Video is one of the best mediums to get your message across as a speaker and build your list. You would notice on this blog that I use it a lot. It allows people to connect with you at a personal level and start to feel like they know you. Then when you have something to offer them they are ready to join your list or buy from you.

Today is the second in our series of “lazy web celeb” grillings where I am interviewing Gideon Shalwick all about video! Gideon is an expert in this area and one of my mentors when it comes to using video on the web.

There are still places to join me on the call, just go to this page and get the lazy web celeb series including a copy of my new book “Our Internet Secrets”.

www.shiftspeakertraining.com/lazy

By Spike Humer and Darren Stephens

Well first, what is “turnaround”?  Most people think about a turnaround as a time when a business is attempting to avert bankruptcy or a total demise.  We like to think in terms of prevention rather than a cure.

Think of it as a “remodeling” or perhaps a redefining or refining of a business.  It can be done anyplace, anytime, or by anyone looking to be a creator of change rather than a victim of circumstance.

We have a proprietary model called “The 10 Day Turnaround”.

Can you really turn your business around in ten days?  Could you lose fifty pounds in ten days? Probably not, but in business just as in life you can create a plan for positive change and begin implementing the key steps on your path to progress.

Is your business in need of a turnaround?

First, you need to know the current state of your business.

Ask yourself:

• Is my business living up to its potential and performing at the highest level of performance possible?
• Is my business providing me all of the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards I desire and deserve?
• Am I and is my business recognized as the obvious choice in my market and respected a leader in my industry?

If your answer is “yes” congratulations, you probably only need to refine, reinforce what your currently doing and find way simply to expand on your success.  If your answer is “no” then it’s definitely time for a re-tooling, remodeling, or “turnaround”.

Can you do it in ten days? Of course you can if you have the plan and that is what “The 10 Day Turnaround” is all about.

Find out more: www.the10dayturnaround.com

How do you get the right media attention for your speaking business? I didn’t really know, so I asked my good friend and Our Internet Secrets colleague and faculty member Sue Gardiner to write an article for me.

Enjoy!
Joey

The 3 Biggest Myths About Free Publicity Busted

By journalist & media & marketing strategist Sue Gardiner

There are certain misconceptions and lies about free publicity that have been floating around for donkey’s years that I want to kill once and for all.

Myth # 1 – Be careful using free publicity because journalists will often turn nasty and you’ll end up with negative exposure

You’ve seen camera crews chasing their unfortunate victims on current affairs shows and you’ve probably come away with the impression that this could happen to you.

The truth is that it’s highly unlikely. Here’s why…

In 99.9% of those cases, the media approached these people not the other way around.

But when you’re the one approaching the media all they know about you is what you’ve told them in your press release.

So they are almost certainly going to follow the positive publicity angle you’ve handed them.

Those negative stories stick in your mind. But they happen way less often than you think.

So don’t cheat yourself out of the benefits of free PR by false fears.

Two of my clients who had similar fears about appearing on Channel Nine’s A Current Affair, for example, have made over $500,000 and counting from their one minute on screen.

Do you think they’re pleased they overcame their paranoia?

Damn straight!

Myth # 2 – A press release is similar to an ad

Writing your press releases like ads is the fastest way to get them binned.

Instead, you need to position yourself as a provider of a newsworthy story or quality information NOT as a salesperson. 

If you learn this one lesson, you’ll be ahead of 95% of other free publicity seekers.

Myth # 3 – You’ve got to know someone in the media to get free publicity.

As in any area of life, having media contacts sure doesn’t hurt.

But journalists write thousands of stories every year and we don’t have that many friends. Some of us don’t have any friends.

I’ve successfully gotten my clients tens of thousands of dollars of publicity despite having no personal contacts in the newsrooms that I was targeting.

This is great news because it means everyone can cash in on free media exposure.

For a free 10-page report by Sue Gardiner valued at $37 called the ‘The 5 Biggest Mistakes Free Publicity Seekers Make… And How To Avoid Them’ visit www.FreePublicityForProfit.com

4 Strategies for Getting More Exposure
Than Paris Hilton – Bare Minimum Effort
without the Bare Bottom

Internet marketing is not my game, but over the years I have learnt enough to make sure that when people hear about me and go searching online- they find me.  As a speaker I believe this is the bare minimum you must have.

So how do you get enough exposure while still keeping your clothes on?

You need to have 4 simple things:

1.    Blog: Blogging is so simple and easy to get set up, and to do that you would be crazy not to have one.  If you missed Vanessa’s article on how to get your account set up on your own name domain- click here for last edition.

2.    Video: With youtube being such a powerful search engine in its own right, and ours being such a TV culture; you would be a fool not to optimize your natural talents as a speaker and get some video out into cyber space. Make sure you have your own youtube channel!

3.    Social networking: It’s really quite the faux pas not to be on Facebook these days if you are in the information marketing game.  Unless you’re a “conscientious objector” in which case I would have to ask- do you want to make money or be “right”?  Learn to use Twitter and Facebook to your profile-building advantage.

4.    Opt-in page: Ensure every bit of online profile you build is leveraged effectively through opt-in pages that build your list.  Your  own list is always the most valuable asset you can have as a business owner- so mastering this art is crucial.

Join me for the “Lazy Web Celeb” series where I will be grilling 4 International Online Experts for the “bare Minimum effort” to maximise your online exposure.  Find out more here…

I’m always asked “how do I get more gigs?”  Well the problem for most speakers is not that they aren’t decent speakers.  It’s that no-one knows they exist!  Which is why, for better or for worse you have to work at increasing two fundamentals:

1. Your Celebrity
2. Your Credibility

Help people get to know you! You should film every engagement you do and edit together a “showreel” a bit like this.  It should show off some teaching, some fun, some audience involvement and maybe some testimonials too.

That way promoters can see your style and feel good about having you speak at their event.

Cheers,