Trainers, facilitators and speakers are regularly looking for good ideas on how to effectively market their services and build a thriving business. There are a number of well-known marketing strategies that can be effective:
However all the marketing strategies in the world will not get you more work as a speaker, trainer, facilitator or consultant, unless you are known for great work. This is especially true in a city such as Winnipeg where everyone seems to know or know of each other; word of mouth can be your best (or worst) marketing strategy.
What does great work look like? It may be different for each client, so it is important to ask clients what their expectations for great value delivered looks like. However a few common areas where clients will perceive value include: the work was targeted to my needs, the person demonstrated credibility and expertise, the person delivered both solid content and the desired level of entertainment or humor, the session was customized to my audience, the session was well organized and structured, the materials were a good resource, and the person left us with a clear idea of how to apply their message.
How do you know if you deliver great work? I believe it's all in the manner in which you ask. Evaluation forms after events are important, yet it is also important to follow up with the client and a few attendees to ask:
You may even want to ask a fellow speaker or your mentor to attend and provide similar feedback. Yet the most important factor is whether you do anything with the feedback afterwards. How can you take actions to improve on areas identified? Where can you seek help to develop your skills?
To practice speaking skills towards greatness, use 'safe' zones where people are not paying you to develop your skills, such as:
It's an ongoing process, but an important one, as the best marketing tool you can possibly have is being known for great work.S