Powerful Ways

Will Seminars Get You Clients?

I often suggest public speaking as a powerful way to show prospective clients what you can do. Many professionals and consultants have built successful practices by giving free presentations to associations, businesses, and educational institutions. But what about producing your own seminar, where you arrange the logistics and invite the guests? Does this work as a strategy for landing clients?

Offering a seminar can be an effective means to become more visible to your target market. If you are a good (or even fair) presenter, and the right people come to your seminar, you will definitely get new customers. But to use seminar marketing successfully, you need to be very clear on your goals, and plan each seminar carefully.

If the purpose of your seminar is primarily to get clients, you shouldn't be expecting to make money on the seminar itself. You may wish merely to cover your expenses, or maybe even spend a little extra. For this type of seminar, the key to making it pay off is to attract people who are good prospects for your business in the first place, rather than just filling the room.

Instead of making your seminar free, it's a good idea to charge a small fee. That way, your prospective clients will perceive you as offering something of value. The fee will also discourage attendance by people who can't afford your product or service. It's the quality of the participants that matters, not the quantity.

If what you really want is for your seminar to turn a profit, you must recognize that by offering full-fee seminars, you are adding another line of business to your company. Operating as a seminar producer will require the same kind of planning and ongoing management as your existing business does.

It can be as difficult to make a profit on your first seminar as it was to originally launch your business. Many people won't sign up for a seminar the first time they see it; others would like to come but can't make the date. You'll have a better chance of making money if you plan at the outset to offer your seminar on a regular basis. You may find, though, that this takes away too much time from your core business.

Whether the seminar you are planning is promotional or for profit, estimate your projected income and expenses before making a commitment to proceed. Base the income you project solely on the fee you will charge per person multiplied by the number of attendees you expect. Don't include any projected spinoff business in your income estimate. If you land new business, you will still have to work additional hours to earn that compensation.

Typical expenses include design and printing of a flyer or brochure, postage, posting a notice on your website, purchase of mailing lists (if you don't have your own), print and Internet media ads (including calendar listings), facility rent, audiovisuals, handouts, and refreshments. You should also consider the cost of your own time to design promotional materials, compile lists, compose e-mails, and make phone calls, as noted below.

In designing a snail mail or e-mail campaign for your seminar, keep in mind that it is quite typical to get only one registration for every 100 pieces you mail, even with a pre-qualified list.

Subtract your projected expenses from your income, then make a rational decision on whether to proceed. If the purpose of your seminar is to get business, estimate how much spinoff business is likely. Before going ahead, ask yourself if there might be an easier or cheaper way to get that many new clients or contracts.

If your purpose is to make money, divide your expected profit by the number of hours it will take you to design, market, and deliver your seminar. Is that amount a reasonable level of compensation for you?

If your best guess at the numbers tells you that producing a seminar makes good business sense for you, go for it! Because people do business with those they know, like, and trust, seminars can help you build a solid client base. And because repeat contacts raise awareness, mailings and ads about your seminar will generate more visibility for your core business.

About The Author

C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients NOW! Thousands of business owners and salespeople have used her simple sales and marketing system to double or triple their income. Get a free copy of "Five Secrets to Finding All the Clients You'll Ever Need" at http://www.getclientsnow.com.

The Truth About The Law Of Attraction

Everyone is talking about the Secret. From Oprah to David Letterman, it is the new media buzz.

The Secret is a movie about the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction has been around since the beginning of mankind but only a select few knew what was it about. Those who knew and understood the law were some of the most successful men of the history of mankind.

So is the Law of Attraction real or just another marketing gimmick?

The truth is nobody really knows. Law of Attraction can go by any other name but essentially the Law of Attraction is everywhere and is working every single second : Whatever you think about and focus on, you will bring about. This is a proven fact based on many examples of famous men in the history of mankind. Thomas Edison, a man that changed the history of men totally, had never gave up his dream even though he kept failing. It is this unwavering focus and determined drive which he had that eventually brought or "attracted" what he wanted.

However, many men and women found much difficulty in using the Law of Attraction to bring about the things that they want in life. In the end, most of these men and women often ended up proclaiming that the Law of Attraction does not work.

There are 3 things that can thwart your effort in using the Law of Attraction :

1. Doubt.
When you have even a tiniest doubt about the Law of Attraction, whatever it is that you are trying to attract will move further away from you. Having doubt in yourself or your own instinct will also deter the attraction. Why? The Universe will often in its own way, present to you opportunities to help you but you may not have jumped at these opportunities due to your doubt.

2. Negativity.
When you focus on negative thoughts like "I do not want debt in my life", more debt will come into your life instead. The Universe does not understand "I want" vs "I do not want". It only knows that it will give to you whatever thing you focus on. Thus, why not focus on "I am a millionaire on 31st January 2009" instead?

3. Taking No Action.
This may be due to your laziness or due to self doubt as in Point 1. Imagine having the best no-risk opportunities presented to you but yet you do not take action, do you think you will be able to successfully attract all the things you want in your life?

Once you can eliminate the above points, the Universe will start arranging the events in your life to attract the things that you want into your life. All you have to do is be patient, be grateful to whatever you have now and never give up. To accelerate the process of attracting, start focusing and visualizing what you want every single day.

If you want to attract abundance and wealth in your life, Alison recommends Bob Proctor's The Science of Getting Rich Program that guides you step-by-step on how to attract wealth, health and riches. You can get a FREE interview report with Bob Proctor here: http://www.abundanceattracting.com