Is your consulting business in a slump?

Are you are already making money but need to make more?

How to Improve your Speaking and Consulting Business in a Down Market
by Alan Weiss, Ph.D,CSP,CMC aka half of The Odd Couple®

A cataclysmic combination of recent events have created the worst market for professional services that Patricia Fripp and I have seen in the last 10 years. However, don't dismiss any problems you're having as inevitable, the result of the economy! Some people are doing quite well. You can still make a good living, given the sheer size of the American economy. Some fields are still very hot: coaching, strategy, sales improvement, etc. What's missing now is trust, and that can return at any time.

Now is the time to invest in image, not start major undertakings.

• This is NOT the time to buy a new computer or move to a new office if you don't absolutely need them.
  
  
• This IS the time to improve your literature, web site, and collateral materials.

Now is the time to stand out in a crowd by making sure your promotion focuses on pragmatic results. For example:

• Use inexpensive marketing techniques DAILY.
  
  
• Network at every opportunity, but with the intent of finding quality, not quantity. Go back to every past client and ask for referrals.
  
  
• Submit print and electronic articles.
  
  
• Form alliances with people with whom there is synergy.

Diversify, if not now, then in the future. My own business would never be where it is if I weren't diversified. I've heard top professionals tell me, "Thank goodness I'm no longer earning a living solely from keynoting," or, "I'm glad I branched out from one consulting specialty." The more different industries you can work with, the more chance some of them are performing well in any economy.

"No matter where you are in your 'getting paid to speak' career this is the perfect time to increase your skills!"
—Patricia Fripp ,CSP, CPAE

A NOTE FROM FRIPP ON THE ODD COUPLE®

Although Alan Weiss and I are very different in background and approaches, we agree on many things. Our vigorous combination of agreement and disagreement adds to the lively discussions at the Odd Couple® Marketing and Strategy seminars for speakers, trainers and consultants.

My advice: Your efforts need to be ongoing, consistent and relentless. Also a combination of hi-tech and low-tech. I echo Alan's belief that you should invest wisely in your career, while NOT spending money you don't have to. Your career is both your "today" and where you want to be in the future. "Think big--start small" is one of my favorite expressions.

Your best investment is in education and training. And your first subject of study should be finding out what to invest in. What's best for YOU and YOUR objectives? What comes first? Improving your knowledge and skills in speaking and marketing? Office organization and technology? Webmarketing? Or better understanding of the speaking and consulting business?

• Would you enjoy picking the brains of successful individuals who have built a speaking business or consulting practice that is close to your ideal model?

• Would you like to ask questions of an expert webmaster who is not trying to sell you anything?

• Would it be helpful to understand what a contact management system can do for your business and have a true professional demonstrate the possibilities for you?

  The answer is a combination of all of the above.

Once a year Alan and I present the Odd Couple® Marketing and Strategy seminar for speakers and consultants. At this highly-interactive seminar all the topics and exciting opportunities just mentioned will be available to you.

WHAT WILL YOUR EXPERIENCE BE LIKE WHEN YOU ATTEND?

The Odd Couple® seminars are small enough so all your questions will be answered, but large enough to provide interesting networking opportunities. Some attendees return every year. Each session is different because of the different people who attend. We have an agenda, listed on the web site, that allows plenty of interaction.

For example, "Fireside Chats" offer informal Q&A and coaching from us both. Another popular section is what we call "fish bowl coaching." If you wish, Alan seats you on the stage and acts as your personal coach. With his skillful questioning, he helps you design the next steps to take to accomplish your personal goals. This provides valuable insight for the others at the seminar. Both Alan Weiss and I offer "Tips for Surviving in This Economy."

WHY US?

There are a few other people offering seminars and consulting for speakers and consultants. What we can offer you is very honest, realistic, practical, pragmatic, and brilliant advice (mostly from Alan) at a reasonable cost from professionals who have actually done, and still do, everything they teach.

We do this partly as a labor or love; partly for the fun, experience, and education of working together; and finally as a way to serve our friends, admirers, supporters, along with all the new friends we haven't met yet, those who have found us on the web site.

YOUR PREPARATION BEFORE THE ODD COUPLE MARKETING AND STRATEGY SEMINAR

To help you clarify your thinking and better prepare us, we suggest you fill out a pre-conference questionnaire before you attend. (Several attendees HAVE mentioned that just doing this was worth the price of attendance.)

WHY INVEST IN THIS SEMINAR? If you want to make money speaking, or your speaking and consulting career has slowed down more than you are comfortable with, this may be the investment you are looking for.

Increase your effectiveness with two giants in the speaking and consulting industry.

"I always learn something new, and just one idea pays for the seminar many times over. I had urged my friends to attend, so I'm very happy they were all 100% satisfied..."
—Dr. Joachim de Posada International Speaker, Author and Consultant

"Thanks to what I learned at The Odd Couple Seminar, I have a $15,000 speaking engagement in South Africa, and I was interviewed live on CNBC. I'm also self-publishing a booklet on healthcare fraud and working on a book proposal. The Odd Couple was worth every penny. Thank you."
— Robin Mathias, Mathias Consulting

Click here now to learn more about the Odd Couple®.

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