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Selling From the Stage Most Effectively

Tips for Selling From the Stage

Making money as an entrepreneur means that someone must buy from you (your own products and services) or through you (affiliate marketing) in order for you to make a sale. I thought it would be valuable for me to take you through this process with examples of how to do this effectively when you make a presentation and selling from the stage to those you are speaking to in the audience.

I’ve been a professional speaker since 2008. That was the first year I was asked to speak at a marketing conference and became immersed in the world of selling from the stage. Since that time I have spoken at dozens of live events, conferences, and workshops in various cities around the world, as well as my own events I hope twice each year. And my skills continue to improve as I make a study of myself and others to see which are the most effective strategies.

When you speak at someone’s live event you begin selling the moment you arrive. This means that all eyes are on you to learn more about who you are as a human being. This is the time to be humble, vulnerable, and caring to others. If you start bragging about your accomplishments and not truly listening to others your time with the group may be off to a start that cannot be reversed. First impressions mean everything!

If you’re an author, bring at least a few copies of your book(s) to give away to attendees. I’ve carted a suitcase filled with my books to events in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Finland, as well as on cruise ships to the Caribbean and to events throughout the United States. I’ve never sold my books or only given them to those who purchase from me at the event because that is not my business model or the way I wish to communicate with others. Instead, I make them available for those who would like them as a gift from me and then autograph them, if I am asked.

If the event I will be presenting at is not my own, I make sure to promote it to my list for several weeks in advance. There are several reasons to do this. First, it is respectful to the promoter. They will also be providing you with an affiliate link to their event, meaning that you will earn a commission for each person you invite. In my case, once someone makes a sale of any of my products they are cookied in for all future sales. Many of my speakers over the years go on to earn thousands of dollars in the future because of the people who attended my events through their affiliate link. This is the type of “big picture” thinking that brings great results over time. And do not rely solely on social media to get the word out, as this will typically be your least effective type of marketing.

Once you’re on stage, introduce yourself in relation to the topic you will be speaking about to the group. This is the moment where congruent messages must be communicated from beginning to end. What I mean by this is that many of us are credible in several areas and may speak on a variety of topics. But on that day, for ninety minutes or so you are only representing your knowledge, experience, and expertise in one specific area. This “message to market” must be consistent throughout your time at the event, while you are on stage, and for the remainder of the time you are there. Keep in mind that something you might see as pertinent to your talk may be perceived as braggadocios to others.

Your offer at the end of your presentation is where you are selling from the stage. What you offer the audience must make perfect sense for those in attendance. It’s an extension of your presentation. Including a live component becomes crucial, until you have reached the status very few attain of being THE expert and authority in your field instead of being AN authority or expert. Also, limit your bonuses and remember that less is more. Adding more and more as you share your offer is a red flag to your audience that you lack confidence in your knowledge and overall in your life. Instead, offer one or two bonuses that make sense to complete your package. Keep it simple and in alignment with what you wish to project about yourself and your knowledge.

If public speaking and selling from the stage are a part of your business model, make sure to get in front of a live audience once a month to practice your skills. Be open to ideas and feedback on what you could change to be even more effective. Once I made the decision and commitment to add this to my business I learned how to close as many sales as possible at each event where I was fortunate enough to be asked to present on my topic.

I’m Connie Ragen Green and I work with new online entrepreneurs to help them get into profit as quickly as possible. Download your Online Entrepreneur Blueprint and get started right away.

How to Create Online Courses from Your Writing

Learning How to Create Online Courses

Everything you write can be repurposed into another format, allowing you to create many types of content for your audience. Today let’s discuss how to create online courses based on your writing. I’ve actually done this successfully several times myself and want to share how this will be effective to build your business. It all comes down to choosing the topic you will teach to others, creating an outline to work from, and then preparing the material you will use during your online course.

Most likely you write about many topics under the umbrella of your overall topic. For instance, my overall topic is internet or online marketing, but within that I write about blogging, publishing, affiliate marketing, list building, information products, social media, traffic generation, video marketing, traffic generation, and so much more. When I set out to create an online course I am focusing on just one aspect of my business. This is based on what my clients have been asking me about most during the previous month or so, what is needed by my community, and how I wish to position myself in my business.

