Bob Sands, Author at Bob Sands

The Power of Options

By Bob Sands on May 25, 2016

It was Yogi Berra that made the now famous statement, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Berra, of course, was poking fun at the fact that there were two distinct choices. Both meant different paths. Both meant different results.

I shudder when I hear people complain that they have too many options. That’s the place where you can shine, where you have choices and where you can often, write your own ticket. Without them? Desperation sets in and discouragement can feel like a vice grip.

Options are the difference between inspiration and desperation.

Whatever you do, keep your options open. Secure that degree, get that certification, gain that experience, learn an invaluable skill, change jobs, move. Keep learning and growing. Stay open. Options will keep your dreams alive.

If You Build It They Will Come – What Brian Clark Told Me About Building a Platform

By Bob Sands on March 22, 2015

Today’s key comes from Brian Clark, the founder of Copyblogger.com and one of the primary trainers at this year’s Web Copywriting Intensive.

Brian is a living legend to copywriters today. And because of that, one might assume that he had an easy time of it. He didn’t. In fact, when he started Copyblogger in 2006, he refers to the first three months as his “loneliest time of life.” Why? He was unknown, didn’t have any relationships in the industry, and was starting from scratch.

So, what was the key to his success? Building the platform he calls Copyblogger.

What is Copyblogger? Essentially, it’s a blog or digital magazine through which Brian publishes valuable content to attract customers to what he’s selling. He has carved out his own little corner of the Internet. From his website he sells software, information products and subscription services. And it’s all accomplished through this value approach called “content marketing.”

Content marketing can be used to market yourself, but in a softer and gentler way. You can use it to have prospects seek you out instead of your having to chase them.

Here’s how you can use it to build your own platform …

First, identify who you want to reach and understand them as well as you can. Remember that you’re writing about your audience and their needs and wants. Who are you trying to reach … and how should you write to get their attention?

Let’s use the natural health market as an example. You’ll want to read everything you can. Learn what makes the audience tick and what ticks them off.

Second, come up with a content development strategy that would help your audience members solve their problems and fulfill their desires. They can be the same problems and desires that you have. Creating content that solves a problem or shows people how to get a specific result allows you to showcase your value in the marketplace. In our natural health market example, you could make a list of at least 50 content items focusing on research, success stories and even uses of certain supplements.

Third, build the platform. For Brian Clark, that platform was blogging. And he believes it can be the foundation of your platform today. Going back to our example, you could set up a blog called, “Natural Health Focus” or “Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy the Natural Way.” You get the idea.

Fourth, hustle to get the word out. This means determining where your audience hangs out on social media and connecting with them there. If you’re a business-to-consumer writer, maybe that audience is on Facebook. If you’re business-to-business, Brian guarantees, “It’s LinkedIn.” Brian also spends a lot of time on Twitter. He not only has content delivered automatically from his site, but he also personally interacts with his audience. That’s imperative. He says that building a network is vital to your success in the business. And you can build it sitting at your computer.

Do you blog or have another content marketing platform? If so, how often do you publish? I’d love to know more. Just let me know via the comment section.

This article appears courtesy of American Writers & Artists Inc.’s (AWAI) The Writer’s Life, a free newsletter that gives you opportunities that enable you to live life on your own terms. Whether you’re looking for a new career, looking to make some extra money on the side, or looking for an easy work-at-home career, there is an opportunity at AWAI that’s right for you. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.awaionline.com/signup/the-writers-life/.

The “Kings” Speech: What Made Martin Luther King’s Speech Great

By Bob Sands on January 20, 2014

Today is set aside to honor a man who made an extraordinary difference in our country as an advocate for equal rights for all people. As a part of that tribute people will attend special church services, march in parades and gather together to remember “The Dream” and “The Dreamer,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

No doubt, Dr. King’s speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 made a lasting impact and has stood the test of time. It has been studied for its rhetorical devices, singular construction and targeted punch. There are, however, some things that strike me about it that all of us could learn from. They are reflections if you will on King’s speech.

