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Using Public Libraries to do Free Presentations?

by Nightengale
14 replies
Hi all,

Chris Negro's thread about using speeches to promote your offline services was bumped to the first page earlier today.

I thought I also saw some info on using the local public library to do the presentation.

Has anyone used the public library to do presentations to local businesses for your online marketing services?

I haven't tried this but would be very interested. The primary draw is that the venue would be free.

However, I also know that since libraries are public and federally funded, they might not be available for "commercial" use. I know that I got objections from a library for something similar years ago.

Just wondering....

Michelle
#free #libraries #presentations #public
  • Profile picture of the author Corwinnx
    Michelle,

    Nope.. can't do it. We've checked into it. If you have any kind of a business that makes any kind of a profit, you are not allowed to promote it at the library.

    There are probably ways around it, I don't know, but I doubt it's worth the trouble... try the Board of Realtors, they usually have buildings with meet space and they will sponsor events.

    Warmest Regards,
    Marcus
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Panera Bread Co. community room. ;-)

    Plus, asiago cheese bagels. :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Nope.. can't do it. We've checked into it. If you have any kind of a business that makes any kind of a profit, you are not allowed to promote it at the library.
      I'm sorry but the above statement is 100% wrong.

      Michelle, you can give a free talk at the public library and hand out promotional literature at the end. I have done it in at least four different towns where I have lived.

      I have also helped clients carry out this strategy. By sending out press releases in the local area about their talk at the public library, they got a huge writeup in the local paper - sometimes in several local papers - and were able to launch their professional practice with a bang.

      Most libraries will not let you sell anything in the library, but a friend of mine found at least one library where that was not true, and she had people lining up to purchase her book inside the library at the end of her talk.

      Now, if you go and ask the library if you can promote your business by giving a free talk there, they will say no. So you have to know exactly how to ask the question and whom to seek out to ask the question.

      By asking the right person in the right way, you can almost always get a yes.

      Marcia Yudkin
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      Ok, now I'm confused because I've gotten this same Yes and No before.

      I'm sure the library WOULD say No to helping your business.

      But what if you approached it from the angle of:

      "I would like to donate 2 hours of my time to teach local business owners how to attract more clients and customers through online marketing. The program would cover XYZ.

      It will be completely educational with solid content. No sales pitches."

      Of course, your handouts would have your contact info and possibly a small blurb about a special offer.

      Would the libraries go for something like that, especially light of the recession?


      Michael,

      I'd love to use a place like Panera or Starbucks. I don't think my local ones have a meeting room though. They would probably work for very small groups, but none of any size greater than 10.

      I think the music coming in through the PA system in my local Panera would be a bit distracting. It's a bit loud for a meeting.

      Michelle
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      • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
        Originally Posted by Nightengale View Post

        Marcus,

        That's what I thought.

        Michael,

        I'd love to use a place like Panera or Starbucks. I don't think my local ones have a meeting room though. They would probably work for very small groups, but none of any size greater than 10.

        Michelle
        That's too bad. We're fortunate to have a couple that have community rooms that hold 50-60 people.
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  • Profile picture of the author DennisM
    Hi Michelle,

    Marcia is correct. You CAN use the local public library. Ask for the head librarian. If he/she is not there then find it when. You want to talk to the true decision maker.

    Just let the library know that you'll be having a "roundtable discussion" about marketing on the Internet. Just keep it simple about the topic.

    I'm not suggesting you outright lie but less is more. Don't offer up any more info than you need to secure the meeting room.

    Another option that's worked well for me is to call VFW halls. The meeting space is extremely cheap. Depending on your area it could less than $100 for a couple of hours. Well worth the money as you'll have no problem landing a client at your event.

    Panera bread is an option. What you do is meet with your group near the back of the restaurant and pull tables together. I would spend a little money at Panera to help the business. If anything, offer everyone attending soda, coffee, tea and cover the cost yourself. The Manager will appreciate it and it builds good rapport.

    Come back here to the thread and let us know what you ended up doing.

    Thanks for sharing and good luck!
    Dennis
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    Why not just see if a church in your area will allow you to rent their board room for $50 for the day? In my area at least there are small business support centers that have board rooms for rent as well that are low cost.

    Mike Hill
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  • Profile picture of the author new2ebiz
    Here is a possible 'way in'.

