[video] 2012 Goals

We’re already in month two of 2012, how’d that happen?
Here are 3 quick tips that will help ensure that you’re going to reach your goals this year!

Feel free to comment below!

My Biggest Blunders of 2011

I think it’s healthy to learn from your mistakes, don’t you?

And in this situation, by sharing, I might help you avoid some of my biggies.  So let’s get right to it:

FIRE, BEFORE READY AND AIM

You know I have people coming to me every day who want to book more speeches (Fire) when they aren’t really clear on what they are selling (Ready). So it surprised me when I did the same thing!

Mid way through the year, I decided I wanted to put on The Wealthy Speaker Masters event. I would bring in some smart people for a weekend and we’d have a great time. I got all the way thru to the marketing stage when I realized “I don’t know what value I am providing”. Yes, it would be fun to have an event, but “what was the point?”

So, after doing some research and seeing that a bunch of speakers were running events as well, I pulled the plug and went back to the drawing board. AND, with the knowledge that I wanted to provide some steady, and solid learning, combined with accountability, I came back out with The Wealthy Speaker University – Self Study, Bachelors and Masters programs (10-12 months).

The results? My two main programs sold out and I’ve added a great new revenue stream.
http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

How can you expand on your current offerings? And when you develop them, how will you Ready, Aim, Fire?

BOOK MARKETING 101

My second blunder of the year was launching a book into a market that didn’t know me. If I had my time back, I would start blogging 3 years before launching “The Frog Whisperer” (a book on love and dating). That way, I’d have an audience, some credibility and people that know me waiting to receive the book.

I had that luxury with “The Wealthy Speaker”, but I didn’t realize how much it was worth.
http://frogwhisperer.com/

If you’re thinking about launching a book, my advice is to build your market first – either through speaking or writing.

Want to share some of your blunders?Please comment below.

PS: The Self Study program of The Wealthy Speaker University is a terrific first step for anyone wanting to launch a speaking business, or take a 3-5 year business to the next level. Drop me a line if you have any questions.

http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

What’s Your Game Changer?

Movies, stand up comedy and even pizza are seeing evolutions in their business models that are game changers.

Here in Canada (home of the overpriced pizza) Little Caesars developed the $5 hot and ready pizza. Total game changer. Why pay $20 when you can pick one up for $5?

Comedian Louie CK offered up his latest live video on his website without any restrictions for a $5 immediate download. Unheard of since pirates could have a field day, but he did it fearlessly and created a game changer. He also made a bundle. http://ow.ly/8m4fu

In his latest movie, Newlyweds, Indy film producer Ed Burns got story ideas from Twitter, found some of his stars on YouTube, offered an unsigned artist a song in his movie and made it available directly for download. All game changers. http://ow.ly/8m4er

What’s your version of game changer in your business?

Joe Calloway doesn’t always give speeches, he’s often asked to interview a CEO on stage, allowing the corporate message to be heard in a unique and interesting way. (And no one makes others look like heros better than Calloway, so of course, his clients love it!)

How can you create something that no one else has done before?

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

ps: My game changer a few years back was developing my group coaching model. It’s been very successful and has now evolved into The Wealthy Speaker University. We have just 1 or 2 spots open. Please check this out and drop me a line to check availability and wait lists. http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

Two Quick Tips to Minimize Distractions

Even for people who don’t celebrate, the holidays are a busy time of the year.

I thought this would be a good time to re-visit my strategy around moving through distractions.

Here’s Video Blog (vlog) #2

Happy holidays to all and I look forward to helping you grow your business in 2012.

PS: In 2012, what will you do to ensure that you are moving your business forward every single month? If you need help with this, you might
consider The Wealthy Speaker University. Our Masters program is full, but there are still spots left in the Bachelors.
http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

Move Your Business Forward in 2012

In the year 2012, how many times do you intend to stop working “in” your business, long enough to work “on” your business, i.e: move your strategy forward?

What if you could have an expert in your corner to help you avoid time consuming and costly mistakes?

The Wealthy Speaker University was created to offer you a systemized approach to moving your business forward every single month. http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

There are 3 separate programs to choose from:

Self Study: For the individual who wants a low cost option and can work through the program on their own.

Bachelors (6 openings left): For the speaker who is in the early years of their career and wants to catapult more quickly.

Masters (2 openings left): For seasoned speakers who have reached a plateau and want to ramp up some serious forward momentum.

The Bachelors and Masters programs offer small group sizes and a combination of learning modules (audio and video), monthly mastermind calls and private coaching time with Jane. There’s a bonus retreat for the Masters program.

What’s the bottom line outcome? You’ll walk away with clear positioning, marketing materials that work to get you booked, a deeper understanding of how to win the business and focus on the things that matter to propel you ahead. Plus, you’ll have a coach with 20 years in the business at your side!

Feel free to send me an e-mail if you have any questions. jane@speakerlauncher.com

http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

PS: I am well aware that there are programs popping up every day for speakers – many by other speakers. But I do know that what I bring to the table is unique. Having worked with hundreds of speakers, I’ve seen all angles on our industry and I have what it takes to help grow your business! Check out the testimonials…. http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

Are Your Expanding Your Empire?