The first observation of the speech is its authenticity. Dr. King truly believed in what he was saying. There was no doubt that he lived the message of peace. He knew that he could change the way things were by calling others to peacefully demonstrate all around the country.

Before his historic speech, he wanted to march through a small town in the Midwest where my Father-in-Law served as Police Chief. He told me that during his meeting with Dr. King he asked him if he would avoid coming through the town at that particular time because of the major issues that they could face. My Father-in-law said King agreed without exception or argument. He said he found him to be “real.” He was a real man with a real message that he truly believed.

The second observation that really resonated with me was his humanity. There has been a lot of discussion about the human side of Dr. King. Whether all or some of it is true, or it is nothing more than the petty jealousy of others, it doesn’t negate the message. Phillips Brooks once defined preaching as the communication of “truth through personality.” That’s what Dr. King did on that historic day. He had persona that was larger than life and he delivered the truth of equality for all through that filter.

It’s important for us to remember that whatever the message, the messenger will always be flawed. He or she will be plagued by hypocrisy, imperfection and yes, humanity but that shouldn’t make what is true any less believable or any less palatable. I’m certainly not saying the messenger isn’t important but rather I’m cautioning us to view the messenger as secondary and truth as primary. Either way, that message will come via a human being that is imperfect at best.

The third observation that really strikes me about his speech his is delivery. If you watch the entire speech, Dr. King reads it, staying with the script and looking down as much as he looks up at the audience. That is until the 7^th paragraph of the speech. According to Clarence B. Jones, Author of the book “Behind the Dream” and the one who helped pen the remarks for that historic day, King strayed from the script. In fact, the last part of the speech and the one we remember, was delivered extemporaneously.

Reports of those who were close to Dr. King that day said that Mahalia Jackson, a gospel singer and good friend of King’s, shouted “tell ‘em about the ‘dream.’ Jones said with that, he pushed his prepared text aside. And what happened next is all we can talk about. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2013/08/27/public-speaking-how-mlk-improvised-second-half-of-dream-speech/)

What made it so effective? How was he able to hold almost one million people spellbound and have his words resonate fifty-one years later? He believed what he said and he delivered it with passion. Perhaps at that moment he pictured family members sitting on the back of the bus, not being welcome at a restaurant or having to drink from a separate water fountain. Whatever happened, something touched his soul and he delivered his talk from that place.

We need more people like him. Flawed people, human beings who believe what they say, say what they believe and stand for something bigger than themselves. He was a great communicator because he had purpose and passion. That’s what made all the difference then and what makes all the difference now.

You can watch all of Dr. King’s historic speech here.

The Ultimate No (or Low!) Cost Way to Market Your Business-Pt. 3

By Bob Sands on May 2, 2012

Public speaking, or group presentation marketing, can be a very effective way to find new clients. Just ask a swimming pool contractor I crossed paths with several years ago.

He decided to give a motivational speech to service clubs in his area. His first presentation resulted in a sale worth $30,000. Even though he gave a motivational speech, someone in his audience decided to use his business services.

My own experience is also instructive. One presentation resulted in the acquisition of a client who paid over $2,500 for four pages of copy for his website (I hope he isn’t reading this!). I’ve continued to have similar experiences in which I have acquired ongoing social media and blogging clients and, of course, speech writing and communication consulting projects, which is my target niche.

Thus far in this series, we’ve looked at how to find and approach the audiences that would want to hear what you have to say (see my article “The Ultimate No (or Low!) Cost Way to Market Your Writing Business Part 1”. Then we examined how to go about creating the blueprint for your talk (see “The Ultimate No (or Low!) Cost Way to Market Your Writing Business Part 2”) so you’ll have the audience eating out of the palm of your hand.

In this final installment, I’m going to show you how to convert these no-fee speeches into ongoing business. Unless you take this last and final step, you might as well hold a sign on a street corner that says, “Will speak for food.”

