Running Local Workshops?

13 years ago

Adam,

I decided to launch a mini seminar (limited # of attendees) just to get back into the swing. My first one is March 16th and it will be only one hour long. We have 20 seats available and have 10 commitments. That doesn't mean anything other than 10 people said they'd show up. In reality between 3 and 5 will show.

Here is how we are filling the seats. We go to various networking group meetings as well as talk to the biz people we know. Not very scientific or professional but it seems to be working.

Another way is to do a workshop for a local charity that has 10 or more employees. Tell them they can invite their biz owner donors. If each employee rounds up 2 people you have at least 20 chairs filled. I use ten because that tells me they are known in the community.

Do you have any friends at the Las Vegas News & Review? Have them write an article about you and sponsor one of your seminars. A lot of biz people read this paper.

Hope this helps.

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Huskerdarren

13 years ago

Did you by chance read Claude's Kindle book on Amazon? He spends a good bit of time explaining his workshop business in it. It was good info and covers a lot of things you might not think of unless you're really experienced at it. Good luck.

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Catalyst eMarketing 13 years ago

I don't have specific answer for you.

Just wanted to mention that in the consultants corner at my forum where we discuss business-building and lead gen issues for local search consultants, many have had great success with doing free local SEO workshops.

Some of my consultants have shared some good tips about how to do them but I don't think any have shared ideas yet on how to fill seats or how they promote the workshops.
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Claude Whitacre

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ADukes81

I messaged Mr. Claude Whitacre the other day about how to fill a workshop. A post from Ewen back in November inspired me to look into running workshops/seminars and I went "all in" on it.

I have bought 15-20 courses on workshops, read every blog about it, bought audio interviews that I have on repeat in my car and have ran 2 workshops so far. I have one booked for the 28th of this month and I have 2 booked for March.

My question (to Claude Whitacre and others)....

How do you go about getting "butts in the seats"? The 2 speaking engagements I have in March I was invited to speak at so I didn't have to do any marketing for, but would like to know how to fill the seats for thew ones I run myself.

Free?

Paid?

Industry specific?

Appreciate any/all advice!

Adam; Tell us a little about your program.

There are two main approaches to filling a room. One is industry specific. Do you want all the carpet cleaners in an area to attend?

Or is your subject more like something everyone would like...for examle, stop smoking, weight loss, gambling, investing, meditating, ..that sort of thing.

meaning, you target everyone wit a specific interest, or everyone in a specific business. If your topic is "local internet marketing", then I would speak to small groups of business people. Chamber of Commerce, referral groups, or just invite them personally.

If the topic has wide appeal (like a hobby), then I would use postcards to fill the room. You need to tell us more.

Oh, yeah, and read my book. It has the exact steps I use to fill a room with small business owners.

And what are you selling at the event? Price point? terms? Delivered there? Is you topic industry specific? Will you travel, or are they comig to you?

Thanks

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ADukes81

13 years ago

Yea, I guess that would help, now wouldn't it?

I am gathering business owners and selling IM services. This workshop is basic IM 101; Direct response website, email AR, explain SEO/marketing, conversions, mobile friendly and that's about it. I pitch them a "system" not necessarily a website, expalin this is an asset that is constantly working 24/7 (with AR in place).

I basically have 3 types of packages I will offer. I did not pitch my first 2 workshops as I was getting over my fear of public speaking.

I plan to run 3 workshops;
1. IM 101
2. The importance of a strong reputation
3. Marketing (SEO/SEM/PPC/offline)

I started with IM 101 with a proper website because I see so many small businesses with horrible websites. What is the point of marketing a poorly designed website? Next importance is reputation. Again, why market (online or offline) when you have a bad reputation? Money down the drain. I think of these 3 things being a pyramid with a solid website being the base, a strong positive reputation being next, then marketing it.

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Huskerdarren 13 years ago

Regarding point #2, the importance of a strong reputation, you should use the SF Fitness debacle of today as an example. They wouldn't pay their web designer, a small company in Europe, so the web designer replace the website with an open letter to shame them for their refusal to pay. Another widely read website then ran with the story and it's now since gone viral. They are getting killed on Yelp. Man, what a disaster.
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- Claude Whitacre 13 years ago
  
  if it was Me? I'd focus on Internet Marketing 101. You 'll get the biggest crowd, they will be the easiest to sell (because the offer is easier to explain) and you can upsell them after they are clients.
  
  You should list your seminar in the newspaper under "Coming events"
  List your meeting on Meetup.com
  I would visit owners of small businesses and invite them personally.
  Ask if they are attending any referral groups, and offer to speak there.
  
  If 30 people give their word that they will show up, expect ten.
  
  I'm assuming you are only working locally.
  
  Find blogs and online Forums for small business owners. Start posting god information.
  
  Make a video about the event (without dates) and embed it on your website.
  
  But the personal visits and invitations are what will sell the event, and fill the room.
  
  Print tickets for the event. Not tons, but maybe 100 (or the minimum). Make sure the address & date are on the ticket.
  
  Me? I would ask if they hare members of a trade association. My big monry is speaking for trade associations.
  
  Tip: If you are selling websites, show Google search results with your websites ranking highly. Make it part of your power points presentation.
  
  Use the presentation to explain all the things that can be done to get a website ranked and get it viewed (videos, offers, coupons, etc)
  
  As you're explaining this, the audience will slowly go from thinking "I have a website, I don't need this guy. I'm just here for the Nachos" to "We aren't doing any of that. We need him to build a website for us"
  
  I know a guy that is a terrible speaker...and not very good at explaining what he does. But I keep seeing half the room give him $200 a month...forever..for a decent website.
  
  Don't charge for the talk. You'll make far more money from the new clients. Believe me, I've done it both ways.
  
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  DABK 13 years ago
  
  Can you have your chamber of commerce announce it in their e-newsletter?
  
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CageyVet

13 years ago

Meetup.com....find a local meetup group for businesses, consultants, entrepreneurs etc and contact the group owner to setup a workshop, seminar or what ever....The first one is usually either done for free or at a very nominal fee but at the same time, these meetup groups usually only have an hour or so to meetup.

Then once you have some of the meetup group members in the seats, you thing just work the pitch to get them into the main workshop that you offer for a paid fee.

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KingOfContentMarketing

13 years ago

Get on Daphne's list here (no affil):

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Lots of good info.

More here:

Event Strategy Solutions

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Running Local Workshops?

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