With Neil Godin

As I wrote yesterday’s post it struck me that very few of you (“you” being mainly our target market of business owners and sales/marketing people), are going to start tweeting, friending, linking, and tubing – unless you’ve got something to talk about. So. Today let’s talk about what you could be talking about.
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What? I urge my consulting/coaching clients to hold special events. For example, a wine and cheese reception – in connection with an anniversary, a product launch, a presentation by an industry expert that you bring in – almost “whatever” – gives you a perfect “something” to talk about – using both social media, and traditional communication.

Why? Nothing is easier to “sell” than an invitation to a reception. My clients use the invitation process to build their data bases – and make actual sales. This happens when they call businesses in their target market and ask “who” to email their invitations to – while (invariably and unavoidably) getting into conversations that lead to sales – without ever feeling that they are selling. Similarly, if you’re holding an event, and you use your LinkedIn connections – who are all in your “business” network – and ask them to let appropriate people know in their network – you are going to attract a lot of people who you would never have reached otherwise. All without feeling that you are “selling” or “spamming” your connections.

How? Here are the steps in organizing a typical reception with my clients.

• Pick a reason – any reason – to hold a reception.
• Hold your event between four and six p.m. on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
• We choose that time slot because people are able to work most of the day before coming, and still have most of their evening open.
• List the clients, prospects, vendors, etc. that you want to attract.
• Develop a social media plan of attack (will you produce an invitation video on YouTube that you send people to, using other SM channels?)
• Conduct an email marketing campaign – inviting people in your target market to come – and to bring colleagues (prospective clients) they would like to introduce to you.
• Use the telephone, as mentioned above, for the reasons mentioned above.
• Execute on the details.
• Have fun!

Tipzntrix: It doesn’t have to be a wine and cheese reception. You could take over a section of a pub or bar and hold a Meetup event with a no-host bar. Or whatever works for you. Targeting your ideal (potential client) audience is “the” key to success. If you use social media for socializing (hey, some people actually do), you won’t want to invite all your friends and family (and their friends and family) on Facebook to your event. So. You will want to be choosy about what SM channels you use. Your best bets: YouTube, Meetup groups of your potential customers, and LinkedIn.
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Mark your Calendar – for our next Meetup Event – on June 5

Yes. We have scheduled our second Meetup session. And here are the details:

Date: Saturday, June 5
Location: Hampton Inn, Langley (Metro Vancouver) Canada
Time: 3:30 to 5:00
Speaker: Social Media Twizzard, Trilby Jeeves – Speaking on “Twitter”
(We are so lucky she was available – you don’t want to miss this one!)
Fee: No Charge.

Request: Please RSVP – and – would you please alert your business friends?
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Note: Neil’s eBook for just $9 – But only until May 25. Order yours now!

Neil’s book, “Selling in the (Comfort) Zone,” has helped me generate many tens of thousands of dollars as I’ve used his marketing and sales how-to’s to grow my own business. I’ve actually read the book three times, and I recommend it very strongly. Now, for one week only, you can purchase an e-copy of the book for just $9 US – a 50% discount!

Click here to link to our store:
Then please copy and paste this code:  CHALLENGEWEEK1
Then click on the word ‘Apply.’

This is your all-in-one guide to Neil’s ‘organic’ approach to marketing and sales.

279 action-packed pages — full of business building ideas, examples, how-to’s and success stories. All designed to help you multiply your sales — without leaving your comfort zone.
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Have you subscribed to our free Marketing Dangerously newsletter yet? If you haven’t already done so, please do so today. This is where we deliver a dynamic, creative (often edgy and always entertaining), business building idea every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s free of charge, and thousands of business builders say they love it. Click here to join us now.
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A special request: We would love to hear your story. If you use social media in any way to build your business, please send an email to ndgodin@shaw.ca, or jonathan@neilgodin.com with the details – or provide your telephone number, and we will call you for details.

A special thank you: We will say ‘thank you’ with a copy of Neil’s ebook, ‘How to Start Your Economic Recovery– Right Now!’ for every idea submitted – whether we publish the idea or not. If you already have a copy of
this ebook, let us know and we will send you a valuable alternate product.

Thanks very much!  Neil Godin begin  and Jonathan Christian
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