As a professional at home on the platform, you’ve spent years polishing a compelling message. The presentations you make are honed to perfection. Your delivery style draws raves and repeat bookings. So why dont you deliver a taste of your best stuff to the whole world?
Easily done! Send articles that provide a sample of your message and speaking personality to numerous Internet directories and ezines. The biggest auditorium couldnt contain all the people exposed to a single article widely posted online. While the cost is minimal (mainly your time), the impact from articles can be gigantic! Consider the benefits. http://www.promotewitharticles.com/benefits.html
Internet Exposure is Crucial for Name Recognition
A spokesman at the National Speakers Association ( http://www.nsaspeaker.org ) indicated that, "Nearly all our members have a website, anymore. Its a huge part of their differentiation." Information that can be posted on the speakers website is miles ahead of a traditional brochure to highlight their message and qualifications. Websites can be kept up to date, and eliminate the delays of mailing materials to prospects. Not to mention, people can find you through search engine queries related to your specialized topics.
A typical speaker isnt satisfied to appear only on their own site. Many promote their services on other websites, too - expert sites, websites maintained by their agents or publishers, and resource sites related to their forte. The Internet shines when it comes to reaching targeted groups - the very people you want to know about you. Also, you can control the niches or organizations you reach by where you submit your material.
A speakers well-placed articles accomplishes the same thing. Posting even one multiplies the number of sites where your name appears. Repeated in-depth articles on a theme build momentum. Your unique spin on a topic will draw readers to your website so they can delve deeper.
Adopt a Speedy Delivery Method
Simply listing your topics or programs cant convey the depth of your message. The 600 to 800 word length is longer than a sound-bite, providing a realistic sample of your expertise - like a mini-speech. Your signature (Sig) at the end provides your short ad. Imagine this. The article you write this morning can be submitted to hundreds of places this afternoon. And within a few days it appears on numerous websites, ezines, and search engines. Before a world-wide readership! Rebecca Morgan is sold on marketing ones speaking through online articles. "Although its hard to quantify some of the results, its a great boost when people keep telling me, I see your name everywhere. Some of my articles have shown up over 100 places." Her weekly ezine and forum is a storehouse of insider advice to profit from speaking. Subscribe for free.
Articles Attract Speaking Bookings
Frank Candy, American Speakers Bureau, looks at online articles from the agents perspective. "It [posting articles] absolutely works to position yourself as an expert in the marketplace. The problem with the Internet is, theres too much fluffy stuff out there. Getting your articles widely placed lets people see the depth of your knowledge." Speaker and public relations professional, Michele Wierzgac says, "Writing assures that I spend more time refining my message. My two monthly columns expose me to 300,000 readers every month. And that leads to more speaking opportunities." She credits her articles with broadening her niche much faster than she expected. Speaking to the aviation industry accounts for over 30% of Ralph Hoods speaking dates. An added bonus comes from turning columns into books sold from his website/ When he started speaking full time (1985) he didnt want to waste his career connections. So he stays visible as a columnist for six monthly trade publications. To quote him, "Being a columnist doesnt eliminate marking, but its an extremely helpful part of it. And they pay me for each column - besides them showing Im an expert."
Package your Content for the Web
Its often said, "On the Internet, content is king." As a speaker, youve got content - up to your knees in it. You can pass it out all day long (and often do). Your challenge isnt what to write about, but deciding what to do with the articles once theyre written.
Develop your Customized List of Places to Post Articles (besides the well-known article directories):
- Search Google for your name or company. Any website already mentioning you is probably willing to receive your fresh material
- Websites/ezines of companies or groups where youve spoken
- Anywhere youve sent promotional material " your prospects. Use in your own ezine or as a stand-alone, "Thought youd be interested" piece
- Search Google for your field or targeted niche. In the Search Within Results box type "Submit articles," for a list of places receptive to submissions
- Places that publish any article of yours receive future ones
- Identify a prolific article writer who speaks to your same market. Search on their name, and submit your material to places where their articles appear.