For years I’ve been talking about how speaking is just one of the ways we distribute our knowledge.

We write books, consult, coach and a whole host of other things that help drive revenue. Since the economy keeps shifting, the days of the $15,000 speaker doing 50-70 gigs a year might be behind us.

We must distribute our knowledge in other ways.

For instance, the first time the economy dipped a few years back, it hit my coaching business pretty hard. That was when I developed the “club” idea. I thought “okay, if people can’t afford private coaching any more, then we’ll do it in groups”.

It was a big hit.

And for 2012, I’ve expanded on the idea even further with The Wealthy Speaker University.
http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

I tell you this for two reasons.

1) Of course, I want you to take a look at the University as a possible method for driving your business forward next year. Self serving, sure.

But 2. I wonder what your own version of The University might be? Think about what your clients want from you and work backwards from there. Do they want more time with you? Do they want training that you could provide in video?

There are many outlets for us to use to expand our empire.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

ps: The Wealthy Speaker University has programs for 3 different levels. Please give it a look as we’ve added a bunch of cool new features. The big benefit? Every month, for 12 months next year, you’ll be moving your business strategy forward! What’s that worth? http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

 

How Strong is Your Fan Base?

In The Wealthy Speaker 2010 Update, I talked about our new approach to marketing. Our goal is to pull people into our fan base long enough to impress them (so they buy from us).

Get your PDF copy of the update here.

The success of this approach really depends on the strength of your lists, or your fan base.

Read more

Are you New School or Old School?

As time whips by, the gap between old school and new school is expanding.

If you haven’t quite cottoned on to technology, you could be old school.

If you use terms like “cottoned on”, you might be old school (that’s a joke ).

If your first instinct is to pick up the phone, rather than shoot off an e-mail or a text, you could be old school.

And, if you don’t have any systems in place to pull “fans” into your database, you may be old school. The old school method of call-send-call is not nearly as likely to happen these days. Call a prospect, find out there’s a need, send a packet of information, follow up with a call. At least part, if not all, of the sales process will now be done electronically.

Now some of you might say, but the phone is very effective for me! The key is to know how your prospects work best. Many people these days prefer quick and easy communication, especially since phone calls have the ability to drag on.

In my 2011 Update for The Wealthy Speaker, I said: “Where before you might have been building a relationship by phone, now your goal is to pull people into your fan base and keep them there long enough to impress them.”

To get your copy of the update, click here: http://speakerlauncher.com/2011update.html

Pulling people into your fan base (new school style) can mean using a name capture on your website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging.  And, of course, if you can get some phone or Skype time with your client, take it!

If you’re new school, then you’re on the right track, woo hoo! And if you’re old school, let’s hope this prompts you to identify what’s not working and make some changes to the way you do business.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

ps: See some of our recordings on new school methodologies (like blogging, creating fame and social media). http://www.speakerlauncher.com/AudioTools.html

 

Who are the Smarty McFarty’s in your life?

Everyone needs a smart person to talk to.

That someone in your corner who can be annoying at times, but when you think about what they have said, they often have impact.

My brother was this for me, and I didn’t really realize it until it was too late.

He passed away in January 2010.

Our long distance chats would never be less than an hour and would usually end with me saying “okay Cliff, that’s enough, I can’t take any more information”.

My brother Cliff inspired my interest in many things: travel, entrepreneurship, continuous learning. He was a self help junkie and an avid reader on many topics. He also had a great sense of humor.

We all need a Smartie McFarty, like Cliff, to help stimulate our thinking. Even if they don’t understand your profession (many people don’t “get” us) they can offer us perspectives that we may not have thought of – we just need to stay open.

Who are the Smarty McFarty’s in your life?

Are you appreciating them?

Feel free to give them a shout out here with a comment below.

Bottom line. Don’t wait to tell the people who are important to you that they are having an impact.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

PS: Wanna have me as your Smarty McFarty? There is one spot open in Club Hybrid which started this month, check it out! http://www.speakerlauncher.com/ClubHybrid.html

 

Brand Expansion: Growing Your Umbrella

Recently I told you that I was adding a new lane to my business model. Here’s the link to the Vlog if you missed it. http://ow.ly/6pcDh

Adding a new umbrella takes work and focus and is not recommended for all. Note: when I speak about the umbrella, I’m talking about your business model that focuses on your lane (topic area). If you missed it, here’s the PDF of the umbrella again, along with a post that explains it. http://ow.ly/6uf55

Expanding your umbrella (rather than starting a new one) is a much easier approach. What that means is adding more products and services to the mix.

What are some ways to expand? Here are just a few:

Consulting
Webinars
Membership Clubs
New or expanded product lines
Mastermind clubs (paid)
Coaching
Public Seminars
Phone App’s
Home Study Programs

I offer many of these in my own business model, all under The Wealthy Speaker umbrella, and will be developing three more for the new year.

What are your plans to expand? Feel free to share by commenting below.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

PS: I’m doing a bunch of Focus 40 sessions this fall helping speakers get clarity around their brands and their umbrella. To have yours, check this out: http://speakerlauncher.com/focus40.html

Next Page »