1. Give away your secrets during your talk.

Your initial reaction might be, “I want them to hire me and pay for my expert knowledge, so why would I give it away?” The truth is, even if they could do it half as well as you, they are too busy to do so.

Several years ago, I heard about a seminar conducted by a real estate broker: “How to Sell Your Home Quickly and Easily ON YOUR OWN!” During the seminar, he told the participants the exact steps necessary in order to sell their home on their own.

Many realized it was daunting and time-consuming task.

By the end of the seminar, more than 50 percent of the attendees asked the broker to list their home. Of course, he agreed! By giving away the “secrets,” attendees realized just how difficult the process was, so they turned it over to the “expert.”

So in your speech, feel free to share your best copywriting and marketing secrets — you probably won’t lose any potential clients — in fact, more will probably hire you.

2. During each presentation, provide several examples of how your clients had a problem and how you solved it for them.

In one of the speeches I give, I show how we turned a normal General Contractor into a “Chinese drywall” expert through some well-placed press releases and articles online. As a part of the program, we will often go live to Google or at least show a screen shot of it.

People always approach me at the conclusion to ask how I can do the same for their business. Telling success stories bolsters your credibility. But, take great pains to sound confident without appearing to be a “legend in your own mind.”

3. Be gracious and humble.

Don’t be a prima donna as so many speakers are! Oft times when speaking at service club or similar meetings, your time will get cut, sometimes in half, due to program additions. When that happens, don’t whine about it; just give your speech in the allotted time.

Whatever you do, don’t exceed your time limit! Think about it, when was the last time you heard someone say, “I heard a short boring speech last night!”? It is virtually impossible to be both brief and boring! What if they ask you to speak longer? Graciously give them a few minutes more and then open it up for audience questions.

4. Use a rating sheet to get valuable audience feedback and contact information.

Most of the organizations won’t have a problem with it. Assure your contact that you will forward a copy of the completed rating sheets for their review. If you get high marks, they will invite you back! For the past three years, I’ve been asked to speak to a group of Realtors. This year after my presentation, they booked me a year in advance.

Many speakers say, “I’ve tried to use rating sheets but I can never get them returned.” There is a simple way to get the majority of your rating sheets back.

Tell the audience how important their feedback is to you. Then let them know that you will have a drawing for a gift card (between $10 and $25) for those who turn in their sheets.

In this case, don’t offer an e-book or free consultation. Give something of value that is unrelated to your business. You’d be surprised how many people will complete the rating sheets just for a chance to win a simple gift card.

The rating sheet has three parts. The top third should be their contact information (with a note from you telling them you might contact them or add them to your mailing list). The middle third should have a few questions about your program that are essay answers followed by a little box that gives you permission to quote them. The bottom third should have a place for several checkmarks as to what kind of services they might be interested in.

This sheet is a money machine. Why?

First, people are raising their hands and telling you what they want from you! Many have a need right now, and they want you to contact them. And, you have their contact information already.

For those who don’t have need of your services right now, you can put them on your mailing list and keep yourself on their mind for possible future work.

Finally, if they agree for you to quote them, you can use their quotes and testimonials in future marketing pieces. If they are with a Fortune 500 company, all the better!

5. Produce a resource sheet.

I started creating resources sheets after so many people requested more information at the end of my talks.

One focuses on 10 questions to ask before you write your marketing plan. I print it on green paper, with all of my contact information included.

Hold it up during your presentation and tell the participants to come to the back and ask for the “Green Sheet” WHEN they give you their business card. Be sure to say thanks and impart how important this information is.

You can also repurpose the content into an article or blog post, or even make it the basis of an e-book! In addition to the rating sheet, this gives you a second means to obtain their contact information.

A friend of mine and I had the opportunity to use this method a short time ago. We arranged to speak for three minutes each week at our Rotary Club.

We carefully scripted what we were going to say and offered a resource sheet at the end of each talk. We did this for one month, speaking for a total of 12 minutes for the entire month. Those 12 minutes have resulted in thousands of dollars of ongoing business and new clients!

