Public Speaking Tips to Generate Leads – Part 3

speakerIn Part 1 of this series, I wrote that you can generate leads by speaking to groups of people. There are two common types of speaking engagements and conference calls: paid ones and free ones. When delivering your presentation you can focus on making a specific offer or by offering a complimentary session.

In Part 2 of the series, I wrote about how you are positioned as an expert when you speak or do a conference call. Many of the people who are listening would like to learn from you. You simply need to let the listeners know how they can set up a free session.

Here is word-for-word script to get the audience to fill out a form to sign up for a free session.

“What I would like to do now is share with you how each of you can receive a free financial plan. How many of you would agree that having a written financial plan can help you acquire wealth by a show of hands. Do you think more than 50% of the population has a written financial plan or do you think more than 50% don’t? (they will respond they don’t) I am very passionate about what I do because most of the population can benefit from my service. How it works is simple. If you will go to the second page of the handout I gave you at the beginning of the meeting. You will see there is a space for you to put down your name, phone number, and contact information. By filling out this form you will receive a free consultation. During this consultation we will both have a chance to get to know each other better. After we meet for the consultation if you like working with me we can talk about setting up another meeting where I will share with you some specific ways I can help you. What I would like you to do where it says name on the form. Take a moment and write down your name. Where it asks for your phone number go ahead and jot that down. Once you have completed your form you can turn it in to me at the end of the meeting. Before we wrap up does anyone have any questions? (let them respond) I want to thank you for being a great group. Have a great day.”

Speaking Engagements are One of the Best Ways to Grow your Business!

In most cases over 30% of the audience will request a free consultation. The techniques can be done over the phone on a conference call. The only difference is instead of the prospect filling out a form they would call you or go to a web site.

Speaking engagements and conference calls are one of the best ways to grow your business. If you haven’t done them before make a decision today to schedule one in the next 30 days. Your business will never be the same.

Success,

Eric Lofholm
Master Sales Trainer and Coach

Click here for Public Speaking Tips to Generate Leads – Part 1

Click here for Public Speaking Tips to Generate Leads – Part 2

Public Speaking Tips to Generate Leads – Part 2

public_speakingIn Part 1 of this series, I wrote that you can generate leads by speaking to groups of people. There are two common types of speaking engagements and conference calls: paid ones and free ones. When delivering your presentation you can focus on making a specific offer or by offering a complimentary session.

Let’s examine how to generate leads by offering a complimentary session. Begin by setting a goal for the number of new clients you would like to get from speaking engagements and conference calls. Then identify how many leads you need to generate to get your new client goal. Then identify how many speeches or conference calls you need to do in order to generate that many leads. Then create a list of people you can contact to schedule speeches or conference calls. Then write down a script of what you will say to the decision makers to book yourself. If you don’t know what these numbers are then make an educated guess.

When you speak or do a conference call you are positioned as an expert. Many of the people who are listening would like to be like you or learn from you. All you need to do during your speech or conference call is let the listeners know how they can set up a free session. The key is to clearly communicate what you would like them to do and then make it easy for them to sign up.

Clearly Communicate What You Would Like Them To Do

Here is an example. Let’s say I am a financial planner who wants to get new clients. I have set up a speaking engagement at the local chamber of commerce. The chamber has given me 15 minutes to speak. This is what I would do. I would ask the person in charge of the meeting if I can end the meeting. This way when I am done people can immediately come and speak with me. I almost always like to end the meeting. I would come to the meeting with a handout for each participant. Stapled to the back of the handout would be a registration form to sign up for a free consultation. I would give out my handout with an index card before I spoke. I would map out exactly what I would say during my 10 minutes.

I would begin the talk by building rapport. I would then let everyone know that my first outcome for my talk is to share 2 ideas that will help them with their finances. I would then say my second outcome is to let everyone know how I can help them by creating a free, customized financial plan for them. I would now be at about the 3 minute mark. I would then share 2 stories that illustrate a relevant point. I would now be at the 9 minute mark. I would then raffle off a book like, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Anyone could enter the raffle by giving me their business card. If they don’t have a business card they can write down their information on the index card I have given them. Lastly I would offer a free consultation. To receive the consultation they would fill out the second page of the handout I gave them at the beginning of the meeting.

In Part 3 of the series, I will share a word-for-word script to get the audience to fill out the form.

Want to hear how I create value and sell on a conference call?

Click Here for a Schedule of My Upcoming Teleseminars

Success,

Eric Lofholm
Master Sales Trainer and Coach

Click Here for Part 1 of this series

Public Speaking Tips to Generate Leads – Part 1

public_speakingOne of the fastest, easiest ways to get new clients is through public speaking. You can generate leads by speaking to groups of people. You can book speaking engagements and schedule conference calls.

There are two common types of speaking engagements and conference calls: paid ones and free ones. The ideas I am going to share will work for paid and free presentations.

What I mean by a speaking engagement is where you have the opportunity to speak in front of 4 to 40,000 people for 5 minutes to 5 days.

What I mean by a conference call is where you have the opportunity to speak to a group on a bridge line or speaker phone to 4 to 4,000 people for 5 minutes to 2 hours.

