Have you ever left a seminar thinking: “I could have done a better job than that!” Before you start signing up attendees, take a few minutes to think about what you are getting into.
Putting on a seminar involves planning, time, and money. Understanding the ins and outs of the industry will go a long way in helping you hold a successful seminar. That’s where I come in. Over the past 4 years, I have put on over 4,000 seminars, and a handful of national conventions. I will help you plan the event, and make sure that someone shows up!
The first thing that you need to consider is your purpose for holding the seminar. Are you trying to make money on ticket sales? Or money after the class? Are you just trying to get people in the door? Your goal of the seminar will play a huge role in the marketing method that you choose. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box here. Many companies will try to make the most money possible on all fronts. This greedy train of thought will leave your seminar lacking some very important elements. Choose one and stick with it. Many seminar gurus know that the real money in the seminar business is in the after class sales. This could be follow-up work from your instructor, a subsequent training seminar, an add-on product, etc. You want everyone to leave with something in their hand.
Now that you have your goal set, its time to put butts in chairs! Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that a successful seminar has to cost a lot of money. If your overall goal is to get after the class sales, or fill up a room consider some of these options:
No matter what method you choose, try to get your campaign rolling 2-3 weeks prior to the seminar. The marketing pieces should be in their hands within that time, anything before or after will likely go unnoticed.
Now that you have attendees, you need to focus on the seminar itself. There are many barriers to adult learning, but they are easy to overcome. The main one that I have come across has to do with the format of the class. You want to create an environment that will encourage teamwork and participation. The instructor plays a huge role in the overall feel of the seminar. They need to guide the students to the right answers, allowing them to try to find the answers in their workbooks or among each other. When creating a workbook, keep the sentences short and to the point. Avoid grammatical errors and long drawn out paragraphs. When possible, use bullet points to break up large amounts of data. If the subject warrants it, add plenty of graphics or screenshots. Over 65% of the general population is visual learners, so make sure to give them plenty to see.
Last but not least, focus on the seminar itself. Don’t get caught up in catered lunches or complex setups. Offer tea and coffee and plenty of breaks throughout the day. They are there to learn and hopefully give you their money, the rest is just details!
Matt Bacak became “#1 Best Selling Author” in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up for Matt Bacak’s Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his website at http://www.promotingtips.com or http://www.powerfulpromoter.com