The next step is to create a tight outline of exactly what I want to include in my online course, as well as what information I will exclude. I have learned over the years that having a thorough and complete outline is crucial to this process turning out well. Dividing your online course into logical sections is a part of this, and making sure that you start at the beginning of your topic instead of somewhere in the middle is also very important.

Finally, it’s time to create your online course. I name my course, purchase a domain name, set up a site with a sales page and a membership site, and create a slide presentation. This may seem like a lot of work the first couple of times you go through it, but finally it will all fall into place like clockwork, I promise. Learn the rhythm of creating presentations that appeal to your audience and everything else will come together seamlessly.

As you can see, learning how to create an online course can be easier and more simple than you might have previously thought possible. Take the time to choose a topic that you know enough about to teach to others and that will position you as an authority on that topic. And make sure your audience is interested in learning all about the topic before you choose it. Start creating your outline right away, making sure to write down every single thought and idea that could be included. You will find that the outlining of your course allows you to think back to ideas, concepts, and strategies you may be taking for granted right now. Then, create your online course by adding content to your membership site, as well as by teaching webinars live. Don’t forget to add additional content and materials, such as study guides, templates, workbooks, checklists, and short videos.

Now you know how to create an online course to build your business. What other questions do you have for me on this topic?

I’m Connie Ragen Green, online marketing strategist, bestselling author, and international speaker on the topics of entrepreneurship and inner game mind shifts. Let’s connect to see how I may best serve you in the near future. And be sure to check out my Really Simple Online Courses training course.

Making The Shift From Employee To Entrepreneur

Making The Transition From Employee to Entrepreneur

Recently I spent time with a group of newer entrepreneurs in a workshop setting. As we sat together that afternoon the conversation turned to the idea of connecting with a non-profit group as a way to network with others. I’m a Rotarian (Rotary is an international service organization) and they were discussing the cost of being a member of this group. One woman said that she had been told that her local Rotary Club cost about seven hundred dollars a month to be a part of, and I reacted strongly to this by saying that the dues were about three hundred dollars a year and that the cost of the meal each week would run somewhere between eight and thirty dollars. I was shocked in part by the fact that information had been obtained second hand, instead of more directly from the organization itself. But I sat back as the group discussed the pros and cons of being a member of a non-profit group like Rotary. The cost appeared to be the first aspect of this that would make the difference as to whether someone would even visit a Rotary Club meeting in their local city.

I realized very quickly that I was actually witnessing a conversation about the difference between employees and employers, and what it truly means to go from being an employee to an entrepreneur. It’s a mind shift that takes some time, and cannot possibly occur until you set your intention and take action on your goals.

When I left the world of classroom teaching and working part-time in real estate behind in 2006, I worked hard at making the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Even though I owned my real estate business, I was far from being entrepreneurial in my day to day activities. The bulk of my income continued to come from teaching, and the employee mentality was a strong one I would have to overcome.

As an employee I looked to my supervisors and administrators for guidance on what actions to take each day. I had some say-so as to what I could do with the children in my classroom, but it had to fit into the structure of what the school and the school district has decided. Now don’t get me wrong here; I had lots of ideas about what would work effectively in the classroom and wanted to share and implement those ideas with others. But the truth was that I was not being paid to have what I considered to be fresh and innovative ideas. No, I was being paid to follow directions and achieve specific results. From Employee to Entrepreneur

Once I left the classroom I began to see things very differently. Soon I was thinking of myself as a creative thinker and everything began to shift. Instead of thinking about how much it would cost for me to join Rotary and be a part of a worldwide organization that could help more people than I could even imagine, I jumped in and got to work. And the interesting thing is that my business took off as a result of the people I met at Rotary and the shift in my thinking that occurred as a result.

Do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Refuse to continue thinking as an employee who needs constant instructions and direction as to what to do in each situation. Make a conscious mind shift from employee to entrepreneur and jump in with both feet to what is possible in your life and your business. Networking with other like-minded individuals is a crucial step in this process. You can’t possibly change without changing your surroundings, and that includes the people along with the scenery.

Which people and groups do you consider to be a crucial part of your success story?

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Connie Ragen Green Shares Internet Marketing Updates