When delivering your presentation you can focus on making a specific offer or by offering a complimentary session. In Part 2, I’m going to focus on sharing strategies to offer a complimentary session.

Success,

Eric Lofholm
Master Sales Trainer and Coach

5 Reasons to Prospect for New Business

goldIn good times or bad, sales professionals and entrepreneurs need to prospect for new business. You can’t rely on existing customers alone to generate all of the new business you need.

The recent recession has provided many lessons. Imagine being a company dependent on construction firms or home builders. As the recession of 2008-2009 hit, home builders were devastated. And so were many construction firms. Companies who relied on these industries for business suffered greatly. Don’t make the same mistake!

Here are 5 Reasons to Prospect for New Business:

1. Prospecting for new business creates opportunities

Prospecting is the act of finding qualified sales prospects. You can prospect by phone or in person. You can also prospect online or through mail or email, although that is often considered a marketing activity. In either case, any activity that helps to generate a lead creates an opportunity for a new prospective customer or client.

2. Prospecting for new business helps to sharpen your sales skills

According to Eric Lofholm, selling is a learned skill. To improve at any skill, you need to practice. And that means you need to do it over and over. Sales is no different. To improve your results, you need to prospect on a regular basis. If the idea of picking up the phone to make a cold call makes you nervous, then you know you have some work to do.

You don’t have to make cold calls to prospect for new business. You can call current customers and ask for referrals. You can follow up on leads received through your website. You can follow up with new contacts you meet at events or that you connected with online. Prospecting is an essential skill and one you to take time to develop.

3. Prospecting for new business opens the door to referrals

While cold calls are often challenging even for sales veterans, referrals are often easy to follow up with. There are several ways you can receive referrals. You can receive a personal introduction from the person making the referral. Or, you can receive the name and phone number of the person to contact. Or, someone might provide your contact information to the person being referred.

Whenever possible, ask for a personal introduction. This helps to build trust and rapport with the prospect. But, if that’s not possible, ask for the referral's name, phone number and other details and call them. Referrals don’t just happen. You usually need to ask for them.

4. Prospecting for new business provides an opportunity to craft and test new sales scripts

There is nothing more powerful than a good idea whose time has come. And sales scripts are a good idea for anyone who wants to increase their sales results. As you prospect for new business, you will have an opportunity to try out new sales scripts. Results take as long as they take. But, you can increase your results with a good sales script.

5. Prospecting for new business allows you to book more appointments and close more sales

Do you want more customers? If so, then you need to close more sales. But, how? It starts with booking more appointments. You need to actively prospect for new business. That means picking up the phone and talking to people for the purpose of scheduling appointments. Whether you meet someone in person or run an appointment over the phone, you need to deliver more sales presentations if you want to close more sales.

If you’re not getting the results you want today, then you need to take more action to prospect for new business. You need to generate more leads and book more appointments. You need to track your results and hold yourself accountable.

Strive for Success,

Rick Cooper

Sales Coach and Trainer

Get Clients with 1 to 1 Email Marketing

Get Clients

Get Clients

Email marketing is a powerful strategy to get clients. I love email marketing!  There are many different ways to use it.  One way is a 1 to 1 email to a prospect.  In this blog post I will share with you how Patrick Snow brilliantly used this technique to land me as a client.  Let me set the stage.

In one of my public seminars I shared with the audience that I was writing a book.  Michael Price was in the audience.  On a side note Michael is great at helping people overcome fear.  Check him out at www.fearlessthinking.com.

Michael is one of Patrick Snow's clients.  Patrick is a book writing coach and is known as the Dean of Destiny.  Michael referred me to Patrick.  Patrick sent me the following email.

Subject Line:  Referred by Michael Price of Fearless Thinking...

Eric,

I am very impressed with your background and your web site!

One of my publishing clients, Michael Price has referred me to you.   He mentioned that he recently attended one of your workshops and learned of your goal of getting your book published in 2008?

As a best-selling author, and publishing coach, I can help you achieve this goal if you are serious about releasing your book this year.   I will be mailing you a copy of my book and publishing package for your review.    When you get a moment, please call or email if you are interested in a complimentary publishing consultation.

Respectfully:

Patrick Snow

www.CreateYourOwnDestiny.com
www.BestSellerPublishingCoaching.com

Let me share with you some of the brilliance of this email.  The most important thing in an email is the subject line.  He put Referred by.  That was very persuasive.

The next technique he used was flattery.  He started off the email by letting me know he was impressed with my background and my website.

He then offered me a complimentary publishing consultation.  The key here is he didn't try to sell me book writing coaching in the initial email.  He was simply offering a consultation.  I call this stage selling.  I teach my clients to always sell to the next step.  The next step in this case was a consultation.

Boost your Appointments with 1 on 1 Email Marketing!

During the consultation I signed up.  Patrick offered so much value to me as a client I now refer him to anyone I know that needs help getting their book done.

Think about how you can apply 1 on 1 email to boost your appointments.

I need your help.  I am committed to providing valuable tips that can help you make more sales in my blog.  Please share this blog with others.  This will help me and help the people you share it with.

Success,

Eric Lofholm

Master Sales Trainer & Coach