    Something I did for many years was offer a workshop on a topic related to
    my business for free for the local library.
    They allowed me, and I just happened to have, handouts with an outline of what I was covering with my website and contact info included, and business cards available on my presenters table.

    Tip: I listed a url with a web page including the resources I suggested during the workshop, and said something like this at the beginning ("since url's have to be exact, or since I have such a soft voice, or to keep from having to repeat the spelling of url's so I can cover as much material as possible today" go to this url to get the links to the resources I mention today, etc.)

    As long as it was not a 'pitch fest' and I offered valuable content in the workshop they were fine.
    Make a friend with the 'workshop coordinator" at your local library and you might be surprised how easy it is to be asked to do a workshop.

    When the library listed the workshop in the local paper I also recieved free publicity.

    There are several bookstores in town with coffee 'rooms'. I have considered working a deal with them for a 'paid' workshop, splitting the fee. Haven't gotten around to this yet, but am an acquaintance if not friend of most of the local bookstores and computer outlets. This has worked in my favor as personal referals work great where I live.

    Tip: Limit the number of participants. I offered a beginner's ebay class one time and they were standing out the door!

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Shana_Adam
    Do you have a local small business support group where they help small businesses

    They would often allow businesses to get involved with the community and offer benefits like using a free room.

    Libraries are very strict most of them also require you not to disturb other people who are studying etc
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    • Profile picture of the author Corwinnx
      Marcia,

      As I said, there might be a way around it, which obviously you have found. Michelle and I live in the same state and we've tried with several libraries in several counties and have been told exactly what I stated.

      A 'back door' may be 'workable,' but we have too much respect for our public libraries to risk pissing them off.

      There are plenty of free alternatives out there. Many restaurants have meeting rooms too.

      Michelle, I've got a friend up your way whose husband is a contractor, he might know of some places, shoot me a PM and we'll chat.


      Warmest Regards,
      Marcus
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      • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
        As I said, there might be a way around it, which obviously you have found. Michelle and I live in the same state and we've tried with several libraries in several counties and have been told exactly what I stated.

        A 'back door' may be 'workable,' but we have too much respect for our public libraries to risk pissing them off.
        Marcus,

        There is no back door and nothing underhanded involved. It is absolutely legitimate if approached correctly.

        I actually am a certified rural librarian and the Library Director in the town of 900 people where I currently live.

        I've helped people implement this strategy in cities of up to 100,000 people so it's not just a rural thing.

        Marcia Yudkin
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Back in the 90's I ran a business owners workshop exclusively in library meeting rooms.

    There was no charge to attend the meetings and there was no pitch at the meetings.

    Everyone had to sign up to attend, it wasn't open to the public (the library preferred that we limit the number of people)

    Of course the list with all the contact information of the attendees was mine.

    The time and dates of the meetings were never public.

    You COULD call the library and get your contact info on the list to be notified, or sign up at the library, but for the branch I was working with it couldn't be open to who ever just would show up.

    The Library also kept a copy of who signed up.

    Mark Riddle
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    • Profile picture of the author Corwinnx
      Marcia and Dennis,

      Maybe Becky and I will have another go at it asking for the head librarian. We hold our libraries sacred and when they said no, we accepted it. I'll report back with results.

      Thanks.


      Warmest Regards,
      Marcus
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      I'm stilling mulling this method over and deciding whether I even want to do it.

      I generally am not able to make it to the various meetings and events held by my local Chamber of Commerce, so I certainly can't speak at them, either.

      I still hold a full-time job and have been freelancing. I haven't done a lot of it, but I've had some small successes which I would like to build on. Because of my day job, I can't make meetings/events held during the day.

      I like the MeetUp.com site, but the majority of the meet ups are further south than I'd like which makes it difficult to make them too. I've been thinking about starting something similar here in West Palm. That would solve THAT problem! I just need a meeting space. I think starting my own meet up would be more beneficial than attending someone else's as I'd be seen as the expert since I organized and hosted it.

      I'm not really sure I want to use the MeetUp.com site though.

      I'm wondering if starting something more informal, like a meet up, would be easier than trying to do a formal seminar/workshop. I could issue a press release to the local media and use a place like the local library or Panera. Then, if no one shows up, it's less egg on my face.

      Michelle
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