Lunch & Learn Marketing Guru?

Do you mean inviting a group of business owners to lunch, to give a group presentation?

We did some of that when I worked in computer networking.

We promoted them through the Chamber of Commerce, and sent out mailings to our customer list. For larger events, like the Microsoft Road Show, we sent to purchased business lists, also.

The sales team called all of their clients personally, also.

Lunch was kept very simple, usually Subway sandwiches, pasta salads, chips, cookies, etc.

Success of the meetings was based entirely on the perceived value of the topic. The Microsoft Road Show brought over 300 businesses in our doors for the day. A high percentage were just there for the "show" not as serious buyers.

Talks about virus protection systems, or other serious topics for businesses, brought in small groups, maybe 6 to 10, but serious buyers.

JMO....breakfasts seem to be more popular, before they start the day

I know of a number of bfst groups where I live, I attend some ....not BNI, tho I have been there as a guest

You might try a lunch and a breakfast and see which works for you. I have been to lunches, some work ,some don't. One lunch is a very structured deal and it seems to work....but it is well established

After work "happy hours" are also popular here

I honestly have to wonder why you think you need a "guru"?


Most of us feel that breakfast would be a better start....easier to get people to show up
If you develop a good following, "buzz" you could expand from there

Look for a breakfast place that will give you a private room...make sure it has wifi, abiity to plug in if you are going to do powerpoint

Dunkin Donuts has cute little "conference rooms" ....all set with big screen,
$10 an hour or less...big table, "exec" office chairs

Other local breakfast places offer a room or area

One nice thing about breakfast is that people can kind of go grab something (donut, croissant, bagel) and coffee and bring it in

If you do a lunch, unless YOU supply the sandwiches, etc it can be a pain of get the waiter over, then more people arrive late....people are more picky about their orders - "I wanted the dressing on the side"....and it can ruin the momentum of your presentation

I agree with suggestion to list the times, and if latecomers arrive, welcome them but don't "stop" for them.

One of your biggest keys to success is to make sure you TEACH something, not turn it into a sales meeting. (Yes, they know it is a sales event.)

I have been to several events hyped as "Lunch & Learn" which turned out to be an hour to 2 hour long pitch fest. Their flyer was a total disconnect from what they did.

They did not TEACH anything, except the fact they could do it for you. (Yes, our office was guilty of this tactic a time or two.)

The events that actually taught a skill, then suggested how we could help implement the solution, worked great. They produced questions, inquiries, and sales.

In your case, if you teach them how to do basic Social Media marketing, which may overwhelm them with time commitment, then explain how you can save them time and improve effectiveness.

You can even tell them about the tools you use, because most of them will not want to invest money in the tools, they'd rather pay you to do it.

I have done this successfully in the past as part of program development for an incubator. It works very well.

Forget lunch - The concept of a real "lunch hour" for most business owners is a fantasy. There are ways to use lunch successfully but this is not it.

Breakfast is great along with happy hours if you have something fun. For what you are proposing - breakfast is it.

Become a presentation MASTER - work very, very hard on your presentations FIRST - make certain you have something awesome to give.

GIVE is the key word here. Give away all the great info. Hold back NOTHING. Give away the secret sauce. Give away handouts (no secret sauce on handouts).

It's important to note these people will not steal your ideas. This type of person just really wants to understand it before they will consider it. During the presentation give concrete stories and examples of when you have done what you are teaching and what the results were.

The more you give, the more you will get hired. People will automatically know they can hire you for this and will appreciate some good business ideas. They want to know that you know more about the subject than they do and you can help them. Offer a special deal good for that day only.

Of course - call them all back within a day or two and go see them at their office.

Sorry but I just get a bad feel when people freely share info on here yet the OP wants to pay someone

IMHO a local person would be best for this - I know where to host and who hosts in my area...I know which venues are good and which suck....I don't think someone in Oregon or England could tell me what venues to use, what local avenues to promote

Honestly in any city there are probably groups doing this, other biz who do it - you can team up with them (or as the fancy ones here like to say Joint Venture) LOL

think global, act local