6. Make liberal use of online press releases.

Each time you speak is a PR opportunity. Post a press release online, including social media outlets that list where you will be speaking and what you are speaking about.

You might be wondering if your talk is newsworthy. It may not be, but it is certainly “Google worthy!” That means you can up your search results by posting to your blog, website, fan page, Twitter, and online press release distribution services such as PR Web and Business Wire.

For tips on creating effective press releases, there is no better resource than AWAI’s program, Secrets of Becoming a Publicist.

Whenever you give a speech, whether for three minutes, 15 minutes, or an hour, you are representing your business. Be prepared and make the most of every opportunity to expand your network and attract new clients.

Remember, it’s as simple as A, B, C — Approach, Blueprint, and Convert.

Follow this pattern and you will tap into the gold mine of using low (and no!) fee speaking to market your business.

The Ultimate No (or Low!) Cost Way to Market Your Business Pt. 2

By Bob Sands on May 2, 2012

Now that a new year is upon us, perhaps you are looking for a surefire, low cost way to market your freelance writing business. If you are, then using group presentation marketing, or public speaking, might just be a fit! It will not only bring you new clients, but it will also position you as an expert, build your mailing list, and create an ever-growing fan base for your products and services!

In part one of this series, “The Ultimate Low (or No!) Cost Way To Market Your Business,” I shared with you where to find an audience that would be virtually giddy with anticipation to hear you speak and how to approach groups to schedule speaking engagements. In this installment, I want to lay out the next step in the ABCs of group presentation marketing: blueprint.

No house is ever erected without a blueprint. No city is ever built without a master plan. No airplane is ever assembled (thankfully!) without detailed specifications. Why should a talk be any different?

I have witnessed many people have an opportunity to figuratively “knock it out of the ballpark” with their presentation, only to get up to the plate, strike out, and lose potential clients, professional credibility, and the chance to set themselves apart from their competition.

The reason? They weren’t prepared.

One time, I watched as a physician froze when a power surge occurred and the computer which contained the PowerPoint of his presentation had to be restarted. He was so dependent on it that when the power was lost, he was, too! He fumbled his way through the remainder of his talk. No one asked any questions and not one person picked up his material. He was a psychiatrist and his audience was filled with people who had experienced the tragic death of a loved one. This ill-prepared doc missed the opportunity to help a lot of people, gain new clients, and promote his practice in a positive way!

Louis Pasteur put it like this, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” When it comes to developing a talk for marketing purposes, prepare for it like it is the last speech you will ever give. Preparing the right way is THE KEY to getting the audience to eat out of the palm of your hand. I’m going to show you how to go about it.

SUBJECT

First, determine your subject. This is the big picture. For example, marketing is a subject. But, trying to cover marketing in a 15-minute talk is akin to going after a whale in a row boat with tartar sauce in hand; it’s certainly ambitious but hardly realistic!

Subject is where most people get into trouble — they try to cover too much material in their allotted time. They become nothing more than a rambling speaker, and one the audience tunes out quickly!

Picking a subject is only the first step. Begin with a subject about which you are knowledgeable and that interests you. It should obviously be something that appeals to the group you’re speaking to.

CENTRAL THEME

After you have determined your subject, it’s time to decide what aspect of that subject you will cover. This is step two: choosing a central theme.

Picking a central theme will force you to get specific in your talk. Rick Warren, author of the blockbuster book The Purpose Driven Life, likes to say, “Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific.” Let me put it another way: If you want to electrify, you have to specify!

For example, if you are a writer in the financial services industry, your theme might be, “Five Pitfalls of Marketing Your Financial Services and How to Avoid (and Even Profit From!) Them.”

If you concentrate on the nutritional arena, you might use the theme, “Four Reasons Why Most Nutritional Marketing Messages Fail (and What You Can Do about Them!).”

You get the picture.

