Comments on: Win New Clients with Talks and Seminars http://www.ianbrodie.com/marketing/win-new-clients-talks-seminars/ More Clients in Less Time, Even if You Hate Selling Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:26:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy Thorp http://www.ianbrodie.com/marketing/win-new-clients-talks-seminars/comment-page-1/#comment-3865 Andy Thorp Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:48:41 +0000 http://www.ianbrodie.com/?p=1171#comment-3865 Hi Ian You might expect me to agree with the premise of this blog! I'd say without a doubt that speaking/presenting is my No.1 marketing strategy for getting work. It's got several advantages: someone else finds you an audience; the fact they're there means there's an element of qualification to these 'prospects'; you get an opportunity to win over a group of people in one go (saves time!); you craft your skill/style every time you present; you sometimes get paid too! But I think there's sometimes a mistaken assumption that a polished/slick performance is what we should aim for. I disagree. I think audiences admire and respect (and possibly envy this) but what really moves them is authenticity, believability and relevance. I often site the example of William Kamkwamba (type into Google search for his TED talk). It's an amazing story, the Malawian boy who built a working windmill from rubbish and is now part of Al Gore's environmental lobby. At his TED talk in Oxford 2009 he's plainly very nervous and slightly awkward as a presenter but it doesn't matter. It's a great story and no one can doubt his authenticity or fail to admire his tenacity. And of course I agree about knowing your niche and staying true to it rather than pimping yourself out to speak about whatever is required. You can adapt what you do to suit a particular audience, but stay true to your core. Great piece Ian - you've touched my favourite topic with this one my friend! Hi Ian
You might expect me to agree with the premise of this blog! I’d say without a doubt that speaking/presenting is my No.1 marketing strategy for getting work. It’s got several advantages: someone else finds you an audience; the fact they’re there means there’s an element of qualification to these ‘prospects’; you get an opportunity to win over a group of people in one go (saves time!); you craft your skill/style every time you present; you sometimes get paid too!

But I think there’s sometimes a mistaken assumption that a polished/slick performance is what we should aim for. I disagree. I think audiences admire and respect (and possibly envy this) but what really moves them is authenticity, believability and relevance.

I often site the example of William Kamkwamba (type into Google search for his TED talk). It’s an amazing story, the Malawian boy who built a working windmill from rubbish and is now part of Al Gore’s environmental lobby. At his TED talk in Oxford 2009 he’s plainly very nervous and slightly awkward as a presenter but it doesn’t matter. It’s a great story and no one can doubt his authenticity or fail to admire his tenacity.

And of course I agree about knowing your niche and staying true to it rather than pimping yourself out to speak about whatever is required. You can adapt what you do to suit a particular audience, but stay true to your core.

Great piece Ian – you’ve touched my favourite topic with this one my friend!

]]> By: Luis A. Bardi http://www.ianbrodie.com/marketing/win-new-clients-talks-seminars/comment-page-1/#comment-357 Luis A. Bardi Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:41:54 +0000 http://www.ianbrodie.com/?p=1171#comment-357 Excellent article. Usually we do not pay enough attention to these three steps. After reading this, we must do that. Excellent article. Usually we do not pay enough attention to these three steps. After reading this, we must do that.

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