
Quick Tips
Best Practices

Email questions and contributions to: Sheryl Roush at Sheryl@SparklePresentations.com
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Pump Up Your Book Promotion
Specializes in online book promos and virtual book tours check it out http://pumpupyourbookpromotion.com/
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Want more speaking gigs?
Consider joining www. SpeakerServices.com directory since '92
See what our speakers are saying http://www.speakerservices.com/adv_pkt_info.html
E-mail us for the speakers guidelines and rates

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From Free to Fee: The Consultant's Guide to Becoming a Paid Speaker
By Vickie Sullivan

You've been giving concurrent session programs for years at state and national association events. Each year, you get return invitations, rave reviews and high evaluations. Perhaps it's time to quit giving away your expertise and get paid. Makes sense doesn't it? The transition from speaking for visibility to paid speaking is like jumping off a cliff: if you survive that first leap, the rest will seem easy.

Getting gigs
The easiest way to get paid is through the corporate special event markets. Consultants who already have established relationships with corporate decision-makers have an inside track. But familiarity can also be an obstacle if your clients sees you as a teacher/trainer only. To prevent being pigeonholed invite the prospect to preview your speaking outside the consulting environment. Show your client that you are the riveting speaker they need to rally their troops.

The association market can also be challenging. Because associations can get free speakers for the concurrent sessions, many state and regional associations only pay for keynoters, general sessions and wind-down speakers. The challenge is to make that transition from teacher at the concurrent session level to performance at the general session.

You have a better chance if you match your speech type and topic to the conference's structure. National associations with bigger budgets usually use more high-profile personalities. General sessions normally need industry experts. More motivational topics are usually given the wind-down speaker slot

Associations are also open to creating new venues for speakers that will provide a draw (and high registration fees). Consultants can easily get paid for pre-conference workshops, especially if they are willing to take a percentage of the fees.

Sounds more like a keynote
When you're getting paid $4,500 or more, it is assumed that you have more than just great presentation skills. You have that elusive "presence." Audiences at that level have been exposed to masterful speakers, so make sure your skills can compare favorably.

The flow of your speaking must be very smooth and transitions seamless. Storytelling takes the place of diagrams. Humor takes the place of case-study exercises.

Keynoter programs also require major content changes. National associations are requesting general topics that discuss trends or allow their member to feel good about their roles. Remember, more technical content is more appropriated to the concurrent sessions.

Marketing
Established committees that focus on expertise and content usually choose free speakers for concurrent sessions. While smaller, more ad-hoc, committees make paid speaker selections, and speaker bureaus play a bigger role, don't depend on speaker bureaus to be your marketing department. Speaker's Bureaus are like banks: they don't want you until you don't need them.

Because the decision is more subjective, indirect marketing approaches work best, with a focus on sponsorships or recommendations from advocates. Visibility plays a key role as well, and national recognition is a given in the $5,000 and above markets.

New promotional material
Again, the decision is more subjective, so promotional materials take the place of requests for proposals. Professionalism is the key here – good graphic design and copy are essential. The focus is on message and approach, not specific content. No one will read pages of topic descriptions.

Be prepared to spend money on your materials, but don't go overboard. Many speakers are using four-color printing, a nice touch but not critical to getting booked in the $5,000 and under market.

Another way of showing your stuff is by providing a demo video. Your footage should be less than a year old. The fancy graphics that many speakers include are not necessary; it's more important to be certain you're presenting your best speech material.

The transition into the world of the professional speaker is not as smooth as many consultants think. Be prepared to invest time, energy and money. And like any other business venture, professional help in speaking skills, marketing, and promo material production can speed up the process.

Since 1987, Vickie K. Sullivan, President of Sullivan Speaker Services, has generated millions of dollars in speaking fees, book advances and ancilliary income for her clients. Sign up for her free market intelligence at http://www.SullivanSpeaker.com
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The 7 Most Common Marketing Mistakes Speakers Make
By Misty Williams

Marketing your business can be both an exciting and scary endeavor, even for those of us that have been doing it for a while. A few wrong moves can hinder your best efforts. Consider the most common mistakes speakers and independent professionals make when trying to grow their careers:
Spending time and money on marketing tools before establishing a business development strategy. I can't count the number of times I've seen people throw money at "marketing solutions" in an effort to save their businesses, only to realize too late that slick brochures, a Flash website and company letterhead won't grow their business. Successful speakers and professionals provide valuable services to people that need them. If you aren't clear about what you offer—and to whom—and you haven't discerned the best strategies for reaching those customers, your marketing efforts are wasting your time.

Speaking on multiple topics—targeting a broad audience. Trying to be all things to all people will only render you a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. You will never be regarded as an expert or become "known" for anything. The most successful speakers (and professionals in general) target a specific group of people and commit to helping them solve a specific set of problems.

Approaching key decision-makers for support too soon. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is especially true if you're in the middle of a significant transition. If you're attempting to re-invent yourself or launch a new look/feel/message, complete the development process before you start approaching people for their support. You want to give them the best possible impression of your effort's viability; oftentimes, others won't see the potential in a new idea that hasn't been developed like you will.

Undervaluing or overvaluing your products, services or programs. Mark LeBlanc, author of the book Growing Your Business and founder of The Achiever's Circle, reveals, "People either charge too much too soon or too little too long." It's important that you establish a healthy synergy between what you offer, what your prospects need, and your fees. Undervaluing costs you money and handicaps your growth potential because it dries up your cash flow. Overvaluing robs you of your credibility and compromises your long-term viability.

Getting an assistant or administrator to do the "dirty work" (i.e., misdiagnosing the cash-flow problem). I get emails and phone calls all the time from people asking me if I know someone who could book them or market their product or service. Typically, this well-meaning speaker is trying to solve the wrong problem (which is more realistically tied to a weak product / service or a poorly-communicated marketing message). Most likely, this professional simply needs a stronger business development plan.

Good administrators can be important, but they don't replace a good business development strategy or well-executed marketing plan. Often, when people begin to feel stuck or overwhelmed in their business, they want someone else to figure what isn't working, start doing what WILL work, or otherwise take away the pain. Typically, however, the pain is something only the business owner can fix: They need a stronger business-development plan.

Spending investment dollars in the wrong places. Be very careful how you invest your money, especially if your funds are limited. Whenever possible, don't tie your money up in expensive logos, electronics, vehicles, or large quantities of product that may be slow to move or can't be leveraged into more income. For example, printing 5,000 books because it's cheaper per book won't help you build your business if you don't have any funds left over for marketing and promotional efforts. Before spending big dollars, always ask yourself, How will this help me get more customers? And what will it take for me to financially see this campaign through?

Losing the game in your mind. We all have emotional baggage that can cause us to sabotage our own success: self-doubt, fear of failure or rejection, feeling unworthy or inferior, and more. You could do everything right but lose the battle for growing your business in your mind. If you're truly committed to being successful in your business, you need to deal with those issues that could sabotage your efforts. Get a good business coach, get some counseling, read some recommended books, figure it out. This distinction is just as important as a solid business development or marketing strategy.
Marketing mistakes not only waste our financial resources, they take our focus away from the crucial details that need our time and attention if our businesses are going to thrive. These mistakes can be minimized with the right strategies and smart execution, paving the way to your success as a speaker or independent professional.

Misty Williams, president of Strategic Marketing Solutions, helps speakers and professionals build websites that work and develop promotional strategies to grow their businesses. You can contact Misty at 615-834-2222 or Misty@MyStrategicMarketer.com.
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AND IN THE BLOG
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