Notice in the examples I gave “Five Pitfalls …” or “Four Reasons …” This is a simple but powerful way to help you build a dynamic talk. It makes for easy organization, adds punch and pizzazz, and narrows your focus with laser-like precision. There is nothing worse than a rambling speaker who doesn’t know his or her point and thus never gets there!

ORGINATE

The third step in building a great talk is to originate. This means it’s time to begin generating the ideas that will form the basis of your talk. Before you try to organize anything, do a data dump.

Type or write as fast as possible all the things that come to mind once you’ve narrowed your topic. If you’re lucky, you should have two to three pages of notes when you’re finished. Those notes will contain the raw material that can be shaped into an appealing presentation.

By the way, don’t try to organize as you go. It will only slow down the process. The idea is to tap into the knowledge you already possess.

After you have completed the data dump, it is time to bring order to the chaos. Scan through your brainstorming notes and highlight the key points that really grab your attention. Start another document with those key points. Under each point, make notes as to why it is important, how to implement it, and then add an example or story that will illustrate it. A good rule of thumb is to never make a point without a picture. For example, if I were giving a presentation on “Why Everyone Needs a Coach,” the first point of my outline may look something like this:

Everyone needs a Coach for Accountability
1. Quote: “You can only expect what you can inspect” by Anonymous
2. Knowing you will have to report your activity and results makes you less likely to make excuses
3. Story: Dan Kennedy and his “get the check” example

This is a brief example of what my rough notes might look like for my first point. The result of my brainstorming session is a skeletal outline that gives me a framework on which I can flesh out my talk.

PRODUCE

Step four is when you begin to compose the body of your speech.

Now it’s time to actually produce your talk using the skeletal notes you generated in step three. There are two methods you can use to compose your speech.

The first is to write your presentation out word for word. The goal is to write the speech out so you think through it and internalize it. But, don’t take the manuscript to the podium and read from it. For delivery, simply reduce the manuscript to a few notes which you will use for the actual talk.

Remember that the average person speaks at a rate of 150 words per minute. That means for a 12-minute talk you would need about 1,800 words of written text. By the way, if you are accustomed to using one of the popular speech recognition programs on the market, you can also utilize that to create your first draft in short order.

Just remember that the written word and the spoken word are two different modes of communication. For example, in formal writing, most times contractions are not used and one does not begin a sentence with a preposition. And, you certainly do not repeat yourself! But, listen closely to a conversation and you will hear that the same words are often repeated, contractions are used liberally, and many sentences are started with a preposition. Never mind all of the dangling participles!

The second method of composition, the one I prefer, is to make a detailed full-sentence outline. This full-sentence outline will be your main tool when you move to the rehearsal phase of your preparation. After that, you should be so familiar with your material that you will be able to reduce your outline to a few key words and then give your talk from those.

The full-sentence outline allows you to really think through what you want to say but leaves the actual word-for-word composition for rehearsal and delivery. Don’t let that scare you. You do it all the time in daily conversation. You think a thought, then verbalize it. The full-sentence outline gives you the precision of a written manuscript but that freedom of extemporaneous and conversational delivery.

After composing the body of speech, it’s time to add the introduction and conclusion.

I recommend opening with a story that illustrates a common problem your audience is facing. The solution will be presented in the body of your speech. The right introduction gets everyone on the same page.

For the conclusion, summarize your points and end on a high note with another story, quote, or memorable statement that ties it altogether.

ENERGIZE

The final step is to energize your speech. How can you “breathe life” into your talk? Give it!

Yes, I’m talking about rehearsal. Practice is vital to smooth out the rough edges and get your timing down. Far too many speakers don’t invest enough time on this step. And, it’s obvious when they get to the dais.

How much rehearsal is enough? That depends upon you.

Think about how familiar you are with your material and how many times you’ve actually spoken before a crowd. Practice until the flow of your talk becomes natural and you can give it while looking at only a few key words on a note card. It is also a good idea to record your practice sessions when possible for the purposes of review and revision. Just remember, it takes a lot of practice to look natural!

