Comments on: Russian Kettle Bells and marketing services

By: aneitlich

aneitlich — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 23:28:53 +0000

lajkinik86:

Lots of things made seminar value-adding. Most valuable was that I facilitated discussions amongst the executives present. Each meeting, we all went round table with issues each participant was facing, and brainstormed/problem solved. Then we focused in depth on one executive’s business issues and goals, and served as a panel to critique and support that person. In between, I spoke about some relevant business topic, or had a guest speaker come.

By: lajkonik86

lajkonik86 — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:15:00 +0000

My point is that you need something very unique to get your bank to sponsor your seminar. Seminars about (quote dave)tripling sales while reducing your total advertising expenditures, which are web related will have a hard time making it through.

I’m curious andrew, what made your seminar so value adding?

By: davestarr

davestarr — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 12:19:31 +0000

I guess two points I would make to lajkonik86’s comments about banks and web sites:

Have you tried to see if they _would_ sponsor a seminar? I’m only asking because Andrew’s blog entry reminded me that my ‘personal banker’ needs some care and attention in this area … months back when I opened my first business account we had along chat on the services the bank offered small business and how the bank was dedicated to helping small business through learning from one another. The comment ‘I doubt’ leaves the impression you’ve just formed a negative opinion of the subject without even trying it out.

Secondly (and Andrew’s reply cleared this up quite a bit) it’s true you might have to search along time to find a bank that would sponsor a seminar on ‘web sites’. In and of itself a web site has no intrinsic value. By extension a person who ‘builds websites’ also has no intrinsic business value … he or she is a “herder of bits and bytes” and those bits and bytes flying in formation on a web browser screen may have a negative, positive or neutral effect on a given businesses bottom line.

Now, would a bank be interested is sponsoring a seminar for its customers focused on “Doubling your targeted call-in prospects with no increased cost”, or “tripling sales while reducing your total advertising expenditures”, etc., etc.? Sounds to me it’s obvious which idea ‘pulls’ better. My thought is, recast the way you offer you services into the “business development” area and see if your bookings don’t improve.

Best regards

By: aneitlich

aneitlich — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:21:51 +0000

The seminars were about growing a business. But there’s no reason you couldn’t team up with a few business professionals — marketing consultant, attorney, accountant — and hit the road with a panel/seminar about things business owners want to know. Banks, your chamber of commerce, and your own client lists, are all likely targets to attend.

By: Octal

Octal — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:05:24 +0000

Probably more like seminars on how to improve and grow a business, since “Andrew’s consulting practice focuses on helping professionals and entrepreneurs build successful businesses”.

I had never even thought about this strategy. Once more, thanks for the advice Mr N.!

By: lajkonik86

lajkonik86 — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 08:05:34 +0000

you actually got your local bank to sponsor a seminar about websites?
This is atleast what I understood, but I don’t think you will find to many banks interested in informing their customers about websites.

By: Ravedesigns

Ravedesigns — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:33:26 +0000

Great article Andrew, and what an excellent example of a good joint promotion here! This is something that most business owners just don’t get, but when done well it can pay off handsomely.

Thanks for sharing this!

Steve