Putting together and delivering a talk to promote your freelance business can not only be profitable but also a lot of fun! So, why not begin planning a talk today using these five steps: Subject, Central Theme, Originate, Produce, and Energize.

Use this SCOPE method to prepare your next talk and take your business to a whole new level!

Be on the lookout for the final article in this series in which I’ll show you how to turn each talk into an endless flow of new clients for your business.

Have you ever used speaking to market yourself to potential clients? What little tips and tricks did you use to prepare and deliver your speech? Let me know in the comments below.

The Ultimate No (or Low!) Cost Way to Market Your Business-Pt. 1

By Bob Sands on May 2, 2012

If you were able to do a 15-minute sales presentation, get three new clients, and add thousands of dollars to your bottom line income, would you do it?

The likely answer is “Yes!”

In this down economy, many copywriters and freelance business writers are looking for innovative and low-cost ways to market themselves and carve out their niche as an expert. And, oh yes, make money too!

One of the best ways to do it is through group presentation marketing, a term coined by Dan Kennedy. Group presentation marketing leverages your time and multiplies your prospecting efforts. You can begin using this strategy by seeking out (or creating) speaking opportunities within your area of expertise to qualified groups and organizations.

Notice I said “your” area of expertise. Often, people ask the question, “What makes me qualified to speak about a topic? Aren’t most of the people experts who do that?”

The short answer is yes, but with one caveat: they are perceived as experts. A better question is are they speaking because they are “experts” or are they “experts” because they are speaking?

More often than not, the answer is the latter. You already have the necessary knowledge to speak on your topic. Don’t wait for someone else to label you as an “expert.” Go out and claim that mantle for yourself! If you make each talk practical, relevant, and solution based, those who need the services you offer will be asking you to contact them.

I will cover how to turn your expertise into a dynamic talk in part two.

In this three-part series of articles, I will give you the ABCs of making this strategy work. My goal is to help you tap into this powerful method of marketing that will not only skyrocket your income, but also position you in your niche as the “go-to person.”

I have experienced its success firsthand. Once, after speaking at a local service club on the importance of using blogging and social media in business, I was placed on retainer to ghostwrite a blog and post to social media outlets for a group of attorneys. They became a long-term client and added thousands of dollars to my annual income.

So, as you are setting your marketing goals for the new year, why not place group presentation marketing near the top of your list?

The first step in using group presentation marketing begins with the letter “A,” which stands for approach. Knowing who you will approach and how you should do it makes all the difference.

Opportunities to speak are all around you, and believe it or not, organizations are looking for speakers just like you. Even if you don’t live in (or close to!) a metropolitan area, you can still find and create situations that are tailor-made for you.

Finding the right audience is critical. Don’t waste time speaking to a ceramics club on social media marketing metrics! This isn’t about talking to just anyone who will listen.

Rather, focus your efforts on those organizations where you would tend to find potential clients.

Service clubs are a great place to start. They will likely have at least one local club that meets in or close to your city. For example, in the small town of Highlands, North Carolina, there are two Rotary clubs. One meets in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Both are filled with business owners and community leaders.

Usually, you will find the “movers and shakers” of any community in organizations such as these.

Since these clubs usually meet during normal business hours, most of those who attend are either owners or key decision makers in their business. They are the very people who are the target audience of freelancers like you and me. I have often said that were I to move to a new town and start a new business, the first step I would take is to get in front of these types of clubs and organizations.

Chambers of commerce are looking for speakers too. You can approach them about doing a mini-seminar or talk for one of their breakfast or lunch meetings. Recently, I contacted a chamber of commerce in our area offering to do a four-hour seminar that would cover the topic of messaging.

The board jumped at the opportunity, and we are in the process of looking at various dates.

Trade associations of those who are in your niche market are another group that are looking for great presenters. Many times, they will hold annual or regional conventions for which they will be looking for “breakout” session speakers.

Contact their offices and inquire as to what the steps are to propose a session.

Several years ago, I spoke at a National Trade Association Convention for a breakout session. Now, I am introduced as a “Nationally Known Expert in the Area of …” That, of course, provided instant credibility and resulted in several new consulting and training opportunities.

Don’t be quick to dismiss the service club or networking group angle thinking that they have already “heard it all.” Remember, you are unique. You bring a perspective that no other person can because of your talents and abilities.

Finding the right audience and matching your message to them is vital to making this strategy work. It is easy to find these service and networking clubs in your area. Their main websites will list the meeting time, location, and contact information for each of their local meetings.

Once you have found out who your target audience will be, it is time to reach out to them. What is the best way to make that initial contact? The real answer is that it depends on several factors.

I prefer an initial contact by email. If I don’t hear back in several days, I will forward my original email. If I still don’t receive an answer back, I will then make a phone call.

Remember, many organizations will jump at the opportunity to schedule a good speaker, so getting in front of the group is easier than it sounds. Once again, it is important to stress that you are an educational speaker and do not intend to blatantly sell your product or service.

You might be thinking, “Well, what is the point then?” Simply this: do a good job talking about how to solve a common marketing or sales problem, and members will be asking YOU to contact them after your presentation!

Do a great job, and they will talk about you to everyone they meet. Do a hard sales job, and they will talk about you too, but not in ways that would positively promote your business.

What if you can’t find an audience? Create one! Several years ago, I heard the story of a real estate broker that was offering a public seminar titled “Secrets To Selling Your Home On Your Own.” At first glance, that might sound counterproductive to garnering more sales, but it wasn’t.

In fact, at the conclusion of the seminar, he had participants asking him to list their home! How did he do it? During the seminar, one of the subtopics he covered was “What could go wrong.” For many of those present, the risk wasn’t worth it, so they listed with him on the spot.

If your niche is social media, you could offer a public seminar on “Five Pitfalls of Social Media and How to Avoid Them.” Or if your specialty is speechwriting and presentation coaching, like mine, you could teach a class on “Eight Steps to Holding an Audience in the Palm of your Hand.” You get the picture. By the way, these same topics will work when speaking at any of the venues mentioned earlier.

Remember that you know 99.9% more about your topic than the members of your audience. Be cordial and clear in your approach, and potential clients will begin asking you to help them. That is an enviable place for any freelancer to live.

Make sure you stay tuned for part two in this series of articles. I will cover how to structure your talk to achieve the results you want.

How to Stay Safe on Facebook

By Bob Sands on March 7, 2011

Recently I was speaking before an organization on my favorite topic, “The Importance of Social Media in Politics”. This course includes how to use Facebook and Twitter to increase your search engine optimization (SEO) or quite simply, how to get to the top of a search engine chart.

Towards the end of the course a question was asked about how someone can stay safe on Facebook especially in this day and age of identity theft. I understand social media can be scary but there are ways to protect yourself online.

STEP 1: MAKE A FRIENDS LIST!
Making a friends list can be a little time consuming but worth it in the end. Grouping your Facebook friends into specific lists will help you hide certain parts of your profile from certain individuals. It is great for those who have clients online and/or co-workers because the Friends Lists will allow you have your Facebook be both personal and professional. Your co-workers and clients don’t need to see pictures of your kid’s soccer game if you don’t want them to.
To create a friends list, click on “friends” on the left-hand column. Next, click on “edit friends” button which can be found on the top of that section and then select the “create list” button to start creating your friends list. A pop up box will appear and you will be able to name your list and add friends.
It is that simple to make a friends list and start choosing what different groups can see on your profile.

STEP 2: WHO CAN SEE WHAT ON YOUR PROFILE
Now let’s start customizing your Facebook so certain aspects can be hidden. First you want to click on “Account”, then “Privacy Settings” and then “Customize Settings”. From here you can choose whether a group of friends can see your photos, videos and status updates.

STEP 3: DON’T OVERSHARE
The golden rule of Facebook is don’t say anything you don’t want others to read. Also make sure to take a moment and make sure your phone number and address is not listed on your profile, also avoid putting your full